Crate vs. Pen Help me I have both a crate and a large folding crate the size of a pen (I can crawl in there and take a nap). I'd like to be able to put him in the pen when I go out, and I don't really care if he soils the pen. I'd like to be able to put him in the crate for traveling and a time out. I don't mind him sleeping in my bed. Basically, I'd like to be able to use either without him barking and crying. A friend tells my I'm confusing him by trying to use both. I started putting him in the crate and wearing earplugs, but I think he thinks he was being punished, so I now have the top of the crate off, and I've been throwing treats in there for him. Soon I'll put the top on, with the door open, and continue this. As for the pen: I just put him in there with a bunch of toys and he starts crying in about 3 minutes when he can't see me. I've been throwing toys in there with the door open and he runs in and gets the toys, so he's not afraid of the pen. I have no idea what I'm doing. He's 3 months old and I've never had a dog before. Am I doing too much too soon? Should I get him used to one then work on the other. If so, which one first? I don't know. Thanks. |
Hi there. Can you put the crate in the pen and leave the door open for him? this way, he can go in and out of it so he can get comfortable with it. I would put a t-shirt or something with your scent on it in the bottom of the crate so he can smell you and know that it's not a bad thing. When we first got Hot Rod, he was in a crate for as long as it took to get an expen. I had his crate, pee pad and food and water in the pen. He and Maggie still go into the pen at night only now there are a couple of beds and tons of their blankies. lol I say to them, "night-night" and they, for the most part go in on their own to sleep. Hot Rod's crate is still in there and he may go into it once in a blue moon. I've seen other where they've put something like a plastic shower curtain underneath and then the pee pad so if they miss, it is no big deal. If I need to put either one of them in a carrier, they go into it, they don't like it but they settle down. Good luck, it was the best thing we did for us. |
I pretty much started with a crate in the pen, until he started climbing on the crate trying to jump out or chewing the crate into pieces. So I took it out and had a pee pad and toys in there. Eventually I took the pad out and he never soils it because the whole thing is like his den. I tell him "go to your room" and he will go and lay down. I think you're doing ok. Just takes a little time. I would say "go to your room" (or whatever command) and hold the treat over the pen and make him wait a few seconds then give him the treat. Did this over and over for about a week and he has no problems. |
Thanks for the tips. This little guy is a climber, too. I may be making progress. After taking the top off the crate I started throwing treats in there and today he walked in and just sat down with no treats. We'll see how things go when I put the top back on -- with the door open of course. I have a towel in there and one of my worn t-shirts. |
Wookie cried at first when we put him in the crate. We just told him to 'shh' and we never gave in to his cries. Once he realized crying didn't get anything he stopped doing it. Now he only does it if he has to potty. Same thing with the pen :) |
Success? Okay. Ruger still has the big folding crate and the small hard one. I've been throwing treats into the small crate and he goes in and gets them. Today I put the top partway on and threw a greenie in there and he went in and ate the whole thing inside his crate. On the big crate: I've been throwing toys in there and playing games with him praising him when he goes in and gets the toys out. I put a doggie bed in there and threw some toys in and left the house for about three hours. No barking or whining, at least that I could tell. When I got home he was excited to see me and I let him out. He did poop in the crate at the opposite end of the bed, but as far as I'm concerned that's okay as it's a big crate. How am I doing? Or better yet, how's he doing? |
Sounds great! If the crate is too big you may want to consider blocking it off to make it small enough so he doesn't eliminate at one end. Or you can put a potty pad at one end. |
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