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BPO Training Forum => Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience => : Britz June 27, 2007, 10:48:18 PM

: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Britz June 27, 2007, 10:48:18 PM
Well awile  back  we bought  Zeus a  xl kennel for in the house  when we are camping  traveling etc.  Wellsence  we are trying to do the switch over  from  him being outdoors we are having a big  problem.  He iwll go in the  kennel  and  lay there but as soon as  I  shut the door  he  starts  crying!!  I  feel  awfull  I  feel like he thinks  back to when we got him  at the shelter where he was  looked up  with h is  siblings in a big kennel.  What  can i do?  I have  gave  him treats  let him slowly go in  sniff it  lay in it with  the odor open with me sitting  right there. I ahve a big blankey in there now  but im  goimng to  buy or build a big  bed  to put init.  We really  cant  let  him roam around  free all night.  BUt He goes  crazy when  I shut that door.

 Should I Just let  him  cry it out???
: Re: In the kennel
: Icerotti June 27, 2007, 10:51:11 PM
Farley was the same way. People here suggested covering most of the crate with blankets over the top/sides. It really made him feel more secure. I don't think he liked the openess of the wire crate.
It is one of those things that takes a while to get use to.
: Re: In the kennel
: lins_saving_grace June 27, 2007, 10:52:44 PM
YES!  Grace hated it too in the beginning.  Now all i have to do when it's time for her to go into her crate is say "go to bed, baby!"  and with 2 bones as a reward she RUNS into her crate and that's where she is when i'm not in the house.  She's at the point where she can be free at night...but she wasn't for almost 2 years.  
It's gotta be made a fun things after they get used to it being their room so to speak.  
but you will have to let him cry it out for a while.
: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 27, 2007, 10:56:10 PM
Farley was the same way. People here suggested covering most of the crate with blankets over the top/sides. It really made him feel more secure. I don't think he liked the openess of the wire crate.
It is one of those things that takes a while to get use to.

I was thinking  about that  last  night  wee use to  do that  to  are budgies growing up lol  Ill try that  today  hope it will work. I just  Dont want him to think he is in  trouble.  I plan today to bring him  in alot  more than  I have been  so once  the summer heat  really strikes he will  be fully  inside.  HE also NEed a BATH lol

YES! Grace hated it too in the beginning. Now all i have to do when it's time for her to go into her crate is say "go to bed, baby!" and with 2 bones as a reward she RUNS into her crate and that's where she is when i'm not in the house. She's at the point where she can be free at night...but she wasn't for almost 2 years.
It's gotta be made a fun things after they get used to it being their room so to speak.
but you will have to let him cry it out for a while.

Aww i hate to here him  cry  But I guess ih ave had to let my kids  cry it out  so I ll have to listen to him. Ill just have to do it when  kids arn't in bed sence they woudl  forsurely  wake up lol I was totaly  at lost  when he cried are pom loved his kennel 
: Re: In the kennel
: lins_saving_grace June 27, 2007, 10:57:50 PM
a thought about the dog bed.
I went to family dollar (the equivilant of Big Lots) and bought about 3 pillows there for $5 each.  you can go to Walmart too i suppose.  Those are so much easier to wash too and cheaper than those $30 dog beds.  Grace loves them cuz they are more arrangable.  And without spending a lot at first you'll find out if Zues is a pillow chewer/destroyer in a more cost efficient way.  I remember coming home after work to find Lady in a pile of feathers or stuffing.  She would sleep at night without up her pillows, but when we were at work she would rip them to shreds.  
I know you weren't here on BPO during the Lady/Grace days...she's the Rott i had with my ex husband and he kept her and i kept Grace.
: Re: In the kennel
: lins_saving_grace June 27, 2007, 10:58:45 PM
Farley was the same way. People here suggested covering most of the crate with blankets over the top/sides. It really made him feel more secure. I don't think he liked the openess of the wire crate.
It is one of those things that takes a while to get use to.

I was thinking  about that  last  night  wee use to  do that  to  are budgies growing up lol  Ill try that  today  hope it will work. I just  Dont want him to think he is in  trouble.  I plan today to bring him  in alot  more than  I have been  so once  the summer heat  really strikes he will  be fully  inside.  HE also NEed a BATH lol

YES! Grace hated it too in the beginning. Now all i have to do when it's time for her to go into her crate is say "go to bed, baby!" and with 2 bones as a reward she RUNS into her crate and that's where she is when i'm not in the house. She's at the point where she can be free at night...but she wasn't for almost 2 years.
It's gotta be made a fun things after they get used to it being their room so to speak.
but you will have to let him cry it out for a while.

