Crate anxiety

by Cathy
(Buffalo NY)

I have an 11 week old Coton. And I'm trying to crate train her. She flew in to us last week. The problem is that she completely loses it when we put her in the crate. Chewing at the sides, panting and screaming in her little voice.

I'm worried that I'm damaging her instead of training her. I'm not sure what is happening but our last Coton did not exhibit the same issues. Help!

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Dec 31, 2015
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Crate training NEW
by: Vicky & Jonah

I found this on my Facebook page & even thou it hard to post a link on here u can go to Modern Dog Magazine. Com or follow on Facebook & find it. Good luck.

http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/trainers-truth-about-crates/174

Dec 31, 2015
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Crate anxiety NEW
by: Anonymous

Thanks guys for the feedback. Lily is slowly getting better. I was reading the suggestions and found that we had tried a lot of them. Even keeping her on our nightstand. We have the crate in our family room with all her toys I think just keeping the door open and the ease of her coming in and out really has helped. Plus a little treat when she goes in does hurt either.

Dec 30, 2015
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Crate training NEW
by: Vicky & Jonah

On this site in the newsletters & I think in Gale's free e book u can find info on crate training, u can also search Puppy Crate Training-Animal Humane Society on web.

It helps getting the proper steps to getting a puppy adjusted to the crate. It must be done in steps for proper adjustment training. Yes anyone can just put a dog in one but for them to learn this as a lifetime safe space weather they travel in a car in one, weather happens, they stay @ the vet, grooming, staying in a hotel while vacationing take your time & following the suggestions. Honestly In the long run it will save frustration time by taking it step by step doing it slowly.

Today u may think them learning to eat in 1 or go in on command doesn't fit your lifestyle but they will be with you hopefully for many yrs. & believe me it will come up & come in handy.

Dec 30, 2015
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Lily's routine NEW
by: Anonymous

When my Lily was a baby I had a small crate that she slept in at night which I put on my my bed (you could also put on a night stand) I was told that if they were at eye level with you they would feel comforted. From the first day she has always slept well.....At about one year old I stopped with the night time crate and now she just sleeps on my bed in her own bed.

During the day I have a larger crate that looks more like a piece of furniture, it has a her bed, pee pad and a water bottle attached so she has everything she needs. When I am home the door is open and she can go in and out. Only when I leave her is the door closed. In the beginning she would bark when she was left alone......but I would leave for very short periods of time so she would get used to the fact that I was coming back......I started with like 5 minutes of leaving her. I also give her a special treat when I leave her in the crate.

Hope it helps.....I think it becomes all about the routine they get used too and it takes time to develop that routine.

Happy New Year!
Donna and Lily!

Dec 30, 2015
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fear of the crate NEW
by: Iris

Congrats on your new Coton. Im not an expert, but it seems to me she's still very young and maybe has already been traumatized by being caged and maybe the crate was hit or banged on or something to scare her to stop crying? Its so hard to know, since their only communication is like a baby acting out of fear or lonliness.
I dont know what method you are using,
Maybe try a little tenderness and play. Leave the crate open with a towel or light cover over the top with toys and a treat and let it be her safe place "cave" wuth an open door that she can go in and out of. My Coton liked being in his little ziperpered cloth carrier with the front flap open like his front porch. I would zip it up to carry him out to the car and place it on the back seat.there was a top flap that close with a zipper and velcro. Tuffy figured out how to open it from the inside. This breed is amazingly smart and clever.
Eventually i just left the front flap open and he still enjoyed the safe feeling of his "cave".hes been very good traveling in a cloth carrierfor 8 years and when I tried a metal crate at ine destination he went in and explored, sat diwn on the soft cushion inside, and then after the test, got out and refused to go back in, even leaving the gate open. I watched for a few days and he was just not interested in that, but still happy to go in his cloth carrier. Go figure? Love from Iris and Tuffy.

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