Jasper hates the crate!
 

Ok, I've got a thread going over in the "training", but while I'm getting advice, I might as well see about our crate issue too.

Jasper is deathly afraid of the kennel. The breeder told me she did not crate train, so I know he has never been in one. We are puppy pad (soon to be puppy patch) training, but we did get a kennel for when we leave, because this little guy can and will, I'm afraid get into everything if we go to the store or something. He seems to find every cord (even though I do conceal them), and I have no doubt he would find trouble if he roamed free through the house while we are gone. So we were going to try him out and run a quick errand one day and I put him in his kennel (which he loves when the door is open) and shut the door, and he went crazy. I was so scared he was going to hurt himself that I just took him out and stayed home. Now we have to leave the house in shifts, always leaving someone with him. But obviously, at some point we are going to have to do something as a family, and I'm just wondering if the kennel is a lost cause for us, or maybe if there other things I can try.

My husband bought the kennel from Petsmart. It is not a typical hard plastic kennel, but it is canvas, and the door isn't metal, but more cloth looking, so I'm afraid he'll tear through it, or tear it enough to harm himself during his fit (I can post a picture if it will help). I am more than willing to invest in a more standard kennel, but would like to know if everyone thinks that will solve the problem.

You could try luring him in there with treats, leaving him in with a pb stuffed kong for a min, and then letting him out. How does he react? Like he's scared of it because he doesn't know what it is, or like he knows what it is and doesn't want to be left in it for a prolonged period of time? Maybe the breeder actually used them? If you don't want to try the kennel, you could get an x-pen. It has 8 panels and can basically fence in an area and keep your pup safe. It's big enough for him to run a bit and have pee pads and food and toys. You may want to put the crate in the ex-pen to get him used to it and give him a hide-out.

Jasper hates crate
 

When I first got my yorkie I bought a small cage from Walmart. it cost like $35.00 because I was scared to leave her loose still am...LOL... she able to look around the whole room and I never had a problem with her going in it. So when we leave all we say is go get in the cage and she does. she's a yr old now. Just try leaving him in the crate for 1-2 hours first and it will get better as time goes... Good Luck

I used a wire kennel with my girls and draped a blanket just over the top and sides. I placed toys, treats, and a soft blanket to lay on and left the door open all the time. I would occasionally lure them in with threats or toys and let them freely come out. When I had to place one of them in thier crate I always gave them a treat as a reward.

Now, Cooper is the only one that still uses her crate and she will run into it when we go buy thinking she will get a treat.:rolleyes: They catch on quick with goodies as rewards.

I would use an ex-pen. They sell them at pet smart. I set mine up the elongated way with her bed at one end food in the middle and her pee pad near the door of the pen. Kennel-Aire Exercise Pens - Exercise Pens - Crates & Kennels - PetSmart
You can always look at my album on my profile for a picture of it I think it is in the first album of Pixie. I would post a picture here but I don't have a file resizer, and my pictures are too big.

You have a point maybe the cage gives him flashbacks, the breeder told me she didn't crate him, but looking back, I don't think she was probably the trustworthy breeder type. I would say, though, my first thought was that he is scared. Petsmart was closed when my husband got off work, so I had him go to Walmart and get the cage-like crate. It's definitely more roomy, and not so enclosed (I just hope he can't fit thru it, lol). If that doesn't work, I'm going with the xpen which I've just about decided to go ahead and get anyway. I'm going to get the puppy patch from there anyway. I just don't want him stressing to the point it makes him sick. :questione