Aww i hate to here him  cry  But I guess ih ave had to let my kids  cry it out  so I ll have to listen to him. Ill just have to do it when  kids arn't in bed sence they woudl  forsurely  wake up lol I was totaly  at lost  when he cried are pom loved his kennel 
I know I know.  it's hard to listen to them cry.  but they know it will make you let them out.
did you let your skin kids cry it out when they were little? 
: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 27, 2007, 11:04:27 PM
Thank you lin  for all the advice......  I may  make a couple  pil;lows and throw in there  for him  rightn ow  he has a blanket  to me it  dont look to  comfy.. His  dog house  looks  more comfy.. It has  3 blankies and  a pillo win it and dont forget  the cat  also in there with him.  He  loves stuffies so I have a ocuple of h is stuffies in there for  him. Im buying a kong  next time I got to town for him  Ijust  keep  forgetting lol.

As  for the human  kids  yeah I had to let them  cry it out  alot  to.. we stiill have to some nights. Bo I guess ill neeed  hubbies help with  zeus  crying it out like the kids he  practically always has to sit on me so  i dont get them lol
: Re: In the kennel
: zchic June 27, 2007, 11:05:26 PM
I am NO help on this...I hated hearing them cry, I put them in bed with me or sectioned off a spot next to my bed. LOL I am a super light sleeper, so if they woke up, I would to and I could go let them out to potty...
: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 27, 2007, 11:06:40 PM
I have seen some really good stuff on here about crate training. Try doing a search for "crate training" and see if you can pull up some threads.

What I did when we first starting crate training was leave the house for a bit or go outside. It is a lot harder when you are in there and hear them crying. But if you leave the house for a few minutes at first (then work up the time), you don't have to hear the crying and it's a lot easier on yourself. If they are still crying when you come inside, wait until they stop, then go reward with yummy treats. In a few days he will begin to enjoy the crate.

Ill have to try that.
: Re: In the kennel
: Ice Blue June 27, 2007, 11:08:20 PM
You need to let him cry it out, and not let him out unless he's quiet. Even if it's only for a second that's when you open the door, he shouldn't be rewarded for making noise. Most pups hate crates in the beginning. Remy despised his crate, he would howl and make noises I've never heard before, but now he loves it. I would put two dried chicken strips in his kong and reward him for going in in crate (which we also call 'bed' ;) :D) and that's the only place he get the chicken, which he loves loves loves! Now he associated his bed with chicken. We get the chicken at Costco if you want to try it, it has worked really well, he'll just go right in at night now, so I just give him chicken when I go out.
: Re: In the kennel
: Duramax June 28, 2007, 12:34:57 AM
throwing a blanket over the crate with boog is like pressing the mute button. it's so funny, he'll just stop crying and....that's the end of it!
: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 28, 2007, 02:10:50 AM
Im going to have to try the  Blanket  thing later today.  I  put him in it earlier  so I could  get  some  cleaning done  HE was  in there  for  10 minutes and  finally  stoped  howling BUt I think the only reason he stopped is  cuz He could hear me comein.  Well  Im going to keep on it.  THe only  way I will be alowe dto haev him in the hosue  if he sleeps in  his kennel  So Im going to have  keep on him.  IM hopping to go to  the pet  store saturday so Im going to  get a kong  for him.
: Re: In the kennel
: Ice Blue June 28, 2007, 02:51:01 AM
I just remembered what my breeder told me to do. She suggested that I should get Remy to go in his crate for five minutes and out for five minutes all afternoon. Keep going in and out, so he would get the notion that when he goes in, he always comes out. We use a blanket over his crate as well, but that's more for light in the morning so he sleeps in a little longer that 5:30am (yuck!) It works well. Good luck with Zeus, and keep at it, I'm sure he'll love it eventually! ;) :D And I'm sure he'll like his kong too!  ;D
: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 28, 2007, 03:45:15 AM
I just remembered what my breeder told me to do. She suggested that I should get Remy to go in his crate for five minutes and out for five minutes all afternoon. Keep going in and out, so he would get the notion that when he goes in, he always comes out. We use a blanket over his crate as well, but that's more for light in the morning so he sleeps in a little longer that 5:30am (yuck!) It works well. Good luck with Zeus, and keep at it, I'm sure he'll love it eventually! ;) :D And I'm sure he'll like his kong too!  ;D

We are now having  a problem  he wont go in it at alllll...  I put  his  toy in and  then  he  brings it out  but  will stretch his head to get it
: Re: In the kennel
: Ice Blue June 28, 2007, 03:54:09 AM
Remy did that too, I remember I got in the kennel with him once (and then my sister locked it, we won't get into that ;D lol) and he was much better for going in. I don't know if that's what I was 'supposed' to do, but it kinda work lol After he go a bit better, I would throw his favourite ball right to the back so he would want to and have to go in all the way. I worked up to the in/out sessions, maybe let him be a bit more comfortable going in his crate before you try that method.

