Crate training help needed

[my.hero's.mrs]

I have never crate trained a dog before and the online resources I'm finding seem to be more of lectures that you shouldn't leave your dog in the crate and you shouldn't do this, that and the other thing.

I bought a crate because I'm having so much trouble training both of the puppies. It seems like as soon as you finally get one of them to understand what you're teaching them, the other doesn't do what they should and so they both go back to square one.

I just don't understand when to use the crate. Right now, I really need to finish this take-home final. Is it okay to put them in the crate in the same room as me? They sleep in their crate and don't have accidents during the night in there. But during the day, they don't go into it at all.

I read somewhere that you're supposed to put their food and toys in the crate. I don't do this because even though the crate is plenty big for the both of them (it's medium and they are no more than 7 lbs each), I still feel like they're uncomfortably squished up next to each other in there.

Please pass your crate training tips. I have read plenty about what you shouldn't do (leave them alone and use the crate as a tool that makes them think if they go into it, you'll leave them for long periods of time, etc). I just need to know how this crate can help me train both puppies successfully.

TIA!

[Ash Mark's.]

I got Auto from a shelter, where he's spend most of his life, so it was probably so easy for me because he's used to being crated.

All I had to do was bribe him to get him to go in. He still cries sometimes, mostly when I'm leaving for work and he's in there, or when somebody comes in while he's being punished, but I just give him a treat everytime he goes in. At first I had to take his collar and guide him (sometimes force ) into it, but now all I have to do is show a treat and say "batcave" (DF's idea ) and he walks in by himself on most occassions (we're still working on it, he's stubborn lol)

I crate Auto when it's bed-time (his bed time is usually 9pm. That's when he gets tired and obnoxious at that time.) I also crate him when I'm gone, or when he's being bad. I always put him in "his" hallway with the doggy gate up first for punishment, and then if he cries in there i'll put him in the kennel.

as for toys and food/water. I rarely put his food/water in the crate. He doesn't really have any toys, but I will throw in his rawhide while he's in there when I go to work. He is on scheduled eating, so I don't need to put his food/water in his crate though. He would have already eaten or not time for him to eat yet when he's in there.

[my.hero's.mrs]

When does he go in though? Mango still has accidents in the house. She knows she is supposed to go outside and has a special spot and everything. But she'll go inside like its no big deal. Its as though she likes being told she's a bad puppy for doing "bad potty". I grew up with dogs all of my life but I definitely made it harder on myself training 2 babies from square one together.

[Ash Mark's.]

i edited it like a bazillion times, sorry

[Ash Mark's.]

For accidents, this is how we've done it with every pet we've had and it's never been a problem, we stick their nose in it. Not literally shove it so they're eating their own feces, but put their face close to it. You wouldn't like having piss an inch from you nose, and neither do they. Eventually they'll get the whole "okay, I pee, i get to smell it, and i don't like that, so I'm going to make sure I don't do it inside" idea.

[LoveDisappears]

I know you said online info isn't helping much but maybe this can help anyways. I only crate our dogs when we go out.

And I can't stress enough that you do no want to put your dog in their crate as any sort of punishment. That is supposed to be their safe place.

Another great site [ American Dog Trainers Network -- How To Successfully Crate Train Your Puppy ]


# Crate or confine your puppy when you can't watch him—always. Train other family members to do the same.
# If you feed your puppy a commercial dog food, feed dry food. It will keep his stools more solid.
# Confine your puppy to rooms with tile or other washable flooring so mistakes don't ruin carpets.
# Keep your puppy on a schedule. Feed him at the same time every day, and try to get up and go to bed close to the same time every day while he's being potty trained.
# Puppies need lots of water, especially if they eat dry dog food. However, while you're potty training, feed your pup at least four hours before bedtime, and remove his water two hours before bedtime.
# Take your puppy to potty after every meal as well as the first thing in the morning, the last thing at night, every time he wakes up from a nap, after an active play session, and in the wee hours of the morning if you hear him moving around. Take him on a leash to the place you want him to use—that will teach him to use that spot, and also teach him that he can go even on leash with you standing right there. That can be important if you're away from home.
# When you take your puppy to potty, don't play with him until after he does his business. If he doesn't go within 10 minutes, put him in his crate for 10 to 15 minutes, then take him to potty again. When he potties, praise him and reward him with a treat or short playtime. Wait a few minutes before you take him in—sometimes puppies don't finish on the first try, so give him time to be sure he won't have to go again in three minutes.
# Keep your puppy's potty place clean—pick up feces every day. You don't like to step in it, and neither does he.
# If you don't have the time or patience to potty train a puppy, then adopt or buy an older puppy or adult dog that is already potty trained.

[LoveDisappears]

Originally Posted by Ash Mark's. For accidents, this is how we've done it with every pet we've had and it's never been a problem, we stick their nose in it. Not literally shove it so they're eating their own feces, but put their face close to it. You wouldn't like having piss an inch from you nose, and neither do they. Eventually they'll get the whole "okay, I pee, i get to smell it, and i don't like that, so I'm going to make sure I don't do it inside" idea.

Maybe it worked for you but this is a big no no..
When you do this, they have no idea what you're doing or what they've done wrong.
As well as I saw you said you put them in their crate for punishment? Another nono.


Only when you SEE your dogs making a mess THEN you can correct them but making a big noise [clapping ect] and saying NO! Then immediately taking them outside. And praise them when they go potty outside every time

[Ash Mark's.]

It may be a big nono for you, but we are different types of dog owners I have done those things with dogs present and past, and no harm has been made. Different owners punish and train different ways. Auto goes into his crate at night on his own, so clearly he doesn't see it as an evil place that is only for bad dogs

[cee_cee88]

When crate training my moms dog, the only times we put her in there was at night for her to sleep, and during the day if they were going to be away from the house. We NEVER used it as punishment, and we NEVER put food or toys in there. After getting into a routine, she knew that every night she went to bed in there when my parents went to bed. I don't know how it'll work about having it in the bedroom, but her crate was on the tile by the sliding glass door.

There's always doggy boot camps, and the training places at petsmart and such. You could always try taking them to those places.

Are you trying to use the crate as a way to train them not to potty in the house? That's not always the best idea. They'll associate the crate with getting in trouble and will dislike it more. If you're trying to house train them, you can use either the potty pads, or just take them outside alot during the day. Praise them when they do go in the correct places. We usually give our dog a treat when they go potty outside during training. It helps to reinforce the fact that going outside is good, and that when they go inside, they don't receive something in return.

[cee_cee88]

I just want to add that by not using the crate as a place of punishment, my parents dog goes in there routinely just to take her naps. She feels comfortable enough in there to relax and sleep, without having to watch everyone.