Crate Training An Older Dog

[Staycalm]

We are about to get our first dog and I am very excited. He's a lovely six year old shih tzu X who was rescued after his owner died and no-one wanted him. By all accounts he is very quiet and well behaved and generally has been looked after and loved. However he is showing some anxiety related to separation at his fosters. I was wondering if we would be able to crate train him and whether this might be of some help re his anxiety. I don't know if he's used a crate before. It would also give him a dedicated space away from my six year old who is likely to love him to the point of annoyance if I don't keep a lid on it.

Any feedback here would be most helpful.

[Bonmedia]

Crqate Traning is an ideal way to go. It gives the dog a space that is totally theirs. As your dog is an older dog, it may take a little while for it to get used to the crate. Always make it a nice special place to be.

Use it at night to start with, and cover the crate with some form of cover (Sheet etc) to make it a little darker as dogs enjoy the peace that darkness brings to them. Try this, and when it is successful ast night time, use it in the day for short bursts to start with. Let me know how you go, and I can give you more info if you need it.

[Lablover]

Best of luck. How wonderful you rescuing this little fellow.

What length of time has he been with his current foster home?

Love a photo BTW.

[oceanaussi]

Hi there, I would like some tips too please! I have a nearly 9-year old girl who's only ever been in a crate when she had to fly somewhere. She's got her beds and she uses them but so far no crate. I'm getting a Weim pup soon who is crate trained. As my OH doesn't want both dogs in the bedroom I decided to get 2 crates - one for the pup and one for my old girl. Now I'm trying to convince her to sleep in there but I'm not very successfull. She sleeps in front of the bedroom door :D

I think she sees it as a punishment going in the crate. How can I convince her to go and sty overnight in there? How can I make it a "happy place" for her?

[Kobayashi]

Sorry for bumping this up, but i also neededsome advice on this

Willow looks to be becoming a mainly outside dog but if she gets used to a crate, then she can come inside a LOT more, which makes me happy.

My main question is, what size and wheres a decent cheap place to get one? Shes a 23 (currently) KG amstaff. She can still sleep with me at nights, its more just to keep her from running around chewing stuff up when shes inside. Shes used to having the run of the house/yard, so not sure how she will go. And i will also have to find room for it, lol. Tho, they collapse to be pretty small

I am just looking at all options at this stage, so she doesnt stress too much

[ness]

Hey Koba - Ness has a 91 ish cm length crate you might want to get the next size up. If you don't want a portable one Deals Direct have drop pin ones which are nice and roomy. Just heavy and a pain to move around but would probably be ok if you wanted it set up somewhere permanently.

ETA. What about teaching Willow to stay on a mat/dog bed inside. That way you can have the mat/bed wherever you are and it doesn't take up room . Would only work if she was supervised but its less restricting then a crate and means if you then wanted to move rooms you could take the mat with you.

Edited February 17, 2008 by ness

[Kobayashi]

She starts obedience training next week ness the mat thing is the goal we are working towards.

The crate will be an interim thing, and besides, i am looking at travelling with her at some point this year to meet some of the other wonderful DoL dogs, so i figured that crate training might be a good thing anyway.

maybe something like this....... Ebay crate

Its just an interim measure, till shes settled here, and wont eat everything in sight

[pie]

Dealsdirect don't have crates in stock at the moment, they are still saying 'coming soon'

I find THIS to be a pretty descriptive program for crate training.

Selecting a Crate

Crates may be plastic (often called "flight kennels") or collapsible, metal pens. They come in different sizes and can be purchased at most pet supply stores. Your dog's crate should be just large enough for him to stand up and turn around in. If your dog is still growing, choose a crate size that will accommodate his adult size. Block off the excess crate space so your dog can't eliminate at one end and retreat to the other.

The Crate Training Process

Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament, and past experiences. It's important to keep two things in mind while crate training: The crate should always be associated with something pleasant, and training should take place in a series of small steps. Don't go too fast.

Step 1: Introducing Your Dog to the Crate

* Place the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room. Put a soft blanket or towel in the crate. Bring your dog over to the crate and talk to him in a happy tone of voice. Make sure the crate door is open and secured so that it won't hit your dog and frighten him.

* To encourage your dog to enter the crate, drop some small food treats nearby, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate. If he refuses to go all the way in at first, that's okay; don't force him to enter. Continue tossing treats into the crate until your dog will walk calmly all the way into the crate to get the food. If he isn't interested in treats, try tossing a favorite toy in the crate. This step may take a few minutes or as long as several days.

Step 2: Feeding Your Dog His Meals in the Crate

* After introducing your dog to the crate, begin feeding him his regular meals near the crate. This will create a pleasant association with the crate. If your dog is readily entering the crate when you begin Step 2, place the food dish all the way at the back of the crate. If instead your dog remains reluctant to enter the crate, put the dish only as far inside as he will readily go without becoming fearful or anxious. Each time you feed him, place the dish a little further back in the crate.

