Crate training help?

[PSD Ryan]

I have always crate trained my dogs, and it's been relatively trouble free. Our new lacy is quite the case though. I occasionally crate him for 5 to 10 minutes at a time when I'm in the room so he doesn't associate it with me leaving, but for most of the day, he's not crated and under close supervision. I have a kong with peanut butter in there that he can ONLY have in the crate. I feed him his meals in his crate. I give him his favorite toy.

Being in the same room or not makes no difference, after almost 3 weeks, he still cries and barks constantly when he is crated. At night, this can last in spurts of up to an hour at a time. I let him out around 2 or 3 AM so he can pee in the middle of the night until he gets a little older. I've put him in, closed the door, and gave him his favorite treat, and he wouldn't touch it. Just sat there and whined. He has no problem going in his crate for meals, but I leave the door open when he eats. He isn't scared of his crate...it's like a horrible case of separation anxiety, which I hope goes away.

Any ideas on how to help the situation? I've tried about everything I can find on the net, and he just won't crate train.

[gator89]

Every time one of my pups did that I just ignored them. After about a week or so of it they calmed down and just went to sleep when they got in.

[catfishryan]

Every time one of my pups did that I just ignored them. After about a week or so of it they calmed down and just went to sleep when they got in.

x2. ignore him cometely. never let him out when he does it he is testing you like a child throwing a tantrum

[PSD Ryan]

All my other dogs have been like that...completely crate trained in a week, go in on command...this has been the exception. I ignore him when he's in. We don't scold him for whining, but we don't sit there trying to calm him down either. At night, soon as he's in, we go in the bedroom and shut the door.

We NEVER let him out if he's whining.

[Skyjunky]

Toss a towel or t-shirt that has your scent in the crate with him.

[PSD Ryan]

Toss a towel or t-shirt that has your scent in the crate with him.

Tried that, he peed on it.

[Luck_of_the_Draw]

I'm on the process of crate training my mom's five year old poodle. A bark collar worked wonders.

[panhandlehunter]

Lol. It took about 4 weeks to crate train my new pup. She was doing the same thing you're describing. She finally quit about a week ago.

[mmlreiner]

I will say this: I am pretty sure this problem will go away in time but I have a german shepherd that no matter how hard I have tried, she will not crate train. I recently just found out that contrary to popular belief, some dogs just do not take to crates. I guess mine is one of them. Only my shepherd pees and poos in the crate. I have had dogs all my life, and crate trained all of them except this one.

[Deer Tracks]

All pups are different. Some accept the crate quickly with little protest and some will fight it for weeks. The whining and barking is normal but you can't allow it to control your behavior.

Put the crate in another room and close the door, cover it with a blanket so the pup can't see out, turn on some music...whatever it takes...just IGNORE the whining and fussing.

Timing is important too. If you hear your pup whining and you aren't sure if it's just nuisance whining or whining because he needs to go outside, take him straight outside, praise him for relieving himself and then it's straight back to the crate.

[Pedernal]

I just got a lacy myself and it took about a week but he is on his way... I have a 4 x 4 by 36 inch high metal kennel that I attached to the crate. He stays in the garage while I am at work and he learned to get in the crate him self and now he is even fond of it. I plan to do away with then kennel at some point after I puppy proof the garage can get a pic if you like. My pup had some separation anxiety but its non existent when he goes in the kennel/crate now

[Deer Tracks]

You mentioned he peed in his crate. How big is the crate? If the crate is the appropriate size they should not pee in it. If it's large enough that they can pee in one corner and sleep in the other, it is too large.

[PSD Ryan]

I blocked it off so he can just turn around and lay down...not much stretching room either. He's still peed in it and just layed in it, but I think once or twice it was from him drinking too much water and not being able to hold it long enough. Usually he's pretty good about the house training.

I have him in the crate right now while I eat dinner. He's been barking the past 15 minutes, and about 2 minutes ago layed down and shut up. I'll let him out if he's quiet for 10. Should I maybe give him a treat and praise when I let him out? Or are treats just for going in?

[Kdog]

It took a long time for me to train my old lab. She was older though and had me trained pretty good . She used to bark constantly in her kennel! First time I made her ride in a kennel in the back of the truck on the way to deer camp (right after we adopted our two kids & first time taking them to deer camp) she barked for 5 hours straight on the way. Guess she wanted back in the truck, lol. With her I just got her a bark collar and that worked for calming her down travelling. Eventually she spent a lot of time in her kennel on her own. She had big time separation anxiety.

Best of luck to you , I have no better suggestions than what has already been suggested. I would go with what Sika said and just stick with it.

[Kdog]

I used to have my kids give the dogs treats when they were in their kennels. I think this really helps.