Is it too late to crate train an 18 month old?!?

[Fantastic49]

Hi folks, me again!!!

As you might know, I am bringing my 18-month old furbaby home in a couple of weeks. I'm told that her current family tried to crate-train her, but that she acted up so badly (barking, etc.) that they gave up and let her have her way ... all the way out of the crate....

I'm concerned about letting her have the run of the house for safety reasons, but I'm also wondering if this is the best way to train her? Is there a better way? Should I give this another try?

What have your experiences been or what have you heard about training adult dogs in this way?

Thanks!!!

[MaddieBoo]

Originally Posted by Fantastic49

Hi folks, me again!!!

As you might know, I am bringing my 18-month old furbaby home in a couple of weeks. I'm told that her current family tried to crate-train her, but that she acted up so badly (barking, etc.) that they gave up and let her have her way ... all the way out of the crate....

I'm concerned about letting her have the run of the house for safety reasons, but I'm also wondering if this is the best way to train her? Is there a better way? Should I give this another try?

What have your experiences been or what have you heard about training adult dogs in this way?

Thanks!!!

For safety reasons (and potty training reasons) I chose to crate-train Lucas when we moved from potty pads to outside. I would highly recommend it since it will give you peace of mind knowing she is always safe in there, and giving her a place she can feel comfortable and escape to for alone time. Lucas will just hang out in his kennel and take a nap with the door open.

The thing is to make it a place she wants to be. This could mean giving treats or having a toy in her crate with her. And do a little at a time, slowly working up until she is comfortable in there for extended periods.

Overall, having a crate or kennel will be something you and she can both rely on and go to whenever you need it. Definitely worth the hassle of the training. Good Luck

Just wanted to add that it is possible to train her even though she isn't a brand new pup. As I mentioned, it wasn't until we stopped using the puppy pads that we crate trained him.

[Fantastic49]

Originally Posted by MaddieBoo

For safety reasons (and potty training reasons) I chose to crate-train Lucas when we moved from potty pads to outside. I would highly recommend it since it will give you peace of mind knowing she is always safe in there, and giving her a place she can feel comfortable and escape to for alone time. Lucas will just hang out in his kennel and take a nap with the door open.

The thing is to make it a place she wants to be. This could mean giving treats or having a toy in her crate with her. And do a little at a time, slowly working up until she is comfortable in there for extended periods.

Overall, having a crate or kennel will be something you and she can both rely on and go to whenever you need it. Definitely worth the hassle of the training. Good Luck

Just wanted to add that it is possible to train her even though she isn't a brand new pup. As I mentioned, it wasn't until we stopped using the puppy pads that we crate trained him.

that makes sense, but what do you do with her during the training period when you don't have her in the crate?

also, i have heard that they could end up choking on toys or chewing up toys left in the crate ... what are your thought on this?!

[MaddieBoo]

Originally Posted by Fantastic49

that makes sense, but what do you do with her during the training period when you don't have her in the crate?

also, i have heard that they could end up choking on toys or chewing up toys left in the crate ... what are your thought on this?!

When we were training Lucas (we were training for a loooong time). We would have him in his harness on his leash and then attach the leash to us (like on a belt loop, etc). It worked so well, he would never have an accident.

As far as toys in the crate, I more meant when you are starting out training her and are home when she is in there, just to make her feel comfortable.

When she is in there alone while you are out, there are some safe alternatives for having in the crate. Here is the one we give Lucas (yellow football one at the top):
Welcome to JW Pet Company - The Leading Innovator of Pet Supplies

It's virtually indestructible. Lucas can chew pretty good and there isn't a scratch on it so I find it safe.

[LuvmyYorkies2]

Hello! Congratulations on your new baby. When would you be crating her? I started with the kennel but just didn't like her being in such a confined space for too long. Will you be leaving her in there while you're gon to work? How long would that be?

I just don't like the idea of leaving them in a crate/kennel while I'm gone to work. I also do not work close to home so coming home during lunch, etc. was not an option.

