I picked up a 13 week old germen shepherd puppy about 4-5 days ago and I want to gather up some info on effective crate training methods. I've had the crate set up in my room for two days and I've got a blanket she's been sleeping on and her toys in there. I'm trying to get her used to it before I flat out just push her in and lock her up. She'll go in there occasionally and lie down or chew on her toys, but for the most part she's trying to crawl in bed with me every night.

3/12/2008 9:50:57 AM

check the thread in the lounge, chit chat isn't the place for this

[Edited on March 12, 2008 at 9:52 AM. Reason : http://brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=512668]

3/12/2008 9:52:23 AM

1. put in crate

2. train

3. ?

= profit

3/12/2008 9:52:25 AM

I think this thread has some stuff in it about crate training. /message_topic.aspx?topic=512668

3/12/2008 9:52:51 AM

I have crate trained two rescues now and this is from what I have read/experienced

First, I wouldnt put all kinds of toys and stuff in there. Keep it relatively empty with maybe a blanket or towel for padding and warmth. Make sure it isn't big enough for the dog to crap on one side and curl up and sleep on the other (alot of crates have a divider to use for this as the dog grows).

I feed the dogs in their crate and remove the food bowls after they are done. They like having a "secure" place to get their grub on and it makes the crate a happy environment. Nowadays, if they hear me filling their food bowls up, they will both run to their crates.

When I was training them, I started by coaxing them in with treats and pointing and saying "crate". I might nudge if needed and they both learned pretty quickly what they needed to do to get treats. Then I would put them in there when I was home for small increments first. I gradually lengthened the time I would keep them in there. One of them as a puppy had some attachment issues so I would have to throw a blanket over the crate and leave the room. If she continued to whimper or whine, I would bang the crate and make noise which quieted her down.

I also put the crates in an out of the way area, but still so they could see/hear what is going on. Never use the crates as punishment as they will start to associate them with being bad. That's about all I can think of, but if you have any questions, I am happy to answer

Now I have two dogs that will go in their crates when I point to them. They sleep in them overnight and for a few hours in the morning and again for a few hours in the afternoon every weekday. On the weekends or at night, they will often crawl in them on their own to sleep or just chill for a while if they want to get away. They also will drag toys in their to keep them away from the other dog.

3/12/2008 10:04:16 AM

Thanks guys, good info.

3/12/2008 11:05:32 AM

I completely failed at this.

I ended up investing $1800 in a six foot fence, replacing most of my carpet, and putting a dog door in the back of my house. I also have a very stubborn dog.

3/12/2008 11:08:55 AM

Drunknloaded's crate training thread has some good advice (just sort through the stupid comments and suggestions)

Just be sure to make it her safe spot, and never put her there for punishment.

3/12/2008 11:25:12 AM

^^you dont punish your dog enough imo b

[Edited on March 12, 2008 at 11:25 AM. Reason : .]

3/12/2008 11:25:22 AM

Whenever my dogs shits in the house, we beat him and then put him in cage for a few hours, plus he doesn't get dinner that night

Eventually he'll learn

3/12/2008 11:26:59 AM

eventually he will learn to run away and therefore never shit again in your house.
That is not how you teach a dog anything.

3/12/2008 11:28:07 AM

He can't run away since we have a fence and only let him outside to go to the bathroom and walk him once a week

3/12/2008 11:29:13 AM

dogs are just like babies...they just need to be hit every now and then to learn

3/12/2008 11:29:16 AM

We use to hit him with a rolling pin but it kept cutting his nose and he would trail blood on the carpet

so now we just use a rolled up magazine

3/12/2008 11:30:41 AM

Drunknloaded should never have children.

I just realized slave famous is not serious, and just making shit up. No use replying to that.



[Edited on March 12, 2008 at 11:32 AM. Reason : he probably doesn't even own a dog]

3/12/2008 11:30:59 AM

anyone ever read new brave world? i like how they tried to make the kids scared of things by having explosions and shit

3/12/2008 11:33:07 AM

ah you caught me

and I do have a dog, but he's 13 and blind so I let it slide when soils the deep shag

3/12/2008 11:33:49 AM

you ever let the dog lick peanut butter off your nuts?

3/12/2008 11:34:10 AM

only once

he was a little too agressive

3/12/2008 11:35:12 AM

yeah thats what i'm affraid of too

3/12/2008 11:35:47 AM

I mean theoretically, if you put JIF all over your boner and let your dog have at it, it should be just as good as a sloppy BJ, right?

Even better, because of the longer tounge

[Edited on March 12, 2008 at 11:38 AM. Reason : x]

3/12/2008 11:38:29 AM

3/12/2008 11:58:33 AM

^is it bad that i laughed at that

[Edited on March 12, 2008 at 12:00 PM. Reason : .]

3/12/2008 11:59:47 AM

just give the dog some bacon every time they go into the crate willingly. they'll learn real quick to like it in there. once they are in. begin the training.

3/12/2008 12:10:36 PM

begin training immediately so they dont know anything else.

3/12/2008 12:15:43 PM

^ i think thats where I fucked up

3/12/2008 12:16:18 PM

you just got to get your dogs respect again b

3/12/2008 12:16:42 PM

Set it and forget it

3/12/2008 12:33:06 PM