Question 1002: Crate on Command?!?

[Fantastic49]

is there any way to train her to go into her kennel on command?

i tried offering her treats near it and in it, but she is so wary of having to go in it and have the door closed that she will not go in for treats if i'm sitting anywhere near it and when she does, she only puts in half her body. she will go in there to lay down, but if i move from my spot on the couch, she is outta there b4 i ever get up!!

i would like to be able to have her go in on my command, not have to force her in there. i also don't have an hour before i go every time.

any suggestions?

[Mama_to_Rex]

Continue with the treats AFTER she gets in. I did that with Rex when he was a puppy and he has been going on command for a few years now. I'm training Rudy the same way... Only she really waits on the treat. Lol. Rex doesn't care anymore.

[Fantastic49]

Originally Posted by Mama_to_Rex

Continue with the treats AFTER she gets in. I did that with Rex when he was a puppy and he has been going on command for a few years now. I'm training Rudy the same way... Only she really waits on the treat. Lol. Rex doesn't care anymore.

my problem is that i CAN'T get her to go in on command so that i can give her treats!!! i give her treats when i put her in there, though, but it doesn't seem to make a difference to her, she knows she's gonna get treats, but she still doesn't wanna go in....

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Fantastic49

my problem is that i CAN'T get her to go in on command so that i can give her treats!!! i give her treats when i put her in there, though, but it doesn't seem to make a difference to her, she knows she's gonna get treats, but she still doesn't wanna go in....

I hope you can find an answer to this. She knows if she goes in there and you shut the door that you are leaving her. Can't blame her, though, for not wanting to be left.

[Fantastic49]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

I hope you can find an answer to this. She knows if she goes in there and you shut the door that you are leaving her. Can't blame her, though, for not wanting to be left.

i knoooooowwww she's very attached to me and she doesn't like it...i wish i could bring her along too....

[ChewyGeorgia85]

Maybe you could try putting her favorite toys in there so that she has some sort of comfort in there.
I kind of have issues with one of mine. My girl doesn't like to go in (she'd rather be out running around or sleeping in bed with my husband and I) but my male goes automatically without missing a beat. When initially crate training, we left the crate door open and whenever they went near it, we would praise with "good dog!" and such until we started with "Kennel up" and when they went in we treated. It just takes practice and patience. I'm sure your baby will adjust to the crate eventually! good luck!

[Mama_to_Rex]

Originally Posted by Fantastic49

my problem is that i CAN'T get her to go in on command so that i can give her treats!!! i give her treats when i put her in there, though, but it doesn't seem to make a difference to her, she knows she's gonna get treats, but she still doesn't wanna go in....

I get really excited when I go to the treat drawer. I ask who wants a treat and they both come running. They see me get the treats then I tell them to go get in the bed. I stay excited and happy with them the entire time. We go to their room and they get in their crates for the treat. I used to have to guide them in with the treat. It will work. Just stay consistent. Good luck!

[joeyandtanksmom]

Tank does it, Joey doesn't. If I tell my boys to "go to bed", Tank will run into his kennel and lay down, but Joey will crouch down and pout. He doesn't like the kennel, haha. I think it sorta depends on the dog. I would think that with VERY aggressive training, it could be taught though. By aggressive, btw, I just mean that you work very hard and very consistently to get it done.

[Fantastic49]

Originally Posted by ChewyGeorgia85

Maybe you could try putting her favorite toys in there so that she has some sort of comfort in there.
I kind of have issues with one of mine. My girl doesn't like to go in (she'd rather be out running around or sleeping in bed with my husband and I) but my male goes automatically without missing a beat. When initially crate training, we left the crate door open and whenever they went near it, we would praise with "good dog!" and such until we started with "Kennel up" and when they went in we treated. It just takes practice and patience. I'm sure your baby will adjust to the crate eventually! good luck!

she moves the toys and the chewy out and hides the chewy!!! i can't quite get her to play with her toys yet, i'm working on it!! LOL!!

i guess i'll just have to be patient ...

Originally Posted by Mama_to_Rex

I get really excited when I go to the treat drawer. I ask who wants a treat and they both come running. They see me get the treats then I tell them to go get in the bed. I stay excited and happy with them the entire time. We go to their room and they get in their crates for the treat. I used to have to guide them in with the treat. It will work. Just stay consistent. Good luck!

i try to guide her there with the treat, but she knows what's happening and she backs up and sits. she wants the treats, but she doesn't want the crate!! LOL!

