I can't take him anymore. He's too aggressive.

redlegos

How do I get them to go in there in the first place? Food and bones/treats? Do I then shut the door?

I would toss something *super* tasty way into the back.  Let him see you do it so he knows its there.  I probably wouldn't shut the door the first few times.  After he gets used to it, put something that would take him a little bit to chew, close the door and open it when he's done.  I would just work up to longer times (slowly). 

Our dogs are fed in their crates and Mystic will actually run into hers now and wait for me to give her the food.  If Pooch's crate door is shut and she *wants* in it, she'll run up to it, run to me, run to the crate and keep doing that until I let her in.  

redlegos

What do you suggest is a good amount of time after he's used to it?

I try not to let ours stay in the crate for more than an hour, although I do leave them longer if they are sleeping.  That depends on his comfort zone - and how how you want to spend desensitising him.  If I were in your position, I think I would be happy leaving him in there for very short periods, like mealtimes and never expecting him to stay in there longer.  I think I would just feel guilty given his past experience though!

redlegos

If/when he's in trouble, do I just sit him in there? How will he know the difference between a "time out" and a "mom's just trying to protect me" thing?

I don't really like using the crate for "time outs".  Some dogs do OK with that, but given his history I would want to be extra specially positive with the crate, and never let it have any negative connotations at all.  If by "in trouble" you are maybe thinking of Xerxes advice on pg1, I would have an area which it is safe for him to stay in for a few minutes alone which is NOT the crate.  It might be a kitchen or bathroom or study or spare room... or even just put him out of the room that you are in for a few minutes. (Although the latter isn't such a good idea if  he is likely to become stressed to the point where he becomes destructive or eliminates for example)  If you need to use the crate as a "time out area", try to think of it that you are not PUNISHING him by putting him in the crate - you are just removing him from a situation so that he cannot "practise" inappropriate behaviours. 

redlegos

I've been doing some NILIF.. before he gets to go out, before he gets to eat, before he gets treats.

What about car rides, games, toys etc?  Sitting to have his lead attached, sitting at the door, sitting to have his lead taken off?  Sitting or laying down periodically on a walk, siting to have a door opened even if it is to another part of the house?  We aren't very strict with NILIF here at the moment... we were at one point, but once they realise about "the rules" and get used to following your directions, you can usually relax it a little.... you can always step it back up again if you need to.  Some dogs seem to thrive with more boundaries, others can sope with less.

redlegos

I know this sounds stupid, but can he still sleep with me at night, or is that a no-no for right now? And I don't have to make him sleep in a crate do I?

I would perhaps introduce the "up and off" game with the bed as well and make him sit before being invited on to the bed as part of your NILIF.  OUR dogs sleep in crates, just because that's how it works best in our house.  If the crate is primarily a tool for helping to manage and alleviate his aggression and he has never shown any aggression at nighttimewhen everyone is alseep, then personally I don't think you HAVE to make him sleep in there.  It's up to you.  You could perhaps leave the crate open in the room and LET  him sleep in there if he wanted to!  If he chooses to sleep there, it shows that he does feel safe in there and that he likes it.  It is a very positive thing and IMO should be encouraged.

You know about Pavlov's dogs salivating when he rung a bell?  Well, a crate can work kinda like that.  If you make it a "happy place" for them, then after a while just being in there helps them to feel good... relaxed, calm and happy.

 The treat is a great idea. Another thing I would do would be to put a "trail" of his food going into it, and then most of his food at the back. Don't close the door or anything, in fact you should probably prop the door open so he doesn't shut it by mistake, but just get him used to the idea that the crate is not scary and that he'll be left in peace while he's in there. I would just do that with all of his meals for a few days until he gets the idea that crate = mealtime. Then, once he's relaxed about it, you can teach him a "go to your crate" command so you'll tell him to do that, he'll go inside, and then he gets the food.

IMO there's really no reason to close the door on him except for special circumstances, like if company is over. You want to get him desensitized to you shutting the door, so it's a good idea to practice it, but you don't need to shut the door (other than practice) except when it's really necessary.

Also, if your dogs like going on trips with you (like mine does), once they're a little more comfortable with the crate, ask them to go in, give them a treat, shut the door, and then carry them around. Maybe take them for a ride in the car to a park they like or something. Crate can = possibility of going to fun places!!!! so that would also make them enjoy the idea much more (and it's safer to have them crated in the car, anyway). 

I wouldn't shut the door right away.  Give him his special treat in the crate and stay in the room with the crate so he isn't trying to be with you.

 Also, I don't know how cold it is where you are, but especially in cooler weather mine love going in their crate because that is where all their warm blankets are and pillows, etc.  If you make it nest-like, I don't know a Chihuahua that wouldn't go in of his own free will just to snuggle in the blankets!

For little dogs, I really recommend this type of crate over the all wire ones:

http://www.dog.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=080112%20001

Wanted to share my "secret," too - I've found Rascal's all time favorite bedding (well, except for goose down, which isn't happening, sorry Rascal) is a padded mattress cover. A mattress cover folded several times on the bottom and them left with some "wings" on the edges that he can burrow under. He LOVES this setup. I tried blankets, I tried pillows, he was always kind of lukewarm about the idea. But with a mattress cover to make it really "cushy" and bed-like he really likes going into his crate.