I prefer baby gating if you have to confine her....they can be trained that way as well. You can pick a place like the kitchen area, bathroom(leaving the door open but having the baby gate at the door) or something like that. I would put a pp pad in there, her bed or you can even put a kennel leaving the door to it open & put her bed in there, a little water bowl, toys & maybe a treat.

As I said, mine have free roam of my entire main floor(it's all hardwood). I baby gated the steps leading to the basement and they could go upstairs but I keep all bedroom doors closed. So that leaves them the foyer/living room, kitchen, breakfast room, dining area, with about 5 beds around, food/water, their basket of toys and a couple of pp pads in the corner.

Mine are all pp pad and outdoor trained. They will wait to go out but sometimes when I leave for work, I'm gone for about 8-9 hours & I wouldn't feel right having them so confined.

You can try a couple of different things depending on your schedule & situation and you'll determine what works best for you.

Best of luck!

[Fantastic49]

Originally Posted by LuvmyYorkies2

Hello! Congratulations on your new baby. When would you be crating her? I started with the kennel but just didn't like her being in such a confined space for too long. Will you be leaving her in there while you're gon to work? How long would that be?

I just don't like the idea of leaving them in a crate/kennel while I'm gone to work. I also do not work close to home so coming home during lunch, etc. was not an option.

I prefer baby gating if you have to confine her....they can be trained that way as well. You can pick a place like the kitchen area, bathroom(leaving the door open but having the baby gate at the door) or something like that. I would put a pp pad in there, her bed or you can even put a kennel leaving the door to it open & put her bed in there, a little water bowl, toys & maybe a treat.

As I said, mine have free roam of my entire main floor(it's all hardwood). I baby gated the steps leading to the basement and they could go upstairs but I keep all bedroom doors closed. So that leaves them the foyer/living room, kitchen, breakfast room, dining area, with about 5 beds around, food/water, their basket of toys and a couple of pp pads in the corner.

Mine are all pp pad and outdoor trained. They will wait to go out but sometimes when I leave for work, I'm gone for about 8-9 hours & I wouldn't feel right having them so confined.

You can try a couple of different things depending on your schedule & situation and you'll determine what works best for you.

Best of luck!

thanks!! i work from home, so i am generally here ... i plan to bring her with me to most places, but i won't be able to bring her everywhere, so the question is what to do with those short (maybe 1-2 hour) stints that i am gone. i can totally understand not wanting to use a crate for 8-9 hours a day ... that seems like a lot to me too ... maybe it will just take a bit of trial and error to figure out what works for us....

[LuvmyYorkies2]

What a blessing to be able to work from home. I do on Fridays and occasionally other days... the girls just love it when I'm home all day

1-2 hours is not long at all. You could definitely try it during those times then. Take her out right before you head out, then immediately take her out again as soon as you get back in. Hopefully, she'll pick it up in no time. Since she's not a pup, I'm not sure if older ones tend to be easier to train or not...I guess it depends on their past situations.

keep us posted.

[beader]

This is what I use Precision pet exercise pen. It folds up when I don't want it out and he has more room than a crate but is still contained. This might be a better option if he doesn't like the crate. You can also bring the pen outside and they love it

[Fantastic49]

Originally Posted by beader

This is what I use Precision pet exercise pen. It folds up when I don't want it out and he has more room than a crate but is still contained. This might be a better option if he doesn't like the crate. You can also bring the pen outside and they love it

this looks really good, i hear she's a jumper, so i hope she's not able to jump over it!!

[Britster]

I think it all depends on the dog.

