Too late to crate train…?
My dog is about 11 months old (a rescue..we’re not exactly sure!). I’ve had dogs all my life and none have been crate trained. However, this pup is known to chew furniture while we’re not their. She’s already made herself sick a few times on stuff she’s found around the house. (We’re doing a remodel…there’s some materials out.)
Anyway, she’s a 11-ish month old GSD/rotty mix. We’ve had her since she was 4-ish months. We tried to confine her to one room when we first got her, but she seems to take each obstacle as a personal challenge. She has the whole house to herself from 8am-3pm and usually does well.
I have her signed up for obedience school (starting Thursday..yay!) but wondering if crate training would be a good idea as well. She doesn’t chew/rummage/whatever all the time. And she is 100% house trained. It’s just those few times (maybe once per week) that my husband comes home to a chunk out of the coffee table…
Too late to crate? What would be the 1st step
No it’s not to late to crate train, but ask your trainer what are some good techniques to use to get him crate trained.
Good Luck
I don’t think it’s too early to crate train. Just make sure your consistant with it. When you eat put him in it. Put him to bed the same time every night. And call it the same thing like bed, or crate. Just be consistant. Dogs love having a den. I think he’ll do fine. He might whine or bark to begin with just tough it out. Also, make sure you get one that’s big enough for him when he’s full grown.
Never to late to crate…And if she’s taking chunks out of the coffee table, it’s as much for her safety as it is for your checkbook!
Your first step is to go and buy the crate. It should only be big enough for her to stand, turn around and lay down. A Large will probably suffice.
Next, put her in for short times – Praise her and tell her she’s a good girl. Increase the times you put her in and be prepared to listen to her complain about it. Don’t give in to her crying or let her out until she’s quiet, otherwise she’ll train you to open the door every time she cries.
Dog’s NEVER like their crates at first, but once she gets used to it, she’ll accept it as her “Den” and go in when she’s told or by herself if you leave the door open.
No it’s never too late to crate train.
Just make sure it’s large enough for him to stand up, and turn around in.
Start slowly, and leave the crate door open when you are HOME, to get him used to it.
Throw treats in there, and leave toys and chew toys in there, as well.
No, it’s not too late to crate train her. Be sure to get a crate that is long enough for her to stretch out full length in, wide enough for her to turn a full circle in, and tall enough for her to stand up in.
Introduce her to the crate (a wire crate is best) by feeding her in the crate. Shut the door while she’s eating, and leave her in there for about 5 minutes after she’s done. Slowly, over several weeks, increase the time you leave her in the crate. Be sure to take her outside to her potty place as soon as you let her out. Between meals, toss treats or new toys into the crate, but don’t close the door. Encourage her to go in after them. If you do this, she won’t think that EVERY time she goes into the crate, she’ll be shut up in there and can’t get out.
There are water bowls that attach to the wire frame of the crate; get one of these, and if you leave her in the crate for any length of time, be sure she has plenty of water.
Be sure to leave her with plenty of toys to chew on in your absence, whether she’s in the crate or out of it. If you put her in the crate and don’t give her chew toys, she’ll chew on the pad.
There are three “MUST READ” books you can probably get at Amazon.com.
1. The first is “The Dog Whisperer” by Cesar Millan. Teaches you how to be a pack leader.
2. The second is “The Dog Listener” by Jan Fennell. Teaches you how to get willing cooperation from your dog.
3. The third is “The Art of Raising A Puppy” by the Monks of New Skete. Teaches you how to get a puppy started right as a member of your pack.
Crate training is a great idea. Below are links to the instructions I’ve used (from San Francisco SPCA and Marin Humane Society).
And as a note, even if you decide not to use a crate all the time, it is a good idea keep your pet accustomed to it. That way, if you ever need to ship or confine your dog (or even leave it overnight at the vet) it will be a far less stressful experience!
As for my dog, she is very secure in her crate; it is kept open all night and day for her to go to when she wants.
No, it’s not too late. I’ve kennel trained rescues from 6 weeks to 15 years old. It’s a safety measure not only for your house, but for your dog. I never had kennel trained my dogs until about 4 years ago, now I would never go back even though I know that 2 of my 4 dogs would be perfectly fine left out alone. Why take the chance.
The first step is choosing a kennel (crate always makes me feel like I’m shipping them off somewhere…lol). Measure your dog. I have 3 x-lg kennels and all three of them are different heights. This is fine with two of my dogs (American Bulldogs) because they are shorter. However, I too have a Rottie mix who is extremely tall. The first kennel I bought was an x-lg, but he couldn’t stand with his head up so I ended up finding another one that was taller. You want his kennel large enough that he can stand up comfortably, turn around a lay down.
Once your dog has the right size kennel, make it comfortable for him. Some dogs like a soft fluffy pillow, while others prefer just a thin mat. Put one or two of his favorite things in there that he can ONLY have when he’s kennelled. Then your ready to start his training.
I’ve found the easiest way is to start putting him in while I’m home and moving around the room he’s in. Staying within sight and then leaving the room for short periods of time. My kennels are in what used to be my dining room, right off the kitchen. I learned that he would lay quietly while I was fixing dinner, so that’s when I started his training. Then I expanded it to when I left the house to run to the store (30 minutes at a time). Now, if he’s not actively playing or outside, he’s laying in his kennel. He’s even taught himself to open the door himself, so he can go in at will.
Be patient. If your’s is anything like mine was…you may be in for some sleepless nights. Beau barked all night long for the first couple of weeks until he realized that it was his own space. But in the long run, it took a real load off my mind knowing that I could leave him for period of time and not have to worry about him eating soap (one of his favorite snacks) or chewing on my stair rail or any of the other million and one things he found to get into.