Dog Community

NOT LIKING CRATE ANYMORE

sara

Posted : 11/7/2006 9:32:23 AM

Hi, I have been a member for a little while and have posted a few times but now I am really in a bind.
My dog, a berner, who is 11 months old today was very easily crate trained, and has been since 4 months old. We moved the crate to the basement in July I was worried she would not like it, but our basement is finished and we spend the majority of the family time down there. She did not have any problems until about a month ago she woke me up by crying one night so I thought she must really have to go so I got up took her outside she went potty and got back into her crate. It happened again for about another week, them stoped for about two but within those two weeks she would not go into her crate with out being treated, which was not like her. So then she startes waking me up again in the middle of the night but really it was pretty early into the night, and I would take her outside but she would not come into the house, she just layed down on the deck like "I am sleeping here" when I went to go to her she ran into the yard, so she spent the night in the back yard (yes it is fenced and large) she now will not go into her crate and when I take her out for her before bedtime potty she will not come in the house. I hate to leave her outside all night last night it was raining and she would not come in, I need help sorry this was long

luvmyswissy

Posted : 11/7/2006 10:38:18 AM

Why don't you put the crate back were it was? If she prefers it there. Berners, just like my Swissy are FAMILY dogs and need to be in the mix. But not while there sleeping at night. Here is my suggestions.

Move the crate back, and feed her and treat her in the crate. Leave the door open so when you put the food in so she can go in on her own. Make the crate a good thing. And. DO NOT LET HER OUT when she cries in the night. Bad idea, wear earplugs and let her whine. If you continue to give in to her she will continue to cry. When she see it dosen't get her anything then she will stop.

sara

Posted : 11/8/2006 8:57:47 AM

We moved the crate back (4 days ago) but I can not get her to go in there. We only use it for night time and when we are leaving, she used to get in there on her own for some quiet time but now she won't even get in there, I have stopped getting up with her. We only used the crate because I didn't want her to have accidents in the house while we were not around, she lets us know when she has to go out, should I just stop using the crate?

luvmyswissy

Posted : 11/8/2006 10:54:33 AM

IMPO the crate serves as much more than a place to put her she dosne't have acidients. It is a place to keep her safe from chewing electrical cord or objects that could be ingested and cause blockages or possibley getting into something posion etc. You get the point. At 11 monthos your dog is still in the adolecent stages and chewing is still usually very apparent. You know your dog, if think shes is reliable enough to be allone unattended than try it out for short periods of time.

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Posted : 11/8/2006 2:50:19 PM

Well I guess my first suggestion would to try new tactics to make it mor einviting. She needs to associate her kennel with good things. I'm assuming you have never used the crate as punishment becuase if you have then your in for a super tough time.
Anyhoo entice her with some treats, cozy it up a bit. Has she outgrown it or something happened with the crate?

tashakota

Posted : 12/7/2006 12:23:13 PM

In addition, she's 11 months old. Isn't that the "push the boundaries" phase? Where supposed good recall can go bad and dogs begin to act out? Kind of like teenagers? [

] I say keep at it until she's 2 years old, then try giving more freedom. If she won't come in after the last potty of the night, keep her on leash then. Use a longer one if necessary and reel her in. Then give her a yummy treat, maybe hot dog, for going into her crate.