Those of you with dogs.

[rebeccajo 14]

Sounds like the first night was a success!

[MissStacey 1]

Update- we have had it for 3 nights and he loves it. He just hunkers down and goes to sleep and doesn't make a peep all night. I'm really glad I made the decision to get it.

Next step is getting him used to the doggie seat belt

Edited March 17, 2008 by MissStacey

[TheATeam 0]

Question: Does anyone know how to crate train a dog who hates their crate? My shih tzu is 2 and hates her crate. I suppose I should also say that she does have some separation anxiety, okay a lot! I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips. We're going to be flying when we move and I'd like to get her sort of used to the crate, and not have to sedate her. That would be the best thing.

[rebeccajo 14]

Question: Does anyone know how to crate train a dog who hates their crate? My shih tzu is 2 and hates her crate. I suppose I should also say that she does have some separation anxiety, okay a lot! I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips. We're going to be flying when we move and I'd like to get her sort of used to the crate, and not have to sedate her. That would be the best thing.

My veterinarian prescribed a drug called Clomicalm. We gave it to Jasper everyday for 2 months. It's supposed to help calm them down enough to help them get used to being in the crate.

He is currently not on the medication.

We still don't crate him everyday and probably never will. He's eight years old, has separation disorder, and had always hated the crate. But he does seem to be getting used to it. As I posted earlier, he will enter the crate on his own when he thinks no one is looking.

[new orleans bound 0]

We always had dogs in my house growing up and we have never put any of them in a crate. My family always had the perception that it was kinda cruel.

Every where I go with Cooper- he gets lots of attention being a puppy- there are always people talking about crate training. One of Cooper's siblings went to another guy at my husbands work and he is doing the crate. He says it is great- the puppy is quiet and sleeps all night. Another couple I met at Petco yesterday who also have a lab pup said the same thing.

I am debating about it- from what I have heard it isn't cruel for them - it is a safe haven for them. It would be nice at night- I wake up several times if I hear him and am always worrying if he is chewing anything that he might swallow or hurt himself.

What are your experiences with either your own dog or a friend/family's dog that is crate trained?

With my first dog a lab mix, I never properly crate trained him and had problems with him. I could never really trust him in the house for fear that he would destroy things and he did. The Second dog I got I crate trained him however my roommate and I shared responsibilty for him and my roomie was too much of a softie and she wouldn't put him in the crate so we had some issues there. He was another dog that we couldn't trust to be alone cvause he go into everything and was terrible out peeing in the house. Now my last dog- a border collie loves her crate! During the day she can go in and out of it. It has her favourite blanket in it and all her toys. As she gets bored with one toy she fetches another one. She'll eat her treats in there and a night she head straight for her crate. Sometimes in the morning I have a really hard time coaxing her out of her crate. Her crate is her own safe haven. I know that it sound cruel to crate a dog but it's actually the safest and kindest thing to do to a young dog. After successful training this dog to the crate, all the otehr dogs after her will be crate trained. And as someone mentioned it, it was a bonus that she liked her crate for flying purposes.

There's lots of literature out there on how to crate train a dog. And peoples opinions vary with this topic. However I feel that it's something a dog should be use to. If you ever go away and put your dog in a kennel-it will need to know how to be comfortable in a crate. Also crate training needs to be a positive experience for the dog and not a negative one. That's why I try not to use the crate when I discipline my dog. Good luck with what ever you try.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yep, lots of literature on crate training and probably lots of info if ya google it. I belive many recommends you start off with only a few minutes in the crate and go from there and try to make it a positive experience. NEVER use the crate as punishment.

[TheATeam 0]

Rebeccajo, that gives me hope. Kaia has bad separation anxiety as well. She's had some bad experiences with a crate. My sister is the one who picked her up and drove her 5 hours home to me. The thing is that she was barely 5 weeks old, WAY too young, and that day my sister decided to move all of her stuff. So she left this little puppy in a crate for 8 hours in her car. That was her first experience with a crate and to this day she's scared of it, and refuses to go in it.

I've done a lot of googling on the subject and they give great advice for crate training a puppy or a dog who isn't afraid of the crate. That's where my trouble comes in. She's afraid of it. She has a bed that she loves and I thought I'd see if, when the plastic crate is in half with no lid, if her bed's in the bottom, would she go in there. She'll go in it, if I make her or tell her to, but otherwise, not a chance. She'd rather sleep on the cold lino here in the basement. ~sighs~ I guess I should just leave it and maybe she'll get used to it. If all goes well though, in a month we'll be flying home and I don't want there to be a huge issue.

Rebeccajo- When I get her checkup and vaccinations done I'll ask the vet about Clomicalm. It sounds like it might work for her.