(I posted this pic before, but I thought it would be appropriate)
: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 28, 2007, 04:40:30 AM
Remy did that too, I remember I got in the kennel with him once (and then my sister locked it, we won't get into that ;D lol) and he was much better for going in. I don't know if that's what I was 'supposed' to do, but it kinda work lol After he go a bit better, I would throw his favourite ball right to the back so he would want to and have to go in all the way. I worked up to the in/out sessions, maybe let him be a bit more comfortable going in his crate before you try that method.

(I posted this pic before, but I thought it would be appropriate)


You know  I may have to try that, Ill  have to get  hubby to lock me in haha  Or maybe ill just  shut the door  when im in there.   Ethan went  in my  3 yr old and  zeus seen him and kinda nooded  his head side to side liek what is that boy doin lol  Ill keep trying I was just going to work with him again but  he is asleep on the step outdside and doesnt want to move its a nice  day today not to hot or not to cold.  Ill probley  work more on it tonight once the  munchkins are in bed
: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 28, 2007, 05:16:57 AM
Welp  I  fit in the kennel  And  zeus fits in the kennel BUt  It is  a tight  squeeze lmao Im  5'9 so yeah and after havin  two  kiddos my  bum is no longer a small one lmao  So i tried it  HE came in with  me  with alot of incourage  lol I   even  pertended to cry in the kennel so  he  ofcourse had to come and give me a kiss. BUt   Getting out was another  story  getting in was a little difficult  but getting out was  probley  hilarious thankfully  i did it with hubby not home  cuz I  oculd  kjust hear him laughing at me lol
: Re: In the kennel
: Duramax June 28, 2007, 05:33:00 AM
oh boy the things we do for our pups!
: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 28, 2007, 05:45:27 AM
oh boy the things we do for our pups!

haha you got that right. 
: Re: In the kennel
: sc.trojans June 29, 2007, 05:04:06 AM
I would also try feeding him his meals in there. To show him like ooooh I get food in here! I would also get a kong and put peanut butter in it and freeze it then put it in the kennel with him as a distraction (that will last a little longer than regular treats). I would also do like 10 min here, then 20, then 40 then 1 hour and work your way up. Good luck!

A second thumbs up for this advice - this is critical.  The key to adjusting to a crate is having the dog view it positively - like a safe den - and not negative confinement. You do not want to ignore the crying at all.

To start, leave the door open and feed all meals in the crate. Put the dish at the back of the crate so he must walk in fully to eat. After several days, start shutting the door while he eats - "see no big deal". Next, start stuffing a kong and putting that in and shutting the door for just 5 minutes while he eats.  Slowly, and gradually build up by going to 7 minutes and then 10 minutes, then 15 minutes. Always leave him in there with a stuffed kong and something to occupy his mind.  Ensure that he feels confident and secure in there for a couple of hour stints by working up to that.

If properly socialized to a crate, dogs will happily accept them - but they must always be used positively.  It can never be the punishment place or the place he is sent for time outs or quiet.  Location of the crate is critical as well and should not be isolated.

: Re: In the kennel
: Britz June 29, 2007, 11:09:15 PM

Update...
Last  night  was day 2 in kennel over  night. 
night  1.
HE did ok I  used the blanket over the kennel.  Well Iactually  stuck a house coat I allways  wear over the daoor  and a sweater over the one set of  screens.  HE  came in   he went in there layed  down.. I was so happy  with him.. OF course i said "Bed time"  Got him to sit in it and  gave him a treat. I  probley  got him to go in and out  of the kennel   about  a 100 times  that  evening though.  HE slept in it from  11pm - 1 am  When he started crying I went over to him and he ran  straight to the door and when he seen the cat in his dog house outside  he RAn in to it  to sleep  with the cat.

NIght 2 last night.
HE  did  awsome.  I let him out  for a good hour before  bed HUBBY let him in  I  WAS  SUPRISED  i  will say.  I bought him a kong  yesterday and a couple  toys to  keep in thehouse  from the  pet store yesterday. So when I said  time for bed We walked over to the  kennel he went in  gave him a treat showed him his kong *  he played with  it the whole  evening  before  so  he new  there was  yummies in it.  HE went right in  layed down I shut the door he.  I covered it all up  for h im and never  heard anything till  6:00am  WOOOHOOOO  and  even  at  6 it was a littl whimper he had to  go potty. good boy  and we went  straight outside.. 


