Finally Got A Crate!

[roxy's mum]

Well I have finally bought a crate for Roxy!

I thought it was about time.

Well she seemed unsure to start with, until I started throwing treats in the crate.

By about 9pm last night (got home with the crate at 5pm) she was understanding the command "in your crate" and would go in freely, of course knowing that she would get a treat at the end.

She seems to be accepting the crate, which is just great. But doesn't appear to be overly relaxed in it. She will sit and lay down in it, but doesn't roll over onto her side (the position she would go to sleep in). It's currently in our lounge room.

I'm thinking though that for the purpose of crate training she should be also sleeping in the crate, in our bedroom. She currently has her own bed in our bedroom. I'm hoping that this will cement the philosophy in her mind?

Any suggestions?

[Poodle wrangler]

She's not a pup? Toilet trained?

If so, can you put her bed in there? My pup only liked the crate once I put his bedding in there. Start with the door left wide open. I'd not let her sleep anywhere else in the bedroom. No crate, no bedroom. Don't have to close the door to start with, one thing at a time.

[shoemonster]

Yeah I'd put the bed in the crate in your bedroom and go from there

Biggest thing when you have her in there with the door shut is not to let her out if she is sooking, only let her out if she's quiet

[Erny]

Yeah I'd put the bed in the crate in your bedroom and go from there

;) So would I.

Biggest thing when you have her in there with the door shut is not to let her out if she is sooking, only let her out if she's quiet

Unless, of course, the "sooking" is signalling a need to go to the toilet. To know which is which you need a reasonable idea of whether her toileting requirements are likely as well as a 'knowing' of your pup's ways. Can be tricky sometimes, but if you aren't sure, take her out to the toilet if she was sooking (and of course, praise her if she 'goes') and if she doesn't need the toilet, straight back to the crate - give her minimum attention in between, if it is the latter. :D

[shoemonster]

Oh yeah good point Erny, I normally give them one chance to go to the loo after sooking and after that I ignore it

[roxy's mum]

Thanks all..... will move the crate into our bedroom tonight and I will put her bed in it.

I had the crate in the lounge room while we were watching tv last night. I put her bed in it, but she wasn't too interested in it. I think she's trying to be stubborn and resisting the change (she's 3 1/2 years old). She'd go in the crate when she knew she was going to get a treat but once she thought the treats had dried up she'd creep out and just lay on the loungeroom floor.

So, I need to persist and not let her 'rule the roost' so to speak!!