Question about pups in crates
 

I am not sure where I should ask this:confused: , but I want an answer soon...and I know this is where you all look 1st--too much good stuff in this thread!!!!

As some of you know, I have two yorkies--Emmy and Oscar. Emmy is a little over a year and Oscar almost 13 weeks. Neither are what I would call "crate" babies. Both came home in a crate and never darkened the door of the crate again. Yes, they both have free roam in 3 rooms of the house. They don't want to ride in the crates in the car either.

Finally the QUESTION: Since I am home for the summer, I thought maybe I could "train" them to like the crates more or least get used to them somewhat. I just put both of them in their crates while I was vacuuming. You would have thought they were DYING!!! The barking, the moaning, the whining, the gnashing of the teeth...I am sure some of you know the sounds. I really want to get them more used to the crates--just in case we need to ever really use them and definitely for travel. Is is okay to just let them stay in the crates for a little bit (how many minutes???) every few hours during the day while I am home with them??? Thoughts??? I refuse to leave them in the crates while I am away during the day.

BTW, I left them in the crates while I came to ask and they are really quiet now....woohoo!!!:)

OK, the question I have for you is: Do you want to crate train them, or just get them to not hate the crates for transportation, etc.

The reason I ask is that you say you refuse to leave them in the crates while you're away during the day.

"Crate training" is a whole method of providing a "den" for your dogs. Since they are denning animals, they actually come to like their crates, and seek them out for comfort. It also helps with potty training because by nature, dogs do not like to potty where they sleep.

Chloe is crate trained. She sleeps in the crate at night, and she stays in the crate when I'm gone. Now I don't work, and when I leave her, the most is a few hours--she can and has stayed much longer in there, but those are rare occasions. It is actually a safe place for them to stay when you're not there, but as far as on a regular basis--like 10 hours a day when you go to work--I don't think is good for them. Not just the crating so much as they shouldn't be left alone like that for so long on a regular basis.

I don't know if it is possible to get them used to it without it being a regular place for them.

No, sorry, I was vague about it...I don't want to crate train them...i just want them to not hate to go in them if necessary...like in the car. Thanks for your help.

One thing that might help is if you make crate-time a happy time. I assume that they don't like the vacuum (because most dogs don't) so you don't want them to associate crate time with the vacuum. When you put them in their crates, give them treats and put in their favorite toys.

I never crate trained Jake because I never really had to. He was very easy to potty train with full roam of the house, but that's because he has had constant supervision. I work, but my hubby and I work different shifts so someone is always home with him.

I brought Jake home in a crate, and I use it to take him to the vet or anytime I'm doing the driving and don't have anyone with me in the car. He really likes his crate alot. I think he feels safer in it, especially in a moving car. I can tell you what I did to get him used to his crate and to think it's a good place to be. From the time I got him, I've kept the crate in whatever room we are in and leave the door open. It has a fleece bed in it, and some of his toys. He will often go in the crate for naps on his own, and he will take whatever toys he wants with him. Everytime I see him go in the crate, I give him a treat. I have no problem getting him to get into the crate when I take him somewhere.

Your dogs might have been scared because they heard the vacuum cleaner. I would try keeping their crates in the same room you're in at first so that they can see you. Once they get used to it, they will probably like it. good luck!:)

I think it's hard to get them to like being crated unless they are in it on at least a semi frequent basis... but..

You could feed them in the crate (door open for a while, then door shut).. give treats and toys in the crate.. associate positive things with it! :)

My Emily Kate loves her crate. I keep it in the kitchen with the door open. When she is tired or sleepy or just wants to be alone she goes there. We have made it like it is her space. It is a safe place for her to go and no one will bother her. We never remove her from her crate. She can stay there uninterrupted as long as she chooses. Emmy will take her favorite toys and even her clothes into the crate and put them in a pile. She prefers to sleep there rather than with me. The door is open so she can come out when she wants. My other yorkie, Alyssa, hates the crate. She thinks of it as punishment. Alyssa prefers to sleep in bed with me.

We just brought our Nina home 1 month ago.

We have a crate, but felt it was too big,

so we put her in the Sherpa travel bag to sleep in.
She loves it!
We move it from the bedroom to the living room during the day, ans she sometimes goes in to lay down or just take a pause. I bought a little donut shaped thing to replace the sherpa blanket that goes in it. It is more stable and comfortable for her.

She had never been in a crate before either!


As she gets older, we may want to put her in the regular crate. Our vet said to begin putting the Sherpa bag inside the crate to transition her.

I am so happy she loves the Sherpa bag. She is ready for any travelling she will do. We might go visit my sister in Boston soon, so she is ready!

When we went to the vet, I took her in the Sherpa bag and she hung out in it in the examining room. After her shots, she wanted to get back in it. It really has become her comfort zone.

She also likes this canvas tote carrier I got from Target's Shabby Chic line. She goes in it when I run errands, like the gardening center, Home Depot, etc...

Maybe you could put some treats inside their crate.

One thing is for sure, if they start the howling and you give in, they are training you to take them out when they howl instead of you training them that it is okay to be inside the crate.

As hard as it is, I would just reassure them that you are there, and stick with it.

Good Luck!

skoshi has never been in a crate unless it was at the breeders.

he has always had free roam and he outside trained. i personally dont like the whole crate thing but thats my opinion i couldnt and wouldnt keep skoshi locked in a crate. I dont down anyone who does do it but i wouldnt do it myself. If he rides he rides in my lap or someones who in the car with us. so i guess im not much of a help lol!

That's us...push overs!:(