Re: [PyrNet-L] Crating an older dog (was my dog george)

["Mitzi Potter" <Pyrs@Prodigy.net>]

On Mon, 30 Nov 1998 10:45:42 -0800, Cindy Zellick wrote:

>I didn't even *know about crate training pre-Internet and these dog lists.
>I'm wondering how difficult it is to try and crate train an older dog.  He
>shows *no interest in the 3 crates scattered through-out the house.  I know
>he's not going to go into any crate training willingly.  Any suggestions gang?
>I'd really love to keep the bedroom doors open.  We use a wood burning
>stove most the time and those back bedrooms can get quite nippy w/ the
>doors shut!!!

Toss a small chunk of hotdog in the crate & say "in your kennel!" as soon as he goes 
in, shut the crate door. Tell him what a good boy he is in an excited voice. Let him out 
immediantly and a few minutes later do it again. 10 minutes later do it again. After 
you've done that throughout the day 5 or 6 times he'' think that "crate trick" is pretty 
cool. Then leave him in there with you sitting right there in front of the crate door for a 
few minutes, then longer and longer. Tell him what a good dog he is and make that 
darn crate seem like the best place in the world. Over the course of 3-4 days keep him 
in there for longer and longer. And when the 1st night comes to crate him all night 
make sure you put the crate next to your side of the bed. If he whines or barks 
immediantly tell him "NO!" in your meanest fastest voice. You may need to repeat that 
several times. He "should" do fine after that. Usually if they're just crated at night that's 
not overly stressful to them if they've never been crate trained. Because they're 
normally sleeping then anyway and with you right beside the crate sleeping he should 
take it well.
That's how I'd do it anyway!
~Mitzi  Potter   
~Pyrs@prodigy.net   Okla City   OK
~http://members.aol.com/fivepyrs/dogsz.htm