Crate for 8 month old - How to start? - Page 2

jakeandrenee · 11-15-2010, 05:43 PM

He is a baby, he doesn't need to "guard" anything. I feel the sooner you start the small training sessions the easier he will understand.

**JKlatsky** · 11-15-2010, 05:46 PM

I crate all my dogs. It keeps them safe and my house safe. I prefer a no nonsense approach to crate training. I will play crate games teaching them good things happen in the crate, give them special crate toys like Kongs to eat and enjoy. And then I close the door and leave. Because the reality of my situation is that I don't really hav time to mess around. And if they fuss or pitch a fit...well they always get over it. I used to work at a Preschool and the VERY worst kids at drop off are the ones whose parents would linger waiting for them to calm down. The parents who would pry their kids hands off their arm, hand them over to staff, say Bye and Love you and Leave...well those kids were fine in a couple minutes and playing. Same theory with the puppy. Don't fuss and do try to control your emotions because they will transfer to your dog. The cooler and calmer you are about the whole thing the better your dog will be.

I let my dogs out when they're quiet. It's also important when training the crate to crate them periodically throughout the day. That way crate doesn't = Mom left.

df1960 · 01-21-2011, 01:55 PM

Hawkeye is now being crated.... the first day he did manage to get out of the crate, but only when I got home.... since then we've used a (heavy) twist tie to secure the door and he's been in the crate when I get home.... so far so good, my husband gives him a kong with peanut butter and some treats when he leaves but this weekend we're going to go and buy a new crate one that's sturdier for him.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions it really helped - I still don't like the fact that he's in the crate - but I know it's for his own good - plus as I stated in another thread he has been mounting and harrassing my boxer and I don't want him hurting her or her having to deffend herself.
And I know the crate is not forever he will outgrow his wildchild attitude.

Anja1Blue · 01-23-2011, 09:48 AM

Good luck with the crate! I think you will learn to love it, the way the rest of us do, it's a great resource. It won't help with the mounting though - that's more about dominance, and unless your female rallies and puts him in his place (which mine would do), it will be up to you to stop him and redirect his attention (see other thread). (Just don't ever use the crate for punishment though, you want your dog to look forward to being there.....)
______________________________________
Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

11-15-2010, 05:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
jakeandrenee Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Huntsville Alabama Posts: 3,103	He is a baby, he doesn't need to "guard" anything. I feel the sooner you start the small training sessions the easier he will understand. __________________ Renee' Jake 2/12/10 CGC TDI

11-15-2010, 05:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
JKlatsky Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 2,985	I crate all my dogs. It keeps them safe and my house safe. I prefer a no nonsense approach to crate training. I will play crate games teaching them good things happen in the crate, give them special crate toys like Kongs to eat and enjoy. And then I close the door and leave. Because the reality of my situation is that I don't really hav time to mess around. And if they fuss or pitch a fit...well they always get over it. I used to work at a Preschool and the VERY worst kids at drop off are the ones whose parents would linger waiting for them to calm down. The parents who would pry their kids hands off their arm, hand them over to staff, say Bye and Love you and Leave...well those kids were fine in a couple minutes and playing. Same theory with the puppy. Don't fuss and do try to control your emotions because they will transfer to your dog. The cooler and calmer you are about the whole thing the better your dog will be. I let my dogs out when they're quiet. It's also important when training the crate to crate them periodically throughout the day. That way crate doesn't = Mom left. __________________ Argos vom Eisernen Loewen VPG1, CGC, TC 3-3-07 Bianka vom Eisernen Loewen BH, CGC, TC 1-3-08 Cade vom Eisernen Loewen CGC 3-25-09 D'Artagnan (Tag) vom Eisernen Loewen 2-2-10 G Aiko von Burkndeiros SchH 3, IPO3, FH, TC, KKL2 9-17-02

01-21-2011, 01:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
df1960 Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 124	Update 2 months later Hawkeye is now being crated.... the first day he did manage to get out of the crate, but only when I got home.... since then we've used a (heavy) twist tie to secure the door and he's been in the crate when I get home.... so far so good, my husband gives him a kong with peanut butter and some treats when he leaves but this weekend we're going to go and buy a new crate one that's sturdier for him. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions it really helped - I still don't like the fact that he's in the crate - but I know it's for his own good - plus as I stated in another thread he has been mounting and harrassing my boxer and I don't want him hurting her or her having to deffend herself. And I know the crate is not forever he will outgrow his wildchild attitude. __________________ Hawkeye (GSD): March 5/10 Chelsea (Boxer): April 21/08 Fay (Terrier): April 29/99 Austin (ShihTzu): August 2/02 At Bridge: Callie(2004), Jackson(2005), Mickey(2007), Keisha(GSD)(2008), Stryker(2011)

01-23-2011, 09:48 AM	#14 (permalink)
Anja1Blue Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver Colorado USA Posts: 3,472	Good luck with the crate! I think you will learn to love it, the way the rest of us do, it's a great resource. It won't help with the mounting though - that's more about dominance, and unless your female rallies and puts him in his place (which mine would do), it will be up to you to stop him and redirect his attention (see other thread). (Just don't ever use the crate for punishment though, you want your dog to look forward to being there.....) ______________________________________ Susan Anja SchH3 GSD Conor GSD Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

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