Crate train adult dog (not for housebreaking)??
 

My dog is already housebroken, we use peepee pads. But I've had an unusual occurence lately. Bentley is hiding inside of dads recliner (which is unsafe obviously) like every night now. He seems to want to hide and we don't know why. So I brought in the house my old large crate that was for my large cat as I can't get to his see-through crate in the garage, the garage is chock full in the area I need to get to to get the crate.

I am trying to get my timid dog to want to go into the crate and feel safe there. I don't want him in dads chair I want him to go to his crate, eventually. I have a folded up towel in there that is partially hanging out so the door wont close on him in case he is in there. I am putting treats leading up to the towel and on the towel and into the crate but he only goes wont touch the towel with his paws and leans forward to get some of the treats and backs away from it to eat the treat. Now this is just day one here. So I am going to leave the crate there for a few days or so to see if he gets used to it and is more inquisitive. I'm leaving the treats in the crate for him. We did have success with him going nearer to the crate and sticking his head partially inside it, so that's good. But he seems so scared of it.

I sat on the floor with him (which is not an easy thing for me to do lol) and tried to be patient with him. I gently encouraged him by saying "Good boy" and "go get it" in a calm soothing voice. I don't know what else to do. Am I doing this correctly? I've never crate trained a dog before. He is my first dog. What should I be doing?

Thanks!!

I don't know what to tell you, I have never used a crate. Does the crate smell like the cat? Maybe put a towel over it so it doesn't look like a crate. I used to have to do this when I tried to put my cats in the carrier to take them to the vet. Maybe he thinks he is being punished. My Hobbes is very timid at times. if I talk a little too loud he thinks he is in trouble and he cowers down or rolls over on his back into submission. Good Luck

Yeah it probably smells like my cat. I don't think he thinks he's in trouble. I've never put him in a crate when he was in trouble, and even then that would have been 3 years ago (when he was a little pup). So I don't know what to do. I want him to feel comfortable going into it. He needs a den of some kind. Maybe if he had one he wouldn't sleep or be in dads chair. :(

Try putting a piece of clothing that you have been wearing in his crate. Your scent may help encouage him inside & comfort him. Have done this when I leave one home after getting a new one till they settle in. Good Luck

I agree to use a piece of your clothing or something with your scent on it inside the crate. Then, get him a SUPER treat that he ONLY gets when he goes in the crate. For Ozzy, that's the only time he gets the Kong stuffed with peanut butter and 2 cookie treats. Throw a couple of his toys in there. Ozzy's crate has a flap you can open on the top to put your hand in, so when he IS locked in I can still give him treats and pet him.

Give it time. It'll probably take a while for him to feel comfortable in it. My SIL calls her dog's crate her "bed". She's so happy in it she just has to say "go to bed" and she runs right in there and gets all calm and relaxed.

Well this is what I did, may work for you may not.

I crate trained Pnut when he was young. I dunno if it will have the same out come.

I put him in the crate, stood there waited a second, told him he was a good boy and gave him a treat. Then I closed the door, waited a second and gave him a treat, then I walked away, in his view still. Everytime he made a peep, I told him NO. I did that for about 10 mins. Then took him out and gave him a treat. I did that again, same time sane everything. I did it a couple times.

Then I started to do it the same, but I went to a different room, and when he made a peep I said No. I repreated that a couple times.


I did that during the day, by the time it was night and it was time to go in his crate to sleep he was ok. I put the crate next to me on my bed side, and he was ok, he made a couple peeps but I corrected him and he stopped...

Now, he loves his crate! I made it like a "man cave" LoL thats at least what I call it. I put a big throw blanket in there and kinda put it up on all sides so its closed in, and I put the crate in my closet. He sleeps in there every night, some mornings he wont even want to get out! Oh I leave the closet door opened too, so he stays nice and warm!

I'm not clear about your intention. Do you want him in the crate so you can close the door for a time? If you just want him safe (away from Dad's chair) why not direct him to a special bed (like a cloud nine!)??

I think you are doing the right thing by not forcing it, letting him explore and giving special treats. Dori only gets a kong when I am leaving for errands. Then, I say, "go to your bed." and leave her with the treat. She also has a choice of 4 beds and a mat :-)

I had to crate one of my previous Yorkies late in her little life. When she was about 15 it became necessary for potty issues. She did really good for her age, but could not hold it very long. It took a few weeks for her to get used to going in the crate and staying in it. I worked with her slowly and only used it for when I left the house. (She started going pee about 5 minutes after I left the house.) I got her a crate about 3 times larger than I needed - not something you do for potty training. But, because I knew she would go potty in it, I wanted to make sure she had space - the removable floor grid and tray made it super easy to clean. I put a pee pad in one half and her bed on the other. I digress...sorry.

After a short time, she would get excited to go in her crate when I was getting ready to leave because she knew she would get a "cookie". She had regular treats and the special crate treats - funny little dogs! I knew she was safe in her crate when I was gone and did not have to worry about her falling off of the bed or couch.

We just got our rescue yorkie yesterday. We need him to sleep in the crate, since we don't know any of his habits yet. I put him in a little while today, when we went out for a couple of hours. He is still getting used to his new surroundings. He pooped in the cushion. I was told to put a little food in with him. Also I don't know what health treats we can give him. We are still building his health back and don't want to venture to far from his diet.
Any help is appreciated