Re-crate training?

RunningGal900

We have a three-old-lab. For the first year and a half if his life he was completely crate-trained and went in his crate gladly whenever we left and at bedtime. When we moved we decided we could trust him in the house so he has free run of our town home. Lately, he has been very ornery and has started eating things in the house. It could be anything from underwear to my son's to my pool bag to our potty ring. Pretty much anytime I leave he eats something. It doesn't matter how long i am gone. I am a SAHM so we are home with him a lot during the day, but e does go to daycare if I know I won't be able to be home with him for good chunks of time during the day. I am thinking of re-crate training him when we move again in February. Has anyone done this and is it hard? Sometimes I worry that he will think its a punishment or we are mad at him. I already worry that he's jealous of DS though they are wonderful together. He currently sleeps in our room and in the new house the crate would have to go in the basement and since he's used to being with us, I don't want him to be sad about being in te basement. Am I being too sensitive? I love my dog, but I definitely don't think he can be trusted to be out anymore. Any input would be great.

Caz1221

I crate-trained my 4-year-old rescue when I adopted him (he had never been crate-trained before to our knowledge).  I just used the exact same techniques that I used for my first dog when he was a puppy.  I introduced him to the crate slowly, not even shutting the door at first and gradually working up to longer and longer periods of time in the crate.  I found pairing a command with the crate ("crate" or "kennel" or whatever you want) was very effective as well. 

I also made the crate a safe, happy place by giving him special treats in the crate that he did not get any other time (stuffed, frozen Kongs worked great) and using the "crate fairy" (hiding little treats in his crate when he wasn't around so he found them when he went in.

He wasn't a fan at first, particularly at night (probably because his foster mom let him sleep in her bed), but he acclimated within a week.  I never use the crate for punishment, so neither of my dogs associates it with bad things.  I also find it's important to make sure the dog is getting enough exercise and mental stimulation so that s/he will sleep/rest when in the crate.  Proper exercise can really help with any anxiety or extra energy while in the crate.

Regarding the placement of the crate, my dogs' crates were always in our bedroom (and now they sleep in our bedroom on dog beds).  Is there any way you could have the crate in your bedroom (or at least on the same floor of the house as the bedroom) rather than in the basement?  I do think that would make the transition easier, especially since dogs love to be with their people.  Even if the crate in the bedroom won't work long term, perhaps you can have it in the bedroom for the transition time so that the dog isn't being re-crated and moved to the basement all at the same time? GL!

RunningGal900

Caz1221:

Regarding the placement of the crate, my dogs' crates were always in our bedroom (and now they sleep in our bedroom on dog beds).  Is there any way you could have the crate in your bedroom (or at least on the same floor of the house as the bedroom) rather than in the basement?  I do think that would make the transition easier, especially since dogs love to be with their people.  Even if the crate in the bedroom won't work long term, perhaps you can have it in the bedroom for the transition time so that the dog isn't being re-crated and moved to the basement all at the same time? GL!

You know, I could put the crate in our spare bedroom for now. I wasn't going to because it will (eventually) need to be a nursery, but I can cross that bridge when I come to it. I have to move him from my room because he's a terrible snorer and he keeps me up at night. I'm just not getting enough quality sleep with him in our room, but he could definitely be in the "den" upstairs with us until we need that room (which could likely be three years). 

Caz1221

RunningGal900:

Caz1221:

Regarding the placement of the crate, my dogs' crates were always in our bedroom (and now they sleep in our bedroom on dog beds).  Is there any way you could have the crate in your bedroom (or at least on the same floor of the house as the bedroom) rather than in the basement?  I do think that would make the transition easier, especially since dogs love to be with their people.  Even if the crate in the bedroom won't work long term, perhaps you can have it in the bedroom for the transition time so that the dog isn't being re-crated and moved to the basement all at the same time? GL!

You know, I could put the crate in our spare bedroom for now. I wasn't going to because it will (eventually) need to be a nursery, but I can cross that bridge when I come to it. I have to move him from my room because he's a terrible snorer and he keeps me up at night. I'm just not getting enough quality sleep with him in our room, but he could definitely be in the "den" upstairs with us until we need that room (which could likely be three years). 

That sounds like a good option - at least he can be near you even if he's in another room. Another thing I found very helpful is a white noise machine - it drowns out snores from both of my dogs as well as the city noise.  Best purchase I ever made!

prettywittyandi

So many people think crate training is cruel but I totally disagree.  Both of my dogs, especially my smaller one (cocker spaniel) go into their crates on their own accord.  I agree with the previous poster, the trick is in the treats! 

Another trick I can share for a restful night is including old clothes that smell like you with a comfy blanket.  Both of my pups love sleeping with my old tshirts

RunningGal900

Caz1221:

RunningGal900:

Caz1221:

Regarding the placement of the crate, my dogs' crates were always in our bedroom (and now they sleep in our bedroom on dog beds).  Is there any way you could have the crate in your bedroom (or at least on the same floor of the house as the bedroom) rather than in the basement?  I do think that would make the transition easier, especially since dogs love to be with their people.  Even if the crate in the bedroom won't work long term, perhaps you can have it in the bedroom for the transition time so that the dog isn't being re-crated and moved to the basement all at the same time? GL!

You know, I could put the crate in our spare bedroom for now. I wasn't going to because it will (eventually) need to be a nursery, but I can cross that bridge when I come to it. I have to move him from my room because he's a terrible snorer and he keeps me up at night. I'm just not getting enough quality sleep with him in our room, but he could definitely be in the "den" upstairs with us until we need that room (which could likely be three years). 

That sounds like a good option - at least he can be near you even if he's in another room. Another thing I found very helpful is a white noise machine - it drowns out snores from both of my dogs as well as the city noise.  Best purchase I ever made!

I need total silence. When my son was in my room when he was a newborn it drove me crazy to have his white noise machine in there. I'm a weird sleeper, I know :-) 

LuckyAngel07

Ditto PP's suggestions. Dogs are also not very good at generalizing. Meaning that moving to a new house sets them back in terms of what they think they can and can't do. So definitely returning to the crate in a new environment is a great idea, and possibly leaving him out of the crate when you moved to the townhome is why you're now dealing with destructive behavior.

Returning him to the crate routine when you're out of the house (at first, this means even super short trips) and at night just like you did when you first got him will help reteach him appropriate in-home behavior. Also giving him plenty of exercise should help curb those destructive tendencies (bored and energetic dogs tend to destroy things when not monitored).

GL!