Originally Posted by joeyandtanksmom

Tank does it, Joey doesn't. If I tell my boys to "go to bed", Tank will run into his kennel and lay down, but Joey will crouch down and pout. He doesn't like the kennel, haha. I think it sorta depends on the dog. I would think that with VERY aggressive training, it could be taught though. By aggressive, btw, I just mean that you work very hard and very consistently to get it done.

the pout is HILARIOUS!!!! ok, i guess we'll be working on this every day....


thanks for all the advice, folks!!! much appreciated!!!

[my2boyz]

Do you leave her kennel open all day for her to go in and out of on her own? That might help...she'll get used to it being her own little place and she'll enjoy being in there. My crew used to go into their kennels when I turned my cell phone on...they heard that little jingle and knew I was leaving the house so they all went to their 'rooms'...it was so cute They also went in them for 'night-night' and for their meals...that way they knew what was expected of them and at what time...the rest of the day their doors were left open for them to come and go as they pleased and they would actually go in them for naps. Megan would go in hers and pull the door shut...she loved her room...but we also had to double check her lock because she could undo them and then she let everyone else out. Megan is quite a character!

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Fantastic49

she moves the toys and the chewy out and hides the chewy!!! i can't quite get her to play with her toys yet, i'm working on it!! LOL!!

i guess i'll just have to be patient ...



i try to guide her there with the treat, but she knows what's happening and she backs up and sits. she wants the treats, but she doesn't want the crate!! LOL!



the pout is HILARIOUS!!!! ok, i guess we'll be working on this every day....


thanks for all the advice, folks!!! much appreciated!!!

There is no pout like a yorkie pout!

[RebelBelle]

Our boys go to their crates on command. We would just say "In your crates" and put them inside. After a while (a couple of months) they learned to just run in there on their own when we gave the command. Then we incorporated a stay command. Now I can send them to their crates and they will stay there until I release them (without us shutting the crate door). This is really great for keeping them safe, like when you're cooking with grease and they won't stay out of the kitchen or when you're moving furniture, etc.

We leave the crates doors open all the time so they play in them and go to nap in them on their own. That's where they drag their favorite toys and where they run to eat treats or chew on bully sticks. Both their crates have fleece pillow beds and a blanket inside to make it cozy.

We also use their crates as the "time out" spot if playing gets too rough or they jump on a guest or they won't stop barking. Jamie went through a stage where he was a horrible barker. Now when he starts the barking (if I know he doesn't need anything), I'll say "Do you wanna go to your crate?" and he stops.

Crate training is just like training them to sit or roll over... It just takes a ton of consistency and follow through.

[hugz4all4]

I started as soon as my dogs were puppies. When I would put them in there I would say "go to your bed" or "kennel" ( i have 2 that respond to) and then say good boy/girl etc. I only had to do it for a few weeks and they picked it up. All I say now is "bed" or "kennel" than they go running to thier kennels.
I think offering a "treat" after saying "kennel" and putting her in there she will learn. Follow with "good girl" etc. Make it exciting and happy. She will learn.. they all do.

[TresCutePiggies]

Luckily, both of my girls took to their crates immediately. One is a puppymill rescue, so it really isn't too surprising she loves her crate.

I wonder if it would help if you put her in her crate for just 5 minutes at a time when you were NOT about to leave with a bully stick, so she wouldn't always associate the crate/door shut with you leaving her. Maybe you could just give her bully stick (or another "special" treat she holds in high regard) time at night with her crate door shut while you watch TV or something in the same room with her.

I'm sure you've already done this but make sure her crate is filled with a soft crate pad, blankets, a favorite plush toy, a shirt that smells like you...whatever her favorite things and comforts are. I have so many layers of blankets on top of the fleece beds in their crates I'll bet they feel like they are on clouds. I've often had people tell me they would like to cuddle up for a nap in there.

I'll bet eventually she starts hanging out in her crate if you keep the door open when she wants some quiet time.

ETA: I wonder if she would like an xpen better with her crate inside and the door open? I think this is a great option if you are pee pad training and don't want to give her free run while you are out.

[lucirbc]

To get my dogs to go in i first tossed the treat into the back of the crate to get them "in". Eventually they would run to their crates whenever i went near the treats. Also, start with just a couple of minutes at a time in the crate while you are home.