help! crate training is not working

[remybaby]

Hi Heather,

I don't know if this will help or not or maybe it's just to let you know you're not alone. Our Charlie is 16 mos. old and STILL hates his crate. I tried everything!!!!!I am also home during the day so I had the time to help him adjust. I have talked to breeders, obedience schools and vets. Our problem is Charlie drools and destroys absolutely everything in his kennel. We can't leave anything in there (bed,blanket, toys) he will eat the stuffing from the bed and toys (after he rips them apart) i even put an old bed sheet in there and he ripped that to pieces and ate some of it!!! He just has severe seperation anxiety. If he senses that we are leaving and he has to go in his kennel he sits and shakes, we have to literally pull and push him in there. ( yes i tried the treats, the toys ,the in for 1-2 mins. then out again, i put a soft bed in, i left the door open, i moved him in when he was sleeping)Once in he never makes anoise but just sits and slobbers. When we take him out he and the kennel are soaked!!! He has foam all over his face. He won't lay down in there he just sits at the door slobbering. I think now he is just "one of those dogs". Every other aspect i couldn't ask for a better dog. loving, gentle ,hilarious, protective and so caring. So I guess what i do is focus on how wonderful he truly is and how dull our lives would be without him and clean up a lot of dog drool now and then.

 

[jlynnholt]

I think ALOT of can relate to this! We have been putting Pimp in his crate since we got him. He is in there when we are not at home and at night time however when he is in there he makes some noises I never even knew dogs made!!!! He shakes the cage and freaks out eventually he calms down. I have worked with him on trying to like his crate however when I put him in there he tries to get out QUICK!! I hear from people that you just have to be patient and eventually they will get used to it. I wanted to put his big comfy bed in there because he sleeps on it and LOVES it however he still has pee accidents in there and I don't want to have to clean it every time!! Any suggestions?

 

[Harley2nva]

Daisy is still going nuts every time I try to crate her, what i do now is puppy proof two rooms and let her stay there when I have to leave her. She doesn't chew anything but her toys and chew sticks. Do you think she will start chewing things later on? I had a Border Collie that chewed anything left near her. Thanks for all the info.

Heather

Daisy 13 wks, white boxer

 

[jlynnholt]

I refuse to let him run around in the kitchen. I really want him to be crate trained, but it seems like no matter how long I work with him on it he doesn't want to be in there!! I want him to be able to walk in there when we are home and just lye down. HELP!!!

 

[apollosdad]

as she gets bored she will probably develop some destructive behaviors. the best bet is to get her used to a kong. you can fill it with various treats and even freeze it to make it last longer. if you offer her the kong enough, she will eventually take her frustration out on it rather than furniture.
since you didn't mention it in your first posts, the problem you are having with getting her used to her crate is that you allowed her to sleep in your bed. once that is done the dog is imprinted with that in her mind and it makes much more difficult to get used to a crate.

 

[Burton'sMa]

I would have to say that as the parents of your baby you know if your baby has such bad separation anxiety that he/she will do harm to themselves....therefore, it may be best to just puppy proof a room instead of place them in a crate.....you know what's safer for your pup....hope it works out, best of luck

 

[Harley2nva]

thanks for all the advice, we have now gated a our hallway and Daisy is doing ok staying there for short periods of time. She just loves to be with us and hates when we leave, but this is what we wanted, a fur baby that could go everywhere we go, so far its working out. Since she hates her crate I worry about long car trips, we travel 3 hrs. away about 6 times a year, she lays between my kids on short trips. I'm hoping she do allright on long trips if we stop a few times for her to get out and walk around.