I started out w/ a crate with Jackson and it was very useful for the first few weeks because it was a place I could put him when I couldn't keep my eye on him 24/7 for pottying. We literally only did the crate thing for maybe 3 weeks, then I purchased an ex-pen that he stayed in while we left. By probably 4 1/2 months old, I put a babygate in my bedroom door and left him in my bedroom. He had full reign of the house by 5 1/2-6 months old. He just never took to the crate no matter what I did and he was always trustworthy outside of it (never once has had an accident or chewed anything while we're not home). So for him, I never felt the crate was necessary. My dad adopted a 1 year old Doxy mix from the shelter so we really didn't know much about his prior history but he's never once had to be crated and was obviously already potty trained because he always went outdoors to do his business so he never had to be crated.

[RemydeHaviland]

Remy was never crate trained, and IMO it may be difficult to attempt to after 18 months

Your concern appears to be safety - perhaps you could use baby gates to cordon off certain areas of the house so she still has the "perception" of freedom

This works for Remy at my parents house - he does not mind being "kept out" of places... but he hates, hates, hates being confined to a place

[JenniferLeigh]

Originally Posted by Fantastic49

H
I'm concerned about letting her have the run of the house for safety reasons, but I'm also wondering if this is the best way to train her? Is there a better way? Should I give this another try?

What have your experiences been or what have you heard about training adult dogs in this way?

You can still crate train her, but it make take a little longer. Ear Plugs are a must!

Lexi is crate trained and I'm so happy she is. It's nice to know I can leave her in a crate when I've visiting people and she won't cry bloody murder.

Our doberman was crate trained at 2 years. It took her much longer to accept the crate at night. She would cry, fuss, shred her blankets and even throw herself against the crate. Finally, she sleeps through the night.

When we tried to crate train our late golden retriever, she wouldn't have it. She whined and it broke our hearts so we gave up.

I honestly think it helps build a well rounded dog, but if you start, you'll need to stick with it. She'll cry and pout but you can't give in!

[Fantastic49]

Originally Posted by Britster

I think it all depends on the dog.

I started out w/ a crate with Jackson and it was very useful for the first few weeks because it was a place I could put him when I couldn't keep my eye on him 24/7 for pottying. We literally only did the crate thing for maybe 3 weeks, then I purchased an ex-pen that he stayed in while we left. By probably 4 1/2 months old, I put a babygate in my bedroom door and left him in my bedroom. He had full reign of the house by 5 1/2-6 months old. He just never took to the crate no matter what I did and he was always trustworthy outside of it (never once has had an accident or chewed anything while we're not home). So for him, I never felt the crate was necessary. My dad adopted a 1 year old Doxy mix from the shelter so we really didn't know much about his prior history but he's never once had to be crated and was obviously already potty trained because he always went outdoors to do his business so he never had to be crated.

when you leave the house, what do you do with jackson? is he free to roam?!? he's obviously extremely well trained (i've seen the tapes ). i'm just a little concerned b/c she's so tiny (3 lbs)....

i called the owner and i found out that she is a HIGH jumper, she can jump up on a high bed, at least 30" .... so would an ex-pen be useful for her?!?

she also said she takes her out to go to the bathroom and that she doesn't wear diapers when she goes in her crate, but she also said she doesn't trust her and makes her wear diapers around the house when she's not in her crate (which is the typical situation).

[Fantastic49]

Originally Posted by RemydeHaviland

Remy was never crate trained, and IMO it may be difficult to attempt to after 18 months

Your concern appears to be safety - perhaps you could use baby gates to cordon off certain areas of the house so she still has the "perception" of freedom

This works for Remy at my parents house - he does not mind being "kept out" of places... but he hates, hates, hates being confined to a place

are there any solutions other than baby gates? i think she can jump over them? i'm not opposed to that idea, but getting it to work is another story

[MaddieBoo]

Originally Posted by Fantastic49

are there any solutions other than baby gates? i think she can jump over them? i'm not opposed to that idea, but getting it to work is another story

Wow you're going to have quite a little jumper! Lucas is similar that way but is 6lbs, not 3. If she can jump over baby gates and xpens, and is only 3lbs., I would be really concerned about her hurting herself if she wasn't confined somehow. I would try the crate training.