* Once your dog is standing comfortably in the crate to eat his meal, you can close the door while he's eating. The first time you do this, open the door as soon as he finishes his meal. With each successive feeding, leave the door closed a few minutes longer, until he's staying in the crate for ten minutes or so after eating. If he begins to whine to be let out, you may have increased the length of time too quickly. Next time, try leaving him in the crate for a shorter time period. If he does whine or cry in the crate, it's imperative that you not let him out until he stops. Otherwise, he'll learn that the way to get out of the crate is to whine, so he'll keep doing it.

Step 3: Conditioning Your Dog to the Crate for Longer Time Periods

* After your dog is eating his regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine him there for short time periods while you're home. Call him over to the crate and give him a treat. Give him a command to enter, such as "kennel." Encourage him by pointing to the inside of the crate with a treat in your hand. After your dog enters the crate, praise him, give him the treat, and close the door. Sit quietly near the crate for five to ten minutes and then go into another room for a few minutes. Return, sit quietly again for a short time, then let him out of the crate.

* Repeat this process several times a day. With each repetition, gradually increase the length of time you leave him in the crate and the length of time you're out of his sight. Once your dog will stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you out of sight the majority of the time, you can begin leaving him crated when you're gone for short time periods and/or letting him sleep there at night. This may take several days or several weeks.

Step 4, Part A: Crating Your Dog When Left Alone

* After your dog can spend about 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious or afraid, you can begin leaving him crated for short periods when you leave the house. Put him in the crate using your regular command and a treat. You might also want to leave him with a few safe toys in the crate. You'll want to vary at what point in your "getting ready to leave" routine you put your dog in the crate. Although he shouldn't be crated for a long time before you leave, you can crate him anywhere from five to 20 minutes prior to leaving.

* Don't make your departures emotional and prolonged, but matter-of-fact. Praise your dog briefly, give him a treat for entering the crate, and then leave quietly. When you return home, don't reward your dog for excited behavior by responding to him in an excited, enthusiastic way. Keep arrivals low key to avoid increasing his anxiety over when you will return. Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you're home so he doesn't associate crating with being left alone.

Step 4, Part B: Crating Your Dog at Night

* Put your dog in the crate using your regular command and a treat. Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside to eliminate during the night, and you'll want to be able to hear your puppy when he whines to be let outside.

* Older dogs, too, should initially be kept nearby so that they don't associate the crate with social isolation. Once your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night with his crate near you, you can begin to gradually move it to the location you prefer, although time spent with your dog—even sleep time—is a chance to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.

Potential Problems

* Too Much Time In The Crate. A crate isn't a magical solution. If not used correctly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated. For example, if your dog is crated all day while you're at work and then crated again all night, he's spending too much time in too small a space. Other arrangements should be made to meet his physical and emotional needs. Also remember that puppies under six months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders and bowels for longer periods.

* Whining. If your dog whines or cries while in the crate at night, it may be difficult to decide whether he's whining to be let out of the crate, or whether he needs to be let outside to eliminate. If you've followed the training procedures outlined above, then your dog hasn't been rewarded for whining in the past by being released from his crate. If that is the case, try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, he'll probably stop whining soon. Yelling at him or pounding on the crate will only make things worse.

If the whining continues after you've ignored him for several minutes, use the phrase he associates with going outside to eliminate. If he responds and becomes excited, take him outside. This should be a trip with a purpose, not play time. If you're convinced that your dog doesn't need to eliminate, the best response is to ignore him until he stops whining. Don't give in; if you do, you'll teach your dog to whine loud and long to get what he wants. If you've progressed gradually through the training steps and haven't done too much too fast, you'll be less likely to encounter this problem. If the problem becomes unmanageable, you may need to start the crate training process over again.

* Separation Anxiety. Attempting to use the crate as a remedy for separation anxiety won't solve the problem. A crate may prevent your dog from being destructive, but he may injure himself in an attempt to escape from the crate. Separation anxiety problems can only be resolved with counter-conditioning and desensitization procedures. You may want to consult a professional animal-behavior specialist for help.

[ness]

Hey Koba - its my intention to come out on Mon (as in Mon week not tomorrow night) so I'll see you there. Ness has a 36" vari kennel (airline approved for when we fly). It your intending to go by plane on more than a few occasions best to fork out the money for an airline approved one. I paid $240 from the canine association. The airlines have very strict size requirements but basically the dog needs to be able to stand up and turn around and lay down comfortably.

The one you linked to should be plenty big enough. I added extra as the staffie type breeds seem to like lying with there legs totally spread out whereas BCs tend to like to curl up .

[Kobayashi]

AWESOME post amy, thanks for that

If they dont have any in stock, is that the size i should be looking for elsewhere?

[Kobayashi]

You talking about the trinity gardens one ness?

I havent sent my paperwork off for that one, i was going to take her to gepps cross on sunday, as thats where i am closer to these days.

