My daughter's new puppy hates the crate. If she is sleeping and we put her in it all is fine but if she is awake she cries and whines. We need to get her to like the crate for when she is at work and just needs to get some things done around the house. When we picked her up from the breeder she had to the bed out of the crate so they would come out now we can't get her in it.
Re: My puppy hates the crate Try to get positive things associated with it. Hide tasty treats in there for her to find, so it's like the crate is feeding her, and also try giving her her meals in there. Some dogs don't get on with them at all, and in that case you could consider a puppy playpen instead, but certainly try the positive associations first. Don't ever use being put in the crate as a punishment.
Re: My puppy hates the crate We don't use it as punishment (although a time out from the biting would be nice, she's 9 weeks old) but would like to have her happy in the crate to accomplish house work, take a shower, etc. I did sit with her last night and put some treats in it, made her sit and lay down and never shut the door. When my daughter leaves for work she will cry but when I get there a couple of hours later to let her out and play she is in there quietly.
Re: My puppy hates the crate I agree with Snowbunny.....give her treats, feed her, etc. in the crate. Make it a special place. You WILL need it in future to do what you say.....shower, leave for a short period of time, etc. Plus they are safe in their crates.....mine is 11 months old and goes in there on his own to go to sleep. Havent fed him or treated him in there for months....he just likes being in it....must feel safe. I have tried leaving the door open so he can come out and sleep if he wants to, but he does not. Good luck.
Re: My puppy hates the crate Popping food and treats in for her to find as Fiona suggested is what I would try first too. Is she on her own for a couple of hours? She's very little to be left that long with no company at all. It may be why she's unhappy in her crate if she associates it with being alone. Is it possible for you to see her any sooner? If you build up the time gradually and perhaps use her meals in kong chews to occupy her she will be happier.
Re: My puppy hates the crate My puppy Bella hated her crate from day one if shut in it, I fed her in there, put treats in there etc, click and treated every time she went in. I did find putting a tshirt of mine in there helped calm her down loads and only putting her in it when she's so tired she'll not really fight it. The tshiry/top led to her allowing me to shut her in during the night, but during the day the crate is left open and half the kitchen is play penned off which she's ok with. She'll go in there for brief periods now when I'm there eg washing up, washing the floor. If she needs time out I never shut her in her crate but behind a baby gate for brief periods eg a few minutes. Ice cubes r great for biting I've found!!!! And tug toys to distract her. Bella still cries barks and whines when I'm in the shower at times ( 14 weeks) so I just ignore her and never go to her until she's quiet and giving her filled Kongs keeps her occupied for a short time. It gets easier! pics please ;D
Re: My puppy hates the crate http://www.thelabradorforum.com/index.php?topic=9113.0 I had the same worries see above
Re: My puppy hates the crate We try to never to leave her for more than 2 hours but it is hard since we all work. I take her to my house but I have a 10 yo chocolate that isn't to happy sharing her home with this silver ball of activity.
Re: My puppy hates the crate Frozen Kongs!!!!!!! Make some & give them to her in the crate. Simples 8)
Re: My puppy hates the crate Hiya, I got my pup yesterday and a few things have really helped with the crate: 1- frozen kongs! 2- have given him a few different toys and have worked out his favourite, that goes with him in there if I need a couple of mins to eat my dinner! 3 - initially I fed him his first couple of meals in there and made sure the blanket always had a few bits of kibble in there to find. Whenever he went in or came out of it I would click him and feed him a kibble. 4 - the first time I shut the gate on him I did it for a few seconds, when he was sitting calmly, then opened it and made a fuss of him and gave him a special little cube of cheese. I gradually built this up. 5 - I ignore all whining and when he is calm and sitting only do I click, open the gate, give him a cuddle. 6 - he is sleeping in a box next to my bed for the first few nights. I also have the crate in an Ellie Bo playpen so when he's feeling playful and I need to go and do something, I just leave the crate open for him to go in out as he pleases but I don't need to worry as he's in the pen. Hope some of this helps. Good luck! S
