Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 07/09/2007 10:12 AM |
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So i was on vacation all week and was bound and determined to get Izzy crate training. For about a month now i have been putting her food dish in her crate and she goes in freely to eat. I will close the door behind her when i'm home to catch her in the crate eating. But i still am having no sucess actually keeping her in the crate. I finally put her in the crate yesterday for a few hours while i was gone and she did okay but still is emlimating in the crate. Today i put her in the crate for the first time all day while i'm here at work. I just shampooed the carpets last night and really don't want messes right away again. I have been giving her the quite moments pills to help calm her until she has adjusted to the "crate life" But this morning she didn't want to take her pill because she was so upset about being in the crate. I was putting her in the bathroom for a few days when she had to be housed while we were gone. She chewed up the wood trim around the door and on the door itself. I live in an apartment so it is a big issue. So it is back to the crate. Everyone keeps telling me that she will get used to it. But i'm not so sure. I have been working with her on this for well over a month now? HELP? She is going to the vet on thursday to be spayed. So i guess i will have to chat with our vet about some solutions to maybe help her? |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 07/09/2007 10:22 AM |
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I'm sorry you are still having difficulties. I apologize if I don't remember the complete situation - there are so many members here - Izzy was adopted, correct? Do you have the crate blocked off or is it small enough that she only has just enough room to turn around and lie down it? Not enough room to eliminate in one area and sleep in another? This is usually the motivation dogs need to learn to "hold it" until they can go outside to do their business. However, if there's a chance Izzy was born/raised before you got her in a situation where she was in a cage and had no choice - it may take her a good bit longer than your average "brand new" puppy.
I would recommend that you feed and water her as early as possible and giver her multiple opportunities to eliminate before she's going to be crated. Make sure the crate is resized properly to encourage her not to eliminate where she sleeps. If she will not destroy them, you can put a favorite blankie, pillow, or bed in the crate to make it more comfortable. I have found that Daisy is one of those dogs who prefers to have all of the crate covered except for the front panel - I think she likes the "den-like" atmosphere / safety zone, that it creates.
Also, try giving her an extra special treat that she just LOVES when it's time for her to go to crate - and make this the only time she gets whatever treat it is, that way she'll learn to associate going to the crate with gaining something positive. You can also leave her with a stuffed Kong or some other indestructible type toy to help her have something to do. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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nycmom
Ratastic
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| 07/09/2007 10:23 AM |
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I was having the same problem with Penny.
The breeder said she was spoiled and she sent Penny off before the check cashed, because her husband was getting cranky with Penny in the house. I know why.
Penny does NOT want to be in her crate, so last night she actually slept with me in the bed. However, I knew what had to come.
Rather than keep Penny attached to my hip, I made a change this morning.
I fed her, as usual. Let her play and then I put her in her crate, which is in the basement, where the other doggies are.
She screamed and hollered for about one hour straight. I had to ignore her. She finally stopped and THEN I let her out
after she had been quiet for over an hour.
I'm letting her out to play for a couple of hours and to go potty, but then I'll put her back in. I think it's easier on Mommy & Daddy to
get their puppies acclimated during the day, as the yelping isn't as piercing and you're less likely to succumb to the cries.
Do not reward unwanted behavior. For instance, if you put her in her crate and she cries, ignore her. Do not acknowledge her until she has not cried for at least 1/2 an hour. |
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 07/09/2007 10:32 AM |
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| Yes Izzy was adopted and was found wondering on the streets so in her case she has never really been crated and wants the option to be able to run free i think. I think she associates the crate with being caged as she was a the humane society. The crate is not large enough for her to have room to emlimate in one area and sleep in another. She will generally go right at the front of the crate and then curl up towards the back. Her head almost laying in it. She has just enough room to stand and turn around in here. She will bark but at this point i have no other option but to put her in the crate and leave. I can hear her barking outside when i get in my car as i did this morning. But we live in an apartment and it is just my daughter and i. So i can't let her run while i'm gone. Like i said we tried the bathroom but she has destroyed that already. So i hate it and i know it is wrong but she is just going into the crate while we are gone. I tried to gate her to the kitchen area and she jumped that. I'm just at my wits end with her at this point. I don't know what to do to make her happier while we are gone. she has her blanket in there with two different kong toys. I put her favorite fabric ones in the crate but she got poo on them so i had to throw them out. I gave her a treat yesterday for being in her crate just so she knows it is good to be in her crate. I think i will have to talk to her vet on thursday morning about some other options maybe for her to help her adjust. |
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nycmom
Ratastic
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| 07/09/2007 10:37 AM |
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Believe it or not, it gets better, but you have to be consistent and follow through.