[ness]

Yep I mean the trinity gardens one - bugger that is a much better club then Gepps Cross.

[jaybeece]

My main question is, what size and wheres a decent cheap place to get one?

I've been told that they need to be big enough for the dog to stand up and turn around in. I bought a 42" inch one (106.5cm X 74cm X 82cm) of Ebay yesterday and it seems perfect size for my big leggy boof (37kg), so that might be too much for an amstaff.

My boy's taken well to it, although I haven't officially started to crate train him yet. He slept in it last night with the door open and looked very content:

Edited February 17, 2008 by jaybeece

[Kobayashi]

Yep I mean the trinity gardens one - bugger that is a much better club then Gepps Cross.

Looks like i am back to going to trin gardens

I was just looking at gepps cross cause it was closer, and they do weekends, and the boss wanted me to work arvos soon. But for my dog, i will say no :D

I dont want to be at work from 3pm till 11pm when shes trying to adjust to the new place anyway. especially if shes outside.

Just gotta get the okay from the landlord before i get too excited. No idea what to do if he says no :x

The main concern i think is his floorboards getting scratched, someone suggested the booties for her when inside :p

[ness]

Could you buy some cheap carpet runners/floor rugs?

ETA You could always work arvos other than training arvo . You will be in very good hands at trinity garden and your dog will learn lots of useful pet dog manners rather than the strict obedience trial ring manners.

Edited February 17, 2008 by ness

[Staranais]

I bought a 42" inch one (106.5cm X 74cm X 82cm) of Ebay yesterday and it seems perfect size for my big leggy boof (37kg), so that might be too much for an amstaff.

My 18kg SBT has two crates. One is the recommended size for a staffy (just long enough for him to stretch out fully), and the other the biggest one the company stocked (great dane size!). He much prefers the big one.

Then again, I've heard of dogs that really love their cosy little crates. Perhaps it's just a personal preference thing?

[ShellyBeggs]

I found it very easy to crate train my older dogs. They were not old old but out of puppy stage that is for sure.

My dog hated the crate as soon as I unpacked it. I left it in the loungeroom and after a day or so......started paying it attention. Patting the crate. talking to it and even giving the crate a big hug and telling it how good it was :rolleyes: It ws tough but I payed more attention to the crate than the dog.

But it made the dog interested in the crate.........I then, while praising the crate and ignoring the dog, started randomly throwing treats inside it. So the dog started going in and out looking for these treats and wondering why this object was getting all the "good boys" and he wasn't.

Once he had no objection to going in and getting a treat I started playing crate games..........rolling the bell in there, throwing a treat and making him wait before he could go and get it and it always finished off with the crate getting a nice crunchy biccie or a bone......which the dog would have to go in and get......and eventually started staying in there to eat it....because you never know just when this crate was going to get another small titbit thrown in. And then started adding to the games the words..... "into your bed" or what ever you want to call it....so roll the ball and say "into your bed" as he enters and as he came out "out you come" (what you use doesn't matter). Eventually working up to not letting him enter (holding collar, stay or what ever level he can do) until giving the command and not letting him out (a hand in the way stops them coming out).......and eventually shut the door, just for a few seconds and opening it again (but not if they are crying)....

And now the games are building anticipation "i know a treat is in there and when mum says I can get it"

It was now a place of fun....and a happy place.

It was then a very simple task of putting SOME of his bedding that he was already comfortable with, inside the crate (use the dogs old crappy stuff no matter how comfy the crate bedding looks coz he needs to feel like its his......you can change later)............now keep the really best of treats, something that takes a while to chew, throw it in the crate give the command to enter, and close the door and walk a few steps away......sit watch tv, do the ironing. The dog needs to know you are close by.

You then lengthen your time and lengthen your distance.....and remember ignore any cries (check they are ok but not to give attention).....and let them out when its time and only if they are quiet.

I found it very easy to step to sleeping in the crate as I put their crate next to the bed, so they had company right next to them, put a sheet over the crate and gave them a chicken frame (its the only place the get it so the race me to their crates at night to get it). Once they were comfy sleeping in there you can inch by inch start moving it across the room and to where ever you want them to sleep, in another room or where ever.

[Staycalm]

I'm the original poster and I received a lot of great advice from other DOLers as well as stuff I found on the Net.

Alfie's crate was made comfy and I have his water bowl suspended on the door. His food is given to him just at the entrance.

I enticed him in initially by throwing in liver treats and before too long he would spend time sniffing around it to see if there were more to be had. He now realises that it's a great place to snooze, especially as we have made it out of bounds for our 6 year old. She can't pat him or disturb him if he's in there or she's in big trouble. :D

We have left the door wired open so far, as he has proved to be not so anxious when I am gone for a few hours and seems quite happy to sleep on our bed in order to watch out the window. We will be traveling in a few weeks so he will be in it for a couple of hours in the car and will have it to sleep in while we are staying at relatives. Should be interesting to see how he goes.