CAN you crate train a 2 year old dog?

[larussel03]

Thank you to everyone posting in my last thread, I appreciate it and you certainly gave me food for thought.

Along the lines of my last thread, but with a different topic...is it possible to successfully crate train a 2 year old dog, who never was prevously (I assume, she was a stray/abandoned) and have her like the crate and feel secure in it? Our dog has been noted by a neighbor for barking (although I really dont think it's that bad but still) and for scratching at the door. How would I go about making her not mind being locked in when FI and I are gone? And how would I get past feeling guilty?

And does crate training help with anxiety at her age?

FI suggested considering using a bark collar and babygating off an area near the front door so she cannot scratch it, but I dont think that may be treating the anxiety part of the problem. She is not super anxious, only when we leave, and I do not beleive the barking is quite bad enough to warrent use of a shock collar...

 

[fire&ice]

Most definitely - but with patience, positive reinforcement and time. Get a crate to fit her weight, put it in a high traffic area, place treats or favorite toys/blankets in there. Praise her when she goes in. Don''t force the issue. Most dogs adjust b/c a crate is natural to a dog. My dogs do have the run of the house - but often voluteer to sleep in their crates.

If the pup came from a shelter, often they will put a crate in the run.

 

[gailrmv]

Just wanted to say yes, I think it''s very possible!

 

[larussel03]

OK, so today I went out and bought a crate...she''s already napping in it!! I think it''s possible that she''s been crate trained before (possibly her previous owners)--I even took it further and shut/locked the door and she just laid down.

Next thing will be to leave while she''s in there once she''s more used to it (in a few days) then come back to see if she gets upset.

 

[littlelysser]

Both of our dogs are were crate trained when they were pups. They both have the run of the house now, but we used it for a couple years...that way, we knew that the dogs would be safe when we weren't home and knew that our furniture would be safe too!

We took them down because they just didn't do much for the asthetic appeal of our dining room.

As for feeling guilty - honestly, our dogs liked their crates. Izzie would often go into his crate when he just wanted to be alone. And I know it is totally counterintuitive, but dogs really do like their crates. It is their space - kind of like a den. Make sure there is a nice soft floor (we used a big fleece blanket or a crate pad). For example, our little dog still sleeps in her crate. Every night when we go to bed she runs into her crate (which is upstairs, next to our bed) and stays until morning...

And honestly, you did very well by kind of allowing her to investigate the crate and lay down on her own. Much better to allow her to get used to it on her own time...maybe even put some treats in there when she can go in and just sort of sniff around...

I'd make the same recommendation I made regarding leaving the pup in the house by herself...I'd stuff a kong with peanut butter or some other delish doggie treat - and give that to her when she goes in the crate before you leave. Last word of advice, maybe leave the tv or radio on...might help alleviate and anxiety she might have...

One other word of advice...try not to use the crate as a punishment. I know we were tempted to put our big dog in their when he was being a terror (and believe me, as a puppy he was a total terror pretty much all the time), but we tried not to do it.

Hope this helps!
Melissa

 

[Mara]

i think the crate training is such a personal thing. some people love it, some people hate it, dogs love it, dogs hate it. we crate trained P when she was leaning to poddee since she was having a hard time learning. she picked it up very quickly. but she has never loved the crate. she much prefers to be out with us. she used to sleep in it at night up until about 1 year old...and she was fine after the first ~month or so when she realized we would ALWAYS come back and take her out of it (that is where some of the anxiety can come from...) and she learned to trust us. anyway...after she was 1 we started letting her sleep with us and that is all she wrote. she is great in the house, the only time we wish we still had the crate (we gave it to my parents for their beagle who outgrew her old crate) is when she is really sick and we need to quarantine her so she won't ruin the carpet or something. but we have an xpen that suffices in those times (it's like an octagon wire gate thing you can clip together and put in an area, ours is 6x6 so it's a nice size) even though she doesn't like it. she's a nosy/curious dog and has to be with you doing what you are doing. but she was crate trained...so we could probably do it again if we needed to. she just never *loved* it. but i know aljdewey's dog LOVES his crate and loves to hang out in it and even goes there when they are all home and he just hangs out in there. so some dogs just love it and other dogs tolerate it and some hate it. it sounds like you lucked out if she just went over and laid in it and laid down when you closed the door. awesome! i figure they don't have to love it as long as they can tolerate it if necessary.

 

[MrsFrk]

Absolutely.
My dog was a rescue, she was 4 when she joined our family.
She loves her crate. We keep it out with door open, and she goes in there to nap and to be alone when she is pissed at us, or we have company that she is not fond of. It's her little private nook.

We introduced her to it by just leaving the door open, putting her blankies and toys and some treats in there, door open.
Eventually, we would place her inside, and give her a treat through the door.
Soon enough, we would just tap the top of the crate, and she would happily trot in, knowing there was treat in it for her.
Now she just loves it in there. SOmetimes we still give her a treat, sometimes no. She doesn't expect it every time.
She is definitely a dog who likes to be in a cozy little space. She feels safe and secure. She can get very anxious, she will go into the recycling and tear everything into teeny, tiny little pieces. She loves her crate. Seeing her all curled up in a ball in there, there's no way I can feel guilty. She is happy, secure, safe and warm.

