Crate Issues

[Seamus13]

Okay...here's the problem. Seamus is our 6-month-old boxer. He absolutely HATES going into the crate during the day when we have to leave. At night, he generally is okay...he'll whine a little, but pretty much stops soon. When we are leaving in the morning, or after I walk him at lunch and leave back for work, I have to literally carry him to his crate and put him in. We've never used his crate for punishment and have tried to make it a peaceful environment with chew toys and such. We have even began feeding him in it, but no change. I actually had to wire the back of it shut because he figured out how to pull the back panel off and get out (if it wasn't so frustrating, I'd be really, really impressed). What are some thoughts our there?
Chris
BTW, just so that it's not all negative...I REALLY love this little goofball.

 

[Jade010103]

My boxer always loved her crate but I also have a golden retriever who hated her crate to where I had to physically put her in it.

To get her to like it I would lure her in it while I was home by letting her see me put treats in there and just leave, she would start by stretching as far as she could to reach the treat and get out as fast as she could to eat it. It helped when I used her favorite treats that she couldn't resist. After awhile she would start to eat the treat while it was still in her crate and then get out but eventually she got use to the idea that it wasn't such a bad place. After she got use to it she would go in it on her own to take her naps. It did take a little while but it worked out great.

Until just recently she hasn't been put in her crate for months but because of destroying things I've had to go back to putting them in there while I'm gone. I was worried at first that both my boxer and my golden would be a little reluctant since it's been so long, but to my surprise they still went right in there when I told them to 'go to their bed' and never made a sound.

If it's open all the time for him with little surprises in their for him to find on his own without being locked in it he should eventually get use to it. Good luck!!

 

[jbbtlr]

Koda didn't like his crate to begin with either. And it still isn't one of his favorite things especially when we have to leave. What we have done is there are only certain treats he gets when he gets in his crate. His kong, is something he only gets when it's time to go in the crate in the mornings. He loves Cheeze Whiz, so it's filled with that and other goodies and that has seemed to help. Also, we started bringing the crate in the family room with us. It's kind of a pain to transfer this big crate back and forth but it seems to help.

good luck!
jeanette