Trouble with crating

[springboxer]

We are having major problems crating our 6-month old boxer. Due to hectic work schedules we are forced to crate him from 10a to 4p during the week. My wife (who is 6 months pregnant) is having more and more trouble getting him in the crate before she leaves for work. It has gotten so bad that he now hides in the bushes and she has to drag him inside and into the crate. Everyone we talk to, tells us how much their boxers love their crates and enter them willingly. Other than this, we have the best dog in the world, no accidents in over 2 months, and he is earning our trust so much that he is no longer crated when we expect to return home in under 4 hours. He is no longer crated at night (he sleeps on his bed next to our bed). We have tried everything, i.e. stuffed kong, etc., however he is getting more and more difficult.

This crate thing is very frustrating and concerning, especially with my wife being pregnant it is going to be hard for her to handle him soon. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[HurricaneBox]

Well it sounds like he is associating some negative things with his crate, ie you leaving him alone (and possibly scolding him for not going in his crate willingly???). I would go back to step one and start introducing him to the crate as if he had never been in one, for very short time periods with lots of treats/praise, so that he can again associate it with positive feelings and enter it willingly.

This happened with my boy too, I think because we were leaving him in it every day for a few weeks when our work schedules got messed up for a while, and because a couple of times when he messed in the house (before he got the hang of housetraining completely )and I was trying to clean it up he wanted to play with the rags and I put him in his crate to keep it out of my hair while I cleaned, and even though I didn't yell at him or anything negative I think he could still sense I was upset. Since then it has been a slow uphill battle to teach him not to hate his crate. :( That is what has worked pretty well so far, though he is still not in love with it I don't have to drag him to it either

Hope this helps some!

 

[kmorales]

Maybe ur wife can somehow get your dog on a leash, without letting her really know where hes going before hand.. for instance somewhere else in the house, no where near the crate so he wont suspect it, let your wife come to him with a treat maybe, put the leash on him, and take him inside the crate. give the dog another treat for going in and praise.

Also, you should make the crate more comfortable by putting a dog bed and a sheet over the crate, hide the fact that shes behind bars

 

[sarah taylor]

We are having the same problems with Holly and her crate, she's already grazed her head and lost a few teeth trying to escape. Weve now put a divider in to make a smaller area, enough to stand up, turn around and lie down. Comfortable bedding with something of mine, usually my nightware! We have also cover the entire crate with a fleece blanket so its quiet dark in there too and fingers crossed the last two days shes not hurt her head, not pooped and most importantly cried or barked as we left the house, I must say that she's only been left just over a hour on those two occassions(and I have to put her in the crate manually aswell) but I've given her so much praise for being good when I've come home. My only problem is now the pooping in the crate when left for more than a couple of hours, I know she still on three meals a day and what goes in must come out and I'm sure in time this will stop, I think it's also separation anxiety, getting worked up while left alone. Anyway hopefully some of the info given in posts will help you with your problem.

 

[taryndanae]

He is probably associating having to go in the crate with long periods alone, especially since if you are gone under 4 hours he no longer needs a crate. I have to keep Cassius in his crate whenever we are not home (although we are slowly working on it ) To be honest, Cassius has now just started going into his kennel on his own (10 months old) after we bought a nice comfy bed from Walmart!

 

[catdogbird]

Bailey wasn't wild about her crate either - I'd have to pick her up and place her inside. She even escaped twice, but that's a whole other story. I've gotten in the habit of tossing all of the dogs' toys into the crate when I straighten up. This way, they have to go into the open crate to get a favorite toy. They've both gotten to the point where it's not an issue at all for them. Bailey is going into her crate willingly and I even find Morgan, who HATED her crate, lying in it on occasion (which makes it all the more enticing to Bailey!). Now, when I have to go out, I just toss in a kong with a bit of peanut butter and a biscuit and in she goes without too much fuss.

 

[RolenKisses]

We also would put Rolen's toys in his crate with the door wide open, kind of like his toy box. He then would have to go into the crate to get his toys. Now, he doesn't mind the crate at all. He goes in on his own for many snoozes during the day. He also gets a treat every time we have to leave and he gets in his crate!

 

[springboxer]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the input! We will definitely try all of your suggestions and hopefully Barkley will learn to "accept" his crate. He already has some bedding in his crate and we just started putting a blanket around the outside of the crate. The funny thing is, a few months ago, we would carry the crate up to our bedroom at night, and he would willingly go in and go to sleep. Now that he has earned our trust and we know he won't wonder around our room all night and play, we leave the crate downstairs. I think you are right in thinking he connects the crate with long periods of absence and/or loneliness. My wife has started to put his leash/collar on him beforehand and it is definitely making it easier for her to crate him. The idea of putting all his toys in the crate is an excellant idea and is something we will definitely do. I will let you know how we make out!