Getting an adult dog used to a crate

[Annette4]

Jack's had a travel crate as his christmas pressent this year as we're planning on doing lots of camping/visiting people so I wanted somewhere a)safe for him to sleep in a tent and b)somewhere I can lock him when we're in other people's houses/somewhere he can have a break from my nephew

He's 5yo and very wussy

I've given him a couple of treats in there, and he'll go in if I go in with him

but is there anyway I can get him to be a bit more keen to go in? He's 'day' bed is in there so it smells like him and I won't be shutting him in until he's going in on command. He know's 'in' but doesn't seem keen on going 'in' such a small space (and it's certainly not too small....we both fit in there

 

[CorvusCorax]

I wonder if Cayla is around, she is the Queen of the Crates!

 

[soloabe]

The way i did it was to not treat it as any big deal for a few weeks just leave his bed in it and ignore it for a while so he gets use to it being around and knows its not going to eat him

Then progress onto feeding his dinner in it, putting his toys away in it, feeding him treats in it until he gets to the point of going in and expecting something. Then you can teach him the "in" command or whatever you choose.

 

[CAYLA]

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder if Cayla is around, she is the Queen of the Crates!

[/ QUOTE ]

I invented and designed crates.

*tries to keep a straight face*

Basic rules, assosiate the crate with positives, feed in the crate, treat in the crate, leave a kong in there whilst u are in the room(with a descent filling) not the peanut beuuter crap u get with them

like your dogs own dry food mixed with tuna, and close door, this way he is distracted and u are there, then simply open the dog when the kong is empty, give all long lasting treats and when u try to leave for any length of time, always tire the dog out physically as much as u are possibly able.
Get a crate for the car and travel the dog in it, again dog assosiates going for a walk via the car in the crate

all positive.
Put the radio on in the room and use a crate cover then he will find it harder to distinguish when u have left.......when u return, no huge greeting, jsut release and let straight out to garden.

Best time to start is when u are doing the cooking, housework, then gradually leave the room, then eventually the house for short periods.