I recently (about 2 weekes ago) rescued a 5 month old rattie named Chester.  At first he had a very hard time adjusting.  Not only would he not eat or drink for several days, but he wouldn't even MOVE!  After a lot of TLC, he's now fairly comfortable in the house.  For the most part he'll follow me around when I'm doing housework, and he's at the point now where he's enjoying playing at night.

I wasn't expecting a dog, so I wasn't prepared before the first night I brought him home.  So that night I went to the store and bought a puppy bed, and he slept in the bedroom with my wife and I.  Since he was still petrified, he didn't move at all.  After a few nights, he actually got comfortable enough to move around and then potty near my side of the bed.  That's when we moved his bed to the kitchen, where we can close him off at night.  He's been doing fine there, and doesn't cry any more. 

At this time, I had not heard of crate training, so we've been putting puppy pads down in the kitchen for him at night.  He's been great about using these.  And I've been good about bringing him outside first thing after he eats, first thing in the morning, and whenever I can during the day.  He's about 50/50 on using the bathroom outside. 

He's a wonderful dog, who has really developed a sweet personality so far.  I think he was abused at his last home, because he frightens very easily (sometimes he refuses to walk around the house at all), when he does follow me--he stays behind me at all times (in fact if I turn to see him, he turns too, so that I still can't find him!!), when I put the leash on him, he refuses to move at all, etc.  The most troubling part is how he still freezes up, even when in the house.  (For example, if I'm on the couch with him, he's happy as can be, but if I get up and go sit on the floor in the middle of the room, he will not come to me.  He gets up like he wants to come, but he seems scared of the floor.  If I walk out of the room, he'll jump off and follow me, but as soon as I stop walking, he hauls tail back to the couch.) 

Now that you've got the background, here's my questions:

1.  Is it too late to crate train?  He's 5 mo old, and for the last two weeks he's been sleeping in a bed in the kitchen.  He's good with puppy pads, but I'm not at the point where I can let him roam the house alone (if he'd ever get off the couch!).  Also, crate training would be wonderful for us when we visit my wife's family.  Would crate training him now cause too much confusion?

2.  When I put the harness on him, he reverts back to "the amazing statue dog" and won't move at all.  If I do manage to get him moving, the leash is out of the question.  Everything I read says that you should let him walk around with the leash on til he gets used to it, but he refuses to budge.  I've started taking him outside and putting him down and walking til the leash is taunt.  Then I sit down and he runs (well, crouch-runs) to my lap.  I'll do this repeatedly to try and get him used to the leash and harness, but he refuses to walk with it.  Once I take them off, he's disturbed for a while, then eventually he acts like a normal dog again.  What should I do?

I've read most of the threads concerning training on here, but my questions are a little different because I honestly believe I'm dealing with an abused puppy.  He's opening up, and I don't want to ruin his growth right now by doing the wrong thing.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

He may well have been abused but he's still young and hopefully can overcome a lot of that.

It's not too late for crate training and it's a good idea to do that....one of the reasons is the reason you state - traveling.  Once he gets used to the crate he'll also feel safe in there, it will be "his" place.

As far as the harness/leash....to start with I'd just let him wear the harness around the house...feed him some treats, praise him a lot....walk away a little and tempt him with a tasty treat of something he really likes.  Same when you put the leash on him to start with.  Just don't leave him alone with these on. JMO

Bless you for rescuing him!

Welcome to RT.com! bless you for rescueing Chester. He is precious! We will all want more pictures! We love pictures here. I really have no training advice but wanted to welcome you. Sounds as though you have a wonderful heart and I am sure Chester will do just fine.

Welcome!  Tracey has given you some good advice. 

I just wonder, do you have a booming voice?  Some men do and don't realize it.  A friend of ours does and his cat was terrified when they first got it.  But it got used to our friend's deep voice and loudness of talking.

Chester is so adorable!  I'm sure it will all work out.  My puppy hated the crate at first, so I would leave the door open and put it in a room that I was in...with a treat in it.  She started getting more comfortable and now she goes in all the time without crying.  I usually do throw a treat in.  She has her comfy bed in the crate and there is a little bit of room in the front, but that is usally where she keeps some toys.  We keep Tinkerbelle's crate in our bedroom and if she is really hogging the bed or if we just need some couple time without the dog, she will just go right in.  But, she still loves to sleep with us the best.

One word of caution with the pee pads.  Tinkerbelle started peeing on all of my throw rugs and door mats.  I think she got them confused with the pee pads, so I had to pick up all of the pads and rugs and strictly train her to only pee outside. 

Good Luck and thank you for rescuing such a little sweetheart.  Oh and my dog loves my couch also.  Maybe rat terriers are just a bunch of couch potatoes!