She hates the crate. What can I use other than crate training?

Question

I just bought a 2 month old Shitzu. I read everything about crate training and thought that would be a good idea. The first time I put her in the crate she cried, yelled, started bitting the crate, she got very wild as I had never seen before.
I took her out because she was going to hurt herself and was too loud.
I tried 3 more times and the same thing happened. I read that for some dogs the crate training does not work. Do you think I should give up and try something else? She is doing good with the paper, but i would like to have her eliminating outside.
I don't know what to do. I need help!

Thanks

Answer 1

First of all what is going to happen when an accident happens and she has to be hospitalized. She is going to have to be crated at the vet. Do you want the trauma of being at the hospital to be even worse when she has to deal with the trauma of having to crate when she never has.

She won't hurt herself in the crate. That's why you crate the dog to protect it when you aren't there to supervise. I had a pyr once that I should have put on video. He screamed and was on his back with his legs pushing up screamming like he was bleeding to death. It was awful. Most will get used to it. Put her in and leave so you don't become her b*tch. You are to be in charge and you say its crate time.

Answer 2

Basically you just need a small enough area that the dog won't pee/poop where he sleeps. My puppy does the same thing. When I put a blanket over the crate he stops right away - have you tried that? Leave a little spot so air can circulate...

Other option - are you home with her through the day? the only way this will work is if you are home all day with the dog - you can do it over a weekend and by Monday she should be trained... Put a leash on the dog and attach it to your belt loop so the dog is ALWAYS in sight. Anytiime you see the dog sniffing intently or sniffing in circles out him out. After every snooze, meal and drink put him out. Praise him until you feel like you've gone too far and a little more. If/when he has an accident - ignore her completely. Do not scold, do ot pick up, do not look at him - just clean up the mess and ignore the dog TOTALLY for a few minutes. I use this method in conjunction with crate training. My puppy is 8 1/2 weeks old and housebroken already.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I brought my puppy home around 2 months. She is 4-5 months now, and is completely housebroken - she RARELY has an accident. I did not use a crate.

I took her out as often as I could, when she went outside, she got lavish praise and a treat. I only yelled at her when I caught her in the act. I made sure to let her out with our other dogs, and she watched what they did, and would do the same. (The owners of her mom and littermates did the same thing - all the pups and the mom would go outside together.)

If she's only two months old, and she's doing well with paper training, keep with that for a little while. Then I would recommend maybe moving the soiled paper outside before she goes outside. Once she sees it, she'll go on the paper. Try that for awhile, and then remove the paper. She should be able to just go in the grass. I've heard from professionals that you can't reliably housetrain a pup until they are 6 mos. old, but like I said. Mines 4-5 months now, and is almost 100% housebroken. GOOD LUCK! Puppy messes are no fun!

Answer 4

4 times isn't that many times to give up yet. You can try to associate the crate with good things...try putting her in and giving her a treat, shutting the door, and then opening the door. Keep doing this until she realizes that the crate isn't Hell with wires.

You are right...and for some dogs, the crate is just not going to happen (I figure some humans are claustrophobic, why not dogs). So...other alternatives are fencing in a smaller portion of a room...baby gates are great for this. They even make baby gates that are about 3 ft high and 6 ft wide. I would suggest closing off a small room with an easily cleanable floor (bathroom/kitchen). Then since your puppy is going OK on the papers, just start making the papered area smaller and smaller. Then move it outside and she'll get the hint.

Just keep rewarding her for good behavior and don't reward her for bad behavior (like screaming when in the kennel--when you take her out...you are rewarding her).

Answer 5

My dog, a lab, was exactly the same way. He would just panic in the crate even though we used all sorts of positive reinforcment and treats. We continued with the crate training until he was out of the puppy stage, and could be trusted to be left in the house. Friends have had the same trouble, and instead of using a crate, have used a baby gate to close off the bathroom or some other room for the dog. Just be sure to remove any soaps or cleaning products from puppy's reach (garbage would also be good to remove). Good luck.

Answer 6

The other answers had good suggestions for crating. However, if that still doesn't work, try simply confining her as much as possible while you're training her. If this is for potty training, the crate really is the easiest way but it can be done without it. Our puppy (third one) hated the crate like that as well, so we ended up doing without. She potty-trained rather quickly. It just took taking her out as often as possible, and confining her to the kitchen while we were away.

Answer 7

i have two dogs and they both hate the crate. Even though they go in it like nothing now, one of them still paws at it and has bent the bars. They get bored and they feel alone. They want to be next to you.

Try putting some toys, treats or a special blanket in there. Put her in there for a few minutes at a time. Tell her she is a good girl for going into the crate and give her a treat. Walk out of the room for a few minutes. Go back in and take her out to go potty. Use key words like potty, bathroom, tinkle, whatever works. Make sure you praise her if she goes. Then put her back in the box with a treat and repeat the steps.

It will be torture for both of you but she will learn that you will be back and she gets a treat for going in and being a good girl. It takes time so stick with it, dont give in. Give her tons of love and reassurance when she potties outside. Play with her outside too so she knows its play time.

Both my dogs run immediately to the kennels when we say the word, like its no big deal. They get a treat. They stay in there all day and are so excited when we come home. We go outside to potty and play. It will work, stick with it.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

whoa buddy stop what your doing first off a crate is a scary thing to a dog. What you need to do is put blankets in there so its not so scary put her favorite toys in the crate and treats let her walk in and out let her get used to it. Then when she becomes comfortable you may close the door. Would you like to be locked in a small area that you can't get out of?

Answer 9

If someone put you in a cage and locked you in it, you'd react the same the first week or 2. Then you'd realize that you're trapped and kinda sorta get into the groove. I hate crate training and don't believe in it. Some people swear by it. But hey, everyone's entitled to their opinion and this is mine. :o) Try putting your dog in a smaller room, with a doggie/baby gate in the doorway. She won't feel so lonely, and will be safer. Make sure to puppy-proof the room.. little dogs can get into tons of trouble.. Good luck!

Answer 10

BEEN THERE, CLEAN UP AFTER IT! ;)

Sounds like your dog has some separation anxiety. This may sound silly but here's what you do. Take an old t-shirt that you don't care about and sleep in it one night. The next day put the tshirt on the dog when you put it in the kennel. make sure to tie it so that it stays on and can't get wrapped around and hurt the dog. This keeps your scent next to the dog which is comforting. When you get home, let your dog out and praise him/her for being good. DON'T use the kennel as a punishment. It needs to be looked at as her/his place in the home where he/she can be alone and safe.

I know this sounds strange but it worked for me and now my greyhound LOVES her kennel.

Good luck. :)