Crate training a dog

[havejoy]

One of our Chihuahuas was kept in a crate from the age of 8 weeks until she was almost 4 years old. Because of this I have never been a big fan of crates. BUT, thanks to folks on this board I decided to give it a try.

We brought home our first official foster dog yesterday. She's an 18 month old terrier mix who has been kept outside and pretty much ignored her whole life. Her name is Lucy.

The lady at the rescue place has been taking her home at night and putting her in a crate to sleep.

Anyway, I got the crate out and Lucy got so excited! She was spayed just yesterday so I wanted to keep her calm but she was in the crate before I could get the doggie pad in it.

With the help of my hubby I finally got the pad in and then Lucy on top of it and she is now resting comfortably, on her back with all paws in the air. It's obvious she's feeling very secure.

I only have her for two weeks and would love to get her housebroken before she goes to her family. Is that possible? Are their any tricks other than what's on the crate training and ASPCA site?

[Lbybug]

congratulations!!! i've had my puppy for about 2 months now have have him crate trained he was pretty much trained to go outside within a week of having him, it was just his mum (me) who missed his signals that he needed to go outside. he still has the occassional mess, although again, that's usually me not realizing he's trying to tell me "mum i need outside!!".

i work 8 hours a day and he stays in the kennel/crate while i am at work and sleeps. i make sure water is kept in there for him at all times (although there are people who say you shouldn't put water in the crate with him, but being that i'm gone for 8 hours, i find it cruel for him to be without water for that long).

the thing i've found most though is do what works for you. you're going to get lots of advice about "do this, don't do this" or "this is right" "this is wrong". just do what works for you. and good luck!!!

[Tarnished]

I don't know what the crate training and ASPCA site both say about crate training, but here is what I have learned from the dogs I had. The crate is basically to serve as a den of sorts for your dog, kind of their home. Because of this the crate should never be used for discipline as it could cause the dog to fear or not like their crate. Also the crate should be big enough to allow the dog room to turn around and move in, but not so big as to give the dog enough room that they might use it as their bathroom. Dogs generally like to keep their living space clean and so if the crate is the correct size the dog should not potty in it. When you take the dog out of the crate pick them up (if they are small enough) and take them immediately outside. Most dogs will not potty while they are being held. When they are outside give them a key phrase for going potty, something like “hurry up” or “go potty”, if they potty give them lots of praise. At first when you are beginning to train a dog on house breaking a good average is taking them out once every hour to two hours. This gets them in the habit of going outside and helps you to avoid accidents. If they do have an accident take them immediately outside and wait for them to potty, when they do give them lots of praise.

That is currently all I can think of.

[havejoy]

Thanks, that's what we've been doing. I leave her crate door open unless we are leaving her alone or at night. She woke me up this morning at 5:30 and I took her outside and we walked around the backyard for about 20 minutes. She peed a little here and there then came in the house and peed really good. Clearly we have some work to do.

She hasn't had any problems in the house since this morning as I've been taking her around the block every two hours plus taking her into the back yard every time I take my other dogs out.

[ADoyle90815]

I did that when my dogs were puppies, and that was because of separation anxiety. They eventually got so used to the cage that fit both of them with room to move around, that they would take naps there even if someone was home. The female actually hid under a bed for a day after she was spayed, as she needed someplace to relax.

[talisyn]

well, you learn something new every day! I've never heard of crate training until now. It seems to be something beneficial to city dwellers with small to medium dogs. I've had big dogs out in the country who roamed outside so I can't help with that, although they did like their doghouse But about the housebreaking the only thing that will work is sheer persistence. Never let an accident go by unnoticed and uncorrected (gently of course lol). They are smart enough to be trained, and obedient enough to want to please their master. Good Luck!

I'm remembering all the reasons I have cats now

[Nikkie85]

When are currently crate training our puppy now and LOVE it! When we first started putting her in her crate she hated it but has gotten to the point now that you simply tell her "go to your crate" and she runs right into it. We were told by our dog trainer that going in the crate should always be a positive experience. We give her treats for going in there and lots of praise. The crate is in a spare bedroom where she can still hear us but not see us. We have had her a little over a month and she has only had two potty accidents. We take her outside all the time and say go potty and she will go. She has begun to scratch at the door when she wants out.

By the way a kong with peanut butter put in the freezer over night works wonders! My puppy loves this treat and is always will to go in the crate when she sees it.

[havejoy]

It's working so well with Lucy that she hasn't had another accident since that 1st morning. She can go 5 hours without going in the house. When we take her out she goes to the bathroom almost immediately. This is a really smart dog.

[Nikkie85]

It's working so well with Lucy that she hasn't had another accident since that 1st morning. She can go 5 hours without going in the house. When we take her out she goes to the bathroom almost immediately. This is a really smart dog.

I am glad everything is working out!