My puppy hates her crate

[boxer-newbie]

Cassius used to hate his crate too. We were originally going to have him sleep in his crate but the first time we put him in there he just cried and cried and cried so from night one he has always slept with me. The only time we put him in the now is if nobody is home, which isn't often. The past month he's been going in there just to lay down from time to time. Also, within the past week he's been going into his crate whenever we command him to. He's getting so good! :D

 

[stevens]

I hate to say this in this forum, but Raven (4.5 months) LOVES her crate! We say "Raven, is it crate time?" and she goes bounding and leaping for the crate! She'll even go in there by herself sometimes. Hope my experience can help some of you... I feel very lucky to have a pup who enjoys her crate.

I put a few layers of soft towels, then a thick fleece blanket on the bottom of the crate... It's one of the all wire ones with a plastic tray on the bottom. I make sure to leave a kong in with her (with a yummy treat inside), and I always give her a small treat when she gets inside (usually a fish oil pill or a small milkbone).

Good Luck!!!

 

[Trinitysmom]

Just thought since I posted about Trinity hating her crate I'd also post an update. This is now week 4 of us crate training her. And I have to say it's gotten so much easier! She used to fight me when I would have to put her in her crate when I was leaving for work. She would cry and bark and she wouldn't settle down in her crate for a long time. Since last Friday she's gone in without much problem and hardly cries at all. Normally I can hear her cry all the way in our garage. Today she didn't cry at all! I'm really hoping she's getting used to being in there and that she's starting to see the crate as HER space!!!

 

[J-Bird]

Good for you for sticking it out! Lots of people give up, but it's so worth it to have them crate trained (IMO).

This past Friday we were watching a basketball game on TV and Meeko chose her crate (it's in the downstairs family room) over laying on the couch with me. I was so offended until I realized she had pushed all her blankets in the corner and was laying on the cool plastic panting (it was a hot evening) - once it got cooler she jumped up on the couch and continued her snoozing

 

[Harbinger]

I am going through crate training with Gideon (9 week old male) who is not impressed at all by his crate. It just breaks my heart to hear him whining down there... plus today got really upset and knocked over his water and food... He isn't alone for more than 3-4 hours at a time but it still gets at me thinking he's home alone... from what is being said here it seems like the best thing to do is to stick it out and stay strong and he will eventually not mind it as much... if anyone has another method they used please let me know.

 

[Me-n-Zoe]

Black Sheep

I guess I am the black sheep of crating. I didn't/don't crate my dog. I can't imagine being stuck in such a small space all day. I dog-proofed my house and Zoe can have space (I shut doors to rooms I don't want her in) and options as to where she wants to nap. I put in a dog door that goes to a fenced yard. She has toys outside/inside. Shutting doors keeps her out of my underwear drawer and off furniture I don't want her on! We are both very happy with the situation. Am I missing something? So many crate their babies......maybe I am.

 

[Scrapper's Mom]

Moe-n-Zoe - of course the goal is to graduate the dog from needing to be in the crate all the time, increasing their freedom bit by bit over time. We don't crate Scrapper anymore either, and haven't for some time. It is good to be able to use the crate when you travel, though.

 

[Me-n-Zoe]

I see. I didn't realize that. I thought the dog was to be crated all day, every day while moms and dads were at work. Didn't kmnow there was an end to that. Thanks for the info

 

[Scrapper's Mom]

Me-n-Zoe - Ooops! really sorry I got your name wrong! :o

 

[EMWAZ]

Me- n- Zoe

All I can say about crating is for the younger ones, just give it time and I think it will work out . I think its great if used properly.. I think some people have less trouble and their dogs or boxers are less destructive so crate training is not needed. For dogs who are very destructive I think the crates are a good thing to have your dog trained to use.

One final note IMO I think they should all be trained to use the crate even if its not used all the time because you never know when you might need to crate them, for illness/injury or for a trip. I think getting them used to it when they are young is the best way.