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Logan had developed some anxiety over being in his crate (probably flight related stress) and we were having some issues as a result of this. Logan had been crate trained at the kennel he came from and he has to be in the crate when we leave the house. (Of course, part of crate training means they go into the crate sometimes while you're home also, so they don't associate the crate with you leaving.) His anxiety was making it very difficult to leave him alone. After crate training Finn (Bear, who came before Finn didn't get crate trained because we didn't know anything about it - he just ate the house), we realized how great crate training could be because it's safer for the dog and the house! Logan HAS to go into his crate when we leave. There's just no negotiating that. So he and I and a bag of treats started working on the crate or "Happy Place" as we call it. We worked slowly but kept building and by last night we had made major progress from where we were Saturday morning. Since he has been comfortable in the crate in the past, I'm sure things went faster than they would have if he was meeting the crate for the first time, but he really seems to catch on to things quickly. Of course treats and happy cuddles don't hurt either!
posted by Melanie at 9:45 AM
6 Comments:
I'm so happy to hear a "dog person" talking of crate training their dog. Crate training does have one other advantage that I've never heard verbalized by an owner. I love dogs but we are unable to have one due to my husband's allergies/stubborness. When we stay at someone's home who has dogs that roam the house at night I have to say I'm leery of venturing out of my room (say to visit the bathroom in the middle of the night) for fear of running into the dog (who sees the stranger in his home in the night) on my way. I rest much easier knowing the dog is crated.
How great to hear Logan is learning the advantages of a crate. We learned the hard way, with Ruby. When she was left alone, she scratched and tore down the blinds when someone walked by our front yard. We nestled her into our bedroom, door closed, hoping she'd settle on the bed and nap while we were shopping, etc. When we returned home, the carpet by the door had been chewed and clawed beyond repair....grrr. She now sleeps and is quite content to spend her alone time in a crate.
I like the "happy place" term. Nimitz needs to be re-crate trained as well plus we have the added separation anxiety to deal with. Although he never tears anything up so we may end up dropping the crate and just dealing with the anxiety.
You could try putting peanutbutter or other soft treats inside a Kong toy. It keeps your dog busy while he's crated and helps with the anxiety of being crated. My dogs all learn from early on the crate is an OK place.
My dog hated being crated and had major separation anxiety. We discovered that she willingly enters the crate on her own when she gets a slice of American cheese in the back of the crate. It is the only time she gets the cheese. All I have to say is "get your cheese" and in she goes. Then I tell her that I'll be back and once she learned what that means, we stopped having any crate problems.
I wish I'd known about crate training with my earlier dogs but learned about it when we started showing dogs. Many of my dogs slept in the crate, with the door open, as that was their "safe" place. Peanut has taken to staying in her crate when we do demonstrations, as it's HER safe place. Crates are great if they are used properly and not used to keep the poor dog in 95% of the time (as some people do). I like your way of making a game of it.
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