Crate training tips for a newly adopted dog

I don't know what we'd do without Nylabones.  Tonka loved his, and Ruby has gone through a couple already.  She's such a powerful chewer that we finally gave her the super-duper strong kind we used to get for Tonka (I think it's called Galileo).  The look on their faces when they're in that "zone" chewing on them is the same -- it's almost trance-like!

tacran

As I said in another thread, I still feel pangs of regret that we never let him enjoy complete freedom when we were gone, even when he was a very senior dog.

Don't feel guilty -- occasionally I leave Greenies, or we go and do something together.  Life HAPPENS. 

A crate isn't confinement like that -- it's sleep time.  You aren't keeping them "from" freedom.  You are keeping them SAFE. 

Destruction isnt' the big deal -- it's the dog that ingests something and OBSTRUCTS, or pulls the TV over on themselves ... THAT is what you crate a dog for.  To keep them safe.  At least for me it is.

calliecritturs

Cathy -- remember ... at a year old he is STILL very much a developing puppy -- he needs stuff to chew on.

Callie - no offense girlfiend but this isn't my first rodeo . I've spent fortunes on nylabones. Shane has one here at the office that he nibbles now and then and several at home, including some that are still in packages. Sassy went thru them so fast there for awhile, that we'd ordered 7 or 8 at a time. Then one day, she wouldn't touch them again *sigh*. Shane isn't a chewer (yet). He just sort of wanders around and picks up stuff. Even the wall thing was only because he was lying there and his mouth fit nicely over it .

I'm glad DH wasn't at this cardiology appt. The vet was emphasizing (and even wrote on the notes) a "stress-free life" and I mentioned about wanting to crate train him but worried that he might have some separation anxiety and she winced. She said she's definitely a believer in crates and we both agreed that I'd just need to take it really slow and make it something he enjoyed.

If I have to, I'll sleep next to the crate with him in it a few nights and then slowly move away until I'm in bed - lol!!

ETA - I'm also cancelling the doggie daycare. I think it's just too much, too soon for right now. He's going to go out to HB for training on Sat. and then I need to board him there Thursday night when we go visit my brother, so I think that's enough for only being with us one week.

deer miz Cathy -- shhh -- Mom's not home yet.

'sme Tinker .... can I pleaz hav the old nylabones ???  If I hafta share wif Shane I will.  (I'm a good girl -- ask Charlie).  An when Charlie steels my Nylerbone I don't say nuffin. (an he can have the liver ones ppppfffffffffffffffffffttttttttttttttttttttttttt)

I'm tha 1 who made Mom a Nylerbone convert -- her never buyed em a'for me!!  (member -- my mom don't DO puppies!!)

Now ... 'bouts dis rodeo thingamy ... Can *I* GO???  ain't never been so wood be MY 1st Rodeo ... I dunno -- them horse thingy ... they are BIG uless I can be wif one of them liddle mini horses like in tha pitchur of the baby horsey this week.  Mom sez they're still bigger'n me

I don't think MOm's ever been to no rodeo neether?  Can her come?? 

We'll leave DAd hom ok?  He'd just say it "lacked decorum" (ya gots tal lern scoddish stuff like that ta lives HERE)

oops -- here her comes!

 pppooffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff (big buncha Fairy Dust fur ya)

Whereza Fairy dust?  I runnin out!

 Cathy you might try an antler - Bugsy isn't into nylabones - except the edible ones - after a many year hiatus I bought him one recently and he was excited for about a minute. Now its just in the graveyard of stuff he has no interest in. And mind you he is a BIG chewer, especially when stressed. I tell people he'd be a chain smoker if he were human

Wait until you see the size of that crate - we have that size for Bugs. As for how long they are crated all I'll say is that Bugsy sleeps in his crate nightly - by choice- the door is always open so that is usually 8 hrs and he often is in there while we watch TV too.

Please give him a belly rub from me 

Karen - thanks for reminding me about the antlers. Sassy liked her's too, although she tended to cut her mouth when chewing it and eventually grew tired of that too. We'd even grind it down some to get the scent/flavor back but it still didn't last long. Shane is definitely not a big chewer, thankfully.

He reminds me of Sassy when we first brought her home. He's fearful of so many things. Only today did he finally walk halfway into my bathroom but you could tell he was scared. I use the guest bathroom in the morning and up until today, he just laid at the door watching me. He's probably spent more time than any dog, let alone a 1 yr. old, should in a kennel/shelter environment, so we'll just take this all very slowly.

DH ordered a gorgeous gate yesterday. At $149, it should be gorgeous, right? It'll fit between the master bathroom & bedroom, so he can see us at night but not be annoying or get into trouble. Eventually, we should be able to leave him in there when we're gone, but we'll work up to that. It's a pretty ideal place for him with the tile and nothing to destroy. I'd already ordered the crate though, so I plan to work with him on that as well. It'll be beneficial to have him acclimated to it in case we want to travel.

 If he's doing well with the clicker teach him "touch" - absolutely the best command I ever taught B. Anything that I notice he's wary about I just say 'touch' and he'll nose it - he gets a treat (usually Charlie Bear liver treats from Trader Joe's) and if he still seems a little wary we'll repeat until I see the tail wag :)

Is it a golden gate? hahahaha - sorry couldn't resist! Great idea though, a friend of mine essentially uses their master bath as a crate, as you say there typically isn't much to harm in there.

Also they make antlers that are split in half in order to get to the 'good part', perhaps that might be best to start with.

Hugs to you and DH. You will give Shane absolutely the best environment he could have that I know!

 Luke sometimes stays in his crate 8 hours or so, though not typically because I have an odd work schedule. He'd sleep  either way, but at least in the crate, he's safe if he does wake up, and he's safe in the event of a fire. If that did happen, our crates are right near the back door, so they can just slide them right out the back. I think if they were lose, he'd try to play with anyone who came in, Callie would bark at them, and Pigeon would run and hide. I feel like they have a much better chance in their crates than out.

 Few people think that training of dog should be start when dog is habitual to new place, but it is not like that you should start training from very first day.