ONe  person Im  really suprised with is hubby  he was so against having Zeus in the house and now he is the  one letting him in. NOw i Just  need to get him * hubby*  to listen to the rules.  Zeus isnt  house trained so when in the house HE needs to be put on his leash. BUT Im glad  hubby is ok with it now its notso stressfull now for  all of us  when  Zeus is in.   
 
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Duramax June 29, 2007, 11:17:34 PM
that's great! how old is zeus now? boog's 3 months old and im up every 3 hours with him goin out side, and sometimes he doesnt even ask to go out at all he just pees in the kennel and then wants out. so ive been setting my alarm to get up in the night. glad to hear youre having an easier go of things than i am.

 it's awesome that his house training is going so well too. my hubby doesnt follow all the doggy house rules either, so i can relate to you there. hope every thing keeps going so good!!
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Britz June 29, 2007, 11:25:16 PM
Zeus  will be  3 months  on the 1 of july.  We werent  exactly  sure when his DOB  was  But  knew it was  end of march  begining of April so  we just desided April fools day  would be a good day.   Are pom we had was terrible  for potting He woudl seriously  poo in his kennel and  hid it under his blankey  lol
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Duramax June 29, 2007, 11:46:54 PM
well boog's been much more inclined to piddle in the kennel when there is a blankey inside, so for the past couple days there's been no blankey, and he's done better. but last night at 2:50 guess what???? i had my alarm set for 3:00, couldnt he have waited 10 minutes ::) oh well. well just try again tomorrow night.
    boog hasnt poo'd in his kennel but once, and that was within the first couple days of being home. he since hasnt done it, and will always ask to go out if it's a poo he has to take. so im glad that at least im only having to deal with #1 and not #2. and i cant imagine seeing one of my puppers hiding a poo under a blankey...haha ha. im sorry, it prabably wasnt funny at the time. but it sounds so hilarious!!
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Britz June 30, 2007, 12:21:57 AM
Hehe  yeah at the time it  wasnt  tooo funny lol..  The hidden poo.  Overal  the house training with  are pom was pretty  good He  had a couple  accidents, but  he allways wanted to go out side  so  we never  had a problem  I think He thought i he  was a big ol  great dane  or mastif sometimes. When I  brought my  daughter  home  from the hospital,  the baby nurse came over to see how I was doing etc.. well I just  let  zeus out  before that  and   she had to  honk her  horn  my lil  stinker  wouldnt  let  her in the house haha.. MAn I miss that  lil guy.
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Duramax June 30, 2007, 01:25:34 AM
it seems like the best of them never are with us long enough :(
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Ice Blue June 30, 2007, 01:40:25 AM
I'm really happy Zeus is doing well in his crate! yay! :D I'm also happy he's inside more, just you wait until he's up on the bed!!!! ;D  ;) Hubby will be so surprised one morning! lol
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Britz June 30, 2007, 01:59:27 AM
I'm really happy Zeus is doing well in his crate! yay! :D I'm also happy he's inside more, just you wait until he's up on the bed!!!! ;D  ;) Hubby will be so surprised one morning! lol

LOL i tried  having  are  ol'  pom on the bed  but  that was a nono  when  sheldon  was home lmao  Only allowed on  bed when  daddy  gone for the night lmao
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Ice Blue June 30, 2007, 02:02:21 AM
haha, Zeus will probably look forward to the nights hubby isn't home! lol It the opposite here, Remy likes to be on the floor whereas I want him on the bed! lol
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Britz June 30, 2007, 02:06:22 AM
haha, Zeus will probably look forward to the nights hubby isn't home! lol It the opposite here, Remy likes to be on the floor whereas I want him on the bed! lol

LOL  when I was  younger  max my  grams Dobbie woudl always  come sleep  with  me he was a giant bed hog I woudl allways end up on the floor on his bed lol
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Ice Blue June 30, 2007, 02:13:52 AM
hahah yeah I say that now when he's 30lbs, I might change my mind when he's 90lb!
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Britz June 30, 2007, 04:03:48 AM
hahah yeah I say that now when he's 30lbs, I might change my mind when he's 90lb!

lol  yeah,  I dont think  zeus will  ever sleep on are bed maybe  are room but thats about as far  as  it will go  lol
: Re: In the kennel.. Updated..June 30
: Britz June 30, 2007, 06:25:19 AM
Sounds like Zeus is doing great and it sounds like you and your hubby are doing an awesome job with him! I'm glad to hear he liked the kong. Even if you aren't putting him in his crate, freezing peanut butter in the kong can be a fantastic distraction/toy if you are cleaning or watching T.V and want him to chill out just to give him as a big yummy treat!

Well done!!!! ;D

IM going to try the  peanut butter  once  kiddos are in bed lol knowin  my crazy  kids they  would  steal the kong and try licking the peanut  butter out them  selves lmao (My kids are crazy lol)