 

[portoar]

Yes, it''s very possible. Dogs feel secure in their crate; they are den animals and the crate becomes their den. Here is a suggestion I haven''t heard others give you. I feed my golden his meals in his crate. Granted, goldens are known for being food-obsessed and mine is no different, but once he figured out that being told to go in his crate he begs to go in it at mealtimes.

I also have a problem with my dogs charging the door when the bell rings (in a nice way, they want to greet everyone and slobber on them). Every time the door bell rings I would give the kennel in command.

After a while he would just head to the crate when he heard the doorbell ring without me even giving the command.

So, yes they like the crate, no they don''t mind it, and if you give your dog his meals in it he will love it even more.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 10/16/2006 10:19:44 PM
Author: Mara
i think the crate training is such a personal thing. some people love it, some people hate it, dogs love it, dogs hate it.

Mara, this second statement is simply not true. If the dog is properly introduced to the correct sized crate, I''ve NEVER seen a dog hate it. Some may prefer it over others; but, it is a natural space for a dog as long as the pet owner has no anxiety about it. And, it is the only safe way of transporting a pup in the car. The only argument is "what kind" of crate.

Against conventional wisdom - we even had a cat that was crate trained!

He was recoperating from an operation & needed to be confined. When he was free of his ailment, we had to move the crate outdoors. He whined until we did.

 

[larussel03]

Little update: last night our dog actually slept in her crate with no complaint--she even left and slept in the living room for a bit and then came back and slept in the crate. Then I went to move it into the living room (where it will ultimately stay) and she actually got in while I was moving it and wouldnt get out...I I had to pull the crate with her in it like she was the freaking queen of sheeba or something haha.

It'll take a while but I am optimistic that I'll be able to safely leave her in there for a few hours at a time soon...right now it's a few mins here and there wihtout us leaving the apartment.

 

[Julian]

I have a rescue dog and she took to crate training immediately. She was about 5 when we got her... She seems to love the crate & hangs out in there when there''s a thunderstorm. We padded it to make it comfy and it''s full of toys.

Sometimes it takes a while... The treats do help. Eventually, I hope it works out for you as well!!!

 

[Julian]

Date: 10/17/2006 10:40:01 AM
Author: *~Sweetpea~*
Little update: last night our dog actually slept in her crate with no complaint--she even left and slept in the living room for a bit and then came back and slept in the crate. Then I went to move it into the living room (where it will ultimately stay) and she actually got in while I was moving it and wouldnt get out...I I had to pull the crate with her in it like she was the freaking queen of sheeba or something haha.

It''ll take a while but I am optimistic that I''ll be able to safely leave her in there for a few hours at a time soon...right now it''s a few mins here and there wihtout us leaving the apartment.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am rolling on the floor over your description! Queen of sheba??!?? Hahahahahaha! I have done that before, too!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 10/17/2006 12:15:07 PM
Author: Julian

Date: 10/17/2006 10:40:01 AM
Author: *~Sweetpea~*
Little update: last night our dog actually slept in her crate with no complaint--she even left and slept in the living room for a bit and then came back and slept in the crate. Then I went to move it into the living room (where it will ultimately stay) and she actually got in while I was moving it and wouldnt get out...I I had to pull the crate with her in it like she was the freaking queen of sheeba or something haha.

It''ll take a while but I am optimistic that I''ll be able to safely leave her in there for a few hours at a time soon...right now it''s a few mins here and there wihtout us leaving the apartment.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am rolling on the floor over your description! Queen of sheba??!?? Hahahahahaha! I have done that before, too!

Haha, it was soooo funny! She was laying in there while I was pulling it. Silly girl...

 

[Mara]

F&I...sure if the dog is introduced to it correctly, but with a rescue you don't always know the history. Some dogs DO hate the crate...not necessarily something easy to change though with work it could be possible. I think anything is possible when it comes to dogs actually...if the trainer/owner has patience. My girlfriend has a jack who cannot stand to be crated, becomes a holy terror in it. He's a rescue and she never felt the need to crate him...plus she is not big into the doggie training thing, so she just never did. They are both happier that way and it works for them.

As for the transport in the car, I disagree re: the crate being the only way to travel safely. Our trainer told us that either a crate or the doggie seatbelt are both safe ways for the dog. In fact she pretty much felt like the crate could be more dangerous being banged around in a car during an accident if the dog is going willy nilly and every which way inside of it. Portia loves her seatbelt, she's safe and she is still able to see outside the window and what is going on in the car.

 

[AmberWaves]

Sweetpea, I''m glad it''s working out well for you guys!! You''re lucky your new family member lays down in the crate when you move it, my dog likes to get up and walk around while I shuttle him around the house, like it''s a ride or something!!