My husband tends to give in, let the dogs whine him into letting them have their way. That's counterproductive, so I asked my softy hubby to stay away from the dogs until I have them broken in LOL. Maxi did the same thing, screamed bloody murder and my hubby would let him out each time. It took forever to get Maxi even half way trained as a result of him thinking that his bad behavior was going to get rewarded.
Can you try working with her on your days off? When you are home, put her in her crate (after she's been fed, watered and relieved) and let her just cry. When she finally recognizes that it's not going to get her anywhere, she's stop.
I'll be curious what your vet says. |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 07/09/2007 10:45 AM |
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How old is Izzy - I believe she's at least 7 or 8 months, correct? So she should be able to hold it for at least 8 hours. For now, I would find that special treat - cheese, chicking, freeze dried liver - whatever, something that she goes absolutely crazy for. Make going in her crate the ONLY time she gets whatever specific treat you decide on. And give her - for now - 2 or 3 pieces each and every time she goes into her crate, praise her like nuts, shut and lock the door and leave the room. Do NOT let her out until she is quiet - even if you find that she barks and barks and then is quite for a minute or two - let her out. She'll learn that when she barks she doesn't get out and when she is quiet is the only time the door gets opened. Remember that for when you get home as well.
Also, make sure you have srubbed the crate and the surround floor really, really well and that no residual scent remains for her to associate with her bathroom area. If necessary, maybe move the crate to a different location. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Bokilink
Rat Royalty
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| 07/09/2007 11:30 AM |
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boomer did this whining thing too... I just told him settle down and would not let him out till he had settled down. but as soon as he settled I opened the door and let him out. I did this part where it was him just going in for a few seconds till he settled down for about a week.
then I left the house (or so he thought) I would go out the garage door and out to the outside of the house close the garage door and wait for about 5 minutes (or until I stopped hearing him fuss) then I would go inside and he would always be all excited and yelping I always tell him (even still today) settle down and he knows that until he is CALM mommie wont let him out to greet me....
Then I started going away for longer periods.... and now I could leave the house for like 12 hours (but I dont because that is cruel!).
Just remember to tell your kids that they can not bug the dog in the kennel..... EVER.... (I have to get on my 4 year old boy about that)
Keep tossing the favorite snack in.....close the door and sit there with the dog until the dog settles down. then as soon as settled open the door up. and praise the pup for staying in and settleing... then toss another snack in and do it again.... do it several times in a day.....but NEVER let pup out until settled down. then gradually leave the pup in the kennel. make sure the kennel is in a place where the dog feels like part of the family too... (prob the living room) Mine is situated between the living room kitchen and formal living room.... so he can see or hear us from each room. dont give in to the whining that is the most important thing....
Oh and who ever said that doing it when you already awake is a genious.... dont try to start this kenel training at night you just wont get any sleep.....Good luck..... |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 07/09/2007 12:37 PM |
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Just wondering, what kind of crate is it? Would she be happier in a travel-type of crate. That is what Jack has and he does well with it. Doesn't LOVE it but does good. I wish I was more help for you, I know you have been through a lot with her!! Hope she starts to get better soon!  |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 07/09/2007 2:21 PM |
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| Izzy is about 1 year old now. She was 8 months when we got her. Don't know the exact day but know that she was born in Aug. So not to much longer until she is 1. I was home all week this past week on vacation and worked with her every day. I couldn't get her to go in on her own unless i put her food dish in the crate. So i did that for about a month. And i would shut the door behind her but then she would stop eating. She doesn't bark or whine at all unless we leave. I had her in there for about half an hour each time until sat and sun. I had her in there for about 5 hours each time. I also gave her the "Quite Moments" pills so that helped. Well today i forgot and gave it to her just was we walked out the door. But when she was going into her crate to eat she got to where she fitgured out i would close the door behind her so she would go in get a bite then come back out and then repeat. She absolutly hates it. So my neghibor and mom tell me that they just need to get used to it. Just let them bark. That doesn't bother me so much it is more me being worried that she will hurt herself in the crate again. One time she scrapped the skin off her nose. Today is the first day she is being left alone in the crate while we are at work. So this will be the longest amt of time she has been put in a crate. She is in a travel crate or i think that is what it is. It is all plastic and has a metal door. I think she scrapped the skin off as she was sticking her nose through the little holes in the plastic around the sides. i also leave the TV on for her to feel like she is not alone. I'm just worried that one of these times i will come home and she will have really hurt herself. She is just way to smart for her own good. I give her plenty of oportunity to go