Introducing the crate to my new puppy?

[Stephanie]

Brody is very unsure of the crate. I have put treats in the crate, his food, toys, and more into his crate and he just won't go in. He will go right up to the edge and stretch his neck as far as he can to get every treat he can reach without stepping into the crate.

We have been doing this for 3 days now...and last night we ended up picking him up, and putting him in the crate. We didn't shut the door at first....and he just sat there staring at us...like...what the heck is up with this... When we did shut the door he didn't whine or cry, but he wouldn't lie down and he would paw at the door every couple minutes.

Is this normal? Will he begin to like to his crate...or is he going to be one of the odd dogs out that just don't like crates? Should we keep putting him in the crate until he becomes comfortable with it and goes in on his own.

Is there something we should do differently. I don't want to just 'leave it up to him' and have him never go in...I want to be able to use his crate soon....

Any ideas or experience would be very helpful!!!

Thanks in advance...

[Tamara & Giada]

Have you mad it cozy with soft blankets and his favorite toys? Put hs food dish in there and sit by him when he's in. Both of my puppies were use to the crate before we brought them home. Here is a site that will be more helpful: http://www.thehousebreakingbible.com/training/crate-acclimation.htm

GL:)

[sbis0oszc95r]

play a game with him and throw a toy into the back of the crate and see if he goes into it to get it.....try anything you can think of, but don't scare him....they're pretty gunshy the first week or so in their new home....

he's ADORABLE!

[Stephanie]

We have tried the blanket (which we rubbed on all the other puppies before leaving...) but have not tried feeding him there. This might be possible now...at first he was so afraid of his new dishes that I didn't want to add anymore stress while feeding him by putting the dish he already doesn't like in the crate that he's afraid of.

He's not sleeping in his crate. He wakes us up in the middle of the night to go outside. He hasn't had a night time accident yet...he wakes us up every time. The only accidents we have had have been during the day...when he has had more freedom throughout the house (which changed today and he did much better!)

I will definitely try your suggestions...thanks for the replies. I also think we'll start crating him for 10-15 minutes 2 or 3 times a day and get him used to it. I know he will end up loving his crate...and it will be his safe haven...but right now with him being so scared I hate to have to put him in it.

We'll see what happens over the next few days...I'll let you guys know how things work out.

[Marcy and Cocoa]

I will be getting a new Goldendoodle in about 8 - 10 weeks (litter just born - not sure if I will end up with a girl or boy) so I have been reading up.... I am convinced crate training is the best way to go, but have a question about multiple crates. Most of the day I spend on downstairs in my house (kitchen, living room, home office, etc.). My thought is to have a crate in either the kitchen or office which can each be closed off, but I wonder whether I should have a second crate in the bedroom for overnight. Much of the advice I have read suggests having the new puppy sleep nearby - especially since I would not be able to hear him/her crying at night if I was upstairs and he/she downstairs - and moving a crate up and down my stairs is not really practical. Will the puppy be comfortable and can he/she be trained effectively with 2 separate crates?

[Tamara & Giada]

Congratulations on a new puppy!!! I have never used two crates either, but I see your point. I know some have taken their puppies to work and have used a crate there and another at home, so I think it can be done. If I were you I would leave the crate were you are most of the day, maybe kitchen. Then have a monitor to here him in the night......which is VERY short lived! I never had mine in my bedroom with me, and they were fine:)

GL:) Let us know how it goes.

[sbis0oszc95r]

We have two crates, one in the kitchen for workdays and one up in our bedroom and our puppy adjusted to both right away. We made sure that both crates were identical. Same size, same crate, same cushion inside. He loves both of them and will go in them even when the doors are open to take a nap or to have some peace and quiet.

We just wanted him close by, day and night while he's a puppy. I agree that moving one all over the house would be a pain.

good luck!

[diane silver]

Emma is now 4 months old (we got her at 8 weeks also). We have two crates - one downstairs in our kitchen/family room and one upstairs in our bedroom where she sleeps. She's never seemed to notice that they are different and goes into her crate at night without any hesitation. The crate in our kitchen/family room is where we leave her when we go out during the day or evening and want her to be confined. I also gated the kitchen so that when I'm with her, she's confined to one room. As for sleeping, I think it's very important that the puppy sleep in your bedroom so she smells you and knows you're there.

[Jackie]

I use two crates with Beckett. I have one downstairs for the day and one upstairs in the bedroom for night time. I was like you Marcy, didn't want to be carrying a crate up and down stairs. Beckett has never had a problem using either one. I liked the idea of them sleeping in the bedroom when they're little. He still sleeps up there in the crate. I figure he'll sleep up there when he has free run of the house so he might as well be up there now. I do think crate training is the best way to go. We had no problems training him.

[Christa]

Patti Cake is 8 weeks old and we have two crates, one in the living room and one in the bedroom next to our bed. I put all her toys in the living room crate and just picked her up and put her in the first time. As I place her in the crate I say "kennel up". She fussed at first, but I only put her in there after play time together and I am ready for a break. At night I place her in the crate with her fluffy toys for comfort. Your pup will get used to the crate. Just make sure to talk to him after he settles down and praise him for being a good boy. We have an outdoor run for our older golden and we say "kennel up", she walks right in. Good habit to get into. He will start to feel safe in his crate. Just give him positive energy when he goes in and he will feel that from you. He may never go in on his own, just put him in.