Crate training advice please

We pick up our chocolate lab pup in a few weeks time so we are looking for as much advice as possible on crate training. When I had dogs as a child there was no such thing so it's all new to me! Also, we are looking at a 'large' crate that measures 107 x 72 x 79, do you think this is big enough for a lab? I have LOTS of questions before he arrives so I may be bugging you all some more!

Megatron said:

We pick up our chocolate lab pup in a few weeks time so we are looking for as much advice as possible on crate training. When I had dogs as a child there was no such thing so it's all new to me! Also, we are looking at a 'large' crate that measures 107 x 72 x 79, do you think this is big enough for a lab? I have LOTS of questions before he arrives so I may be bugging you all some more!

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you need to make it fun to go in the crate and never punishment it will take time don't force it to stay in there put its food In so it has to go in to eat

1 golden rule is.. like Reapingminion said.. never ever use the crate as a form of punishment... ever!

It's important that they get into the crate without you touching them (e.g. pushing).

I'd suggest clicker training to get a positive association with the crate ... with anything really.

Start with a low duration in the crate .. like a few seconds.. and make that longer and longer.

For crate training, check out kikopup's videos on YouTube. She has a nice 1 on crate training. I'll find it for you later.

Personally i hate dog cages, cages are for zoo animals and not something you are supposed to love, dogs are part of the family and should be treated so,would you put your child in a cage because it was destoying something or it weed and pooed where it shouldnt ? , no you teach it correctly how to behave, the same is with a dog, cages are not needed, i have 2 dogs who i love to bits and i have never used a cage just basic dog training.

I agree ilovedogs7, training is very important and a crate shouldn't be used for the purpose or pee/poo/chewing prevention.

Some misuse and abuse the crate, others make the crate part of the house, just as any room is. It really depends on the perspective you look at it.

We humans rationalise and some see a crate as a prison. This doesn't have to be the case. A prison is only a prison when you use it as a prison. The locked up animals in zoo's, which I object to from a certain perspective, is a totally different subject which I happily discuss but not here.

I would put my kid to her own room, in her own bed instead of letting her sleep in the living room or in my bed. However, I would not use her room as means to prevent her from doing things.

@Megatron - I can't comment on the right size as your doggy is still a pup.

As for crate training (or any kind of training!!), please check the crate training videos on YouTube that use the positive training/progressive reinforcement training.

And very important: Never use a cage as a way of punishing your dog in any way!!

ilovedogs7 said:

Personally i hate dog cages, cages are for zoo animals and not something you are supposed to love, dogs are part of the family and should be treated so,would you put your child in a cage because it was destoying something or it weed and pooed where it shouldnt ? , no you teach it correctly how to behave, the same is with a dog, cages are not needed, i have 2 dogs who i love to bits and i have never used a cage just basic dog training.

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Well we use diapers on children and let them sit in their own waste until changed to keep them from doing it in inappropriate places until they are toilet trained and we cage them in playpens and cribs to keep them safe until they learn how to be safe and when they can't be watched :-

we have just picked up our golden retirever pup and the breeder recommended crate training, we use it for overnight as he chews and would chew through wires, furniture etc, he has never cried, not even on his first night and now after his play and last meal he happily walks in by himslef and goes to sleep, he uses it as a bed thorugh out the day and we leave the door open, we arent using it because we want to cage him, we are using it to keep him safe when we are not there to watch him. I do agree, never use it as a punishment, he should be happy to go in.