potty before we leave. I will take her out right when we get up in the morning and then again about an hour later just before we leave. And she will go both times. She is still very hot and cold about going in the middle of the night. Some nights she can go all night without having any accidents and other nights she will have gotten up and gone potty and poo. Last night was a good night and she didn't have an accident and i praise her tons when she does this. I have also been praising her when she gets out of her crate at night. But we don't crate her while we are sleeping only while we are gone. I guess i just need to keep going and hope that she will get better. But i'm still going to discuss this with the vet and see what she thinks are some options for us? She may tell me all the things you guys are telling me an it is just a matter of her getting used to it. I just feel so bad locking her up and knowing how much she hates it. |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 07/09/2007 2:34 PM |
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Hopefully the vet will have some ideas on what else you might try and hopefully she'll come around eventually. Keep us posted on how it's going and thanks for working so hard and caring so much and not giving up  |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 07/10/2007 7:30 AM |
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Well day number one of being in the crate was good. I won't say great. But she didn't go #2 at all in her crate so that is a big improvement for her. She did go #1 but i expected that. When we got home i let her out right away and took her outside. Of course the first thing she did was go #2 so that tells me she is getting the idea behind it. But as i was concerned about she did scrap her skin on her nose again. Wasn't as bad as the first time she did it but it worries me that if she continues to do it it will get infected over time. My mom says she will learn after a few times of doing it to stop. I don't know. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. She is in her crate today again but wasn't quite so bad about getting in which also really surprised me. Yesterday i couldn't get the door closed fast enough she was trying to get right back out. Today she wanted to get out again but wasn't so forceful about getting out. But she did go #2 right away this morning and then when i let her out again just before we left she did her #1. I really think she is getting that she is going into the crate so she needs to go and get it over with. It was very nice coming home to a home that was not litered with kids toys and shoes like normal!!  So still struggling but seems to be getting better. I will post again tomorrow and let you know how things went today. Oh and i praised her to death last night and gave her a ton of attention and told her how happy mommy was that she didn't poo in her crate. LOL
I did remember to give her her pill this morning about 20 minutes before we left. She was still barking like always when we left but i'm thinking these pills are helping her to be a little more calm a little while after we have left. Keep your fingers crossed that today will go even better for Izzy!! |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 07/10/2007 8:15 AM |
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| Oh, I'm so glad she's showing some signs of understanding about the crate. I can't wait to hear how today went. Good girl, Izzy. I do think that perhaps in this case more time and positive reinforcement will work wonders. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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nycmom
Ratastic
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| 07/10/2007 10:41 AM |
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| We had an episode in the wee hours of the morning. She was SOOO loud that I got up in a panic. I took her out, she did potty, but then she started whining again. She ended up on the bed again. Tonight, she's staying IN THE CRATE! |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 07/10/2007 10:51 AM |
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| I am so glad to hear Izzy did better, keep us posted!!! |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Izzy's mom
Ratastic
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| 07/11/2007 7:44 AM |
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| So yesterday was the same as monday so good as i could expect. Took the blanket out of her crate washed it again and took the crate out to hose it out to get rid of the potty. Then last night got it all put back together. I almost had to pinch myself as i couldn't believe what i saw happening. Izzy was actually going into her crate willingly with no food in it to tempt her to go in. I did rub my eyes a few times to make sure that was what i really saw!! LOL She didn't lay down but walked in a sniffed around a few times!! YEAH!! I think she is finally adjusting. Went to talk to the neighbor boy's mom and when i came back she had shreaded what she could find! URGH!! I was only gone for about 10 minutes. But all in all she is doing much better then i expected her to!! We will just keep on trucking!! |
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nycmom
Ratastic
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| 07/11/2007 7:52 AM |
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Izzy, you had a break through. Today is the day for me. I'm going to have to put my foot down.
She slept with us again. I let her out this morning and put her right into her crate. I'll let her out again
in an hour or so, but I need to get her acclimated. |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 07/11/2007 8:04 AM |
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| Glad Izzy is coming along little by little It's a great sign that she's going in and checking it out on her own, even for just a second. Keep up the good work |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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