I think crate training is great, and it gives them something to call their personal space, which is always good!

 

[swingirl]

Date: 10/17/2006 10:22:09 AM
Author: fire&ice

Date: 10/16/2006 10:19:44 PM

Author: Mara

i think the crate training is such a personal thing. some people love it, some people hate it, dogs love it, dogs hate it.

Mara, this second statement is simply not true. If the dog is properly introduced to the correct sized crate, I''ve NEVER seen a dog hate it. Some may prefer it over others; but, it is a natural space for a dog as long as the pet owner has no anxiety about it. And, it is the only safe way of transporting a pup in the car. The only argument is ''what kind'' of crate.


Against conventional wisdom - we even had a cat that was crate trained!

He was recoperating from an operation & needed to be confined. When he was free of his ailment, we had to move the crate outdoors. He whined until we did.

Well, you''ve never met my dog. We crate trainned from day 1. We kept our puppy in the crate, kept the crate in the family room, fed the him in it, gave him treats for going in, stored his favorite toys. We made it soft and cozy, etc. As soon as our dog was potty trained and not needing to be put in the crate when we left the house, he was done with it. Never went in on his own. Would stand in front of it and wimper for a toy. We got him a nice open doggie bed and he loves it, sleeps in it all the time. We gave away the crate.

 

[larussel03]

Um...now she''s using the crate to not have training sessions. I try to have a few "mental exercise" sessions a day with her to teach and reinforce to her things like sit, stay, lay, roll over, paw etc...now everytime I go to start training she goes in the crate like "uh uh, not gonna do it." Maybe she''s tired. haha

 

[AmberWaves]

Okay, SP, that''s officially "HER" place now!! How funny! She took to it mighty fast, huh?

 

[larussel03]

Date: 10/17/2006 2:40:38 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Okay, SP, that''s officially ''HER'' place now!! How funny! She took to it mighty fast, huh?

haha, yep the crate is now momma-free zone...

 

[fire&ice]

Regarding car travel, a secured crate IS the safest way to transport a pet. Those airline crates absorb tremendous impact. Unfortunately, I am aware of one dog enthusiast that died in a car crash only to be survived by her two SS''s in their crates. Believe what you want. The harnesses are not going to help in a bad car accident - they work the same way a safety belt does. Helps - but isn''t an airbag - which could injure a pet.

I''m glad your dog is taking to the crate Sweatpea. But, she does have to come out of it! Keep us posted & I''m glad that you saw the positives in the crate.

 

[Mara]

F&I...I did not say SAFEST way. I said I don't think the crate is the ONLY safe way. As for safest, well that's debatable, I'm sure if you put 10 dog trainers in a room they would not all agree, they never seem to on anything.

Sweetpea, try tempting her out of the crate to get some training in with treats. Portia LOVES liver biscotti for training. hehe.

 

[gailrmv]

Sweet pea, that''s great!!! Along these lines, can anyone advise? My dog Claire has a lot of separation anxiety as I mentioned but she does very well in her crate. She goes right in when I say cratetime, or even as she senses we are getting ready to leave. She doesn''t usually hang out there when we are home but she does go in to retrieve her favorite toys or drink from her bowl there etc. Anyway, every time I put in a dog bed, towel, etc, she absolutely shreds it and pulls out all the stuffing. She thinks it is a giant toy and/or chews to relieve stress or boredom. After going through about 5 dogbeds I gave up - I don''t like cleaning up the shredded bits and stuffing, I think it could be a choking hazard, and I also don''t like the message it sends - i.e. she might think it is ok to chew up our down comforter, couch, or other items that seem similar to the dog bed! So for now she has no bed or liner in there. Can you think of ways I can get her to stop chewing up dog beds, or can you recommend something soft that is chew-proof?
Thanks!

 

[fire&ice]

Mara, my information doesn''t come from any dog trainers. I don''t trust any one dog trainer & they certainly wouldn''t be the ruling body on knowing the safest way to transport a dog.

That said, it''s quite a normal doggie activity to shred bedding, especially for female dogs. Unless the dog views your bedding as their''s, it''s likely the behaviour will not transcend. Have you tried one of those fake shearling pads? Mine don''t shred those like they do a pillow. Also, destuffing must be a doggie delight. My female destuffs evey toy except my male''s "baby".

 

[Gypsy]

We crate trained our Dog when we got her from the shelter. It took lots of treats and praise but she LOVES her crate now. She was four when we got her.

Also, there are citronella collars that are more effective (so I'm told, it didn't work on my Sheila, she was a barking air freshener for two weeks straight) than shock collars. Talk to your vet.

ETA: Ahh... I see that she's already taken to it. Sheila's crate is her "I'm a good girl" zone. Whenever she does something bad (which is a blessedly rare occurance) she hot foots in into her crate and looks up at you, all hopeful... "Mommy this is my good girl zone. I'm sorry I went into the garbage can... but see I'm a good girl in here. Right mommy? Right?" We never use the crate for punishment so... she's right. It's her good girl zone.