Problems with crate

[Bingbong]

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I am a first time puppy owner of an 8 week year old labrakita. After reading books, I prepared the crate full of wonderful toys/ treats. On the day we got him I don’t think I spent enough time conditioning him to it as his first night (in our bedroom) he was extremely unsettled until I went over and consoled him till he went to sleep. A friend of mine told me to cover the cage ( we did last night, 2nd night) and he was unsettled for about 10 minutes then slept till 3. I’m trying all the tricks to get him to use the crate as a den of retreat and relaxation but refuses to be in there for too long. He losses interest in toys and drags them out. Please can someone help me? I’m so worried I’m doing things wrong and I’m just dreading putting him in the crate at bedtimes knowing he hates it!
thanks in advance

 

[JoanneF]

This is a long read, but it is the best guide to crate training I have seen. It is by Emma Judson who is a behaviourist who specialises in separation anxiety, and is shared with her permission.

Get yourself a cup of tea, and please come back if you have any questions.

Crate-Training.docx

 

[Tinytom]

Not all dogs like crates

 

[Finsky]

Even if your dog does accept the crate...his idea of staying in one place or lack of it doesn't necessary have anything to do with that the crate is no good.
Some dogs just don't tend to sleep in one spot for long....they nod off for an hour or two and then find some other spot to lie down again. And then there is dogs who's bed/crate is their precious own space and will always retire there for a snooze.
Keeping some toys and treats in the crate might also send mixed messages as dogs don't tend to sleep with their 'food'.
By all means....play with your dog in the crate with its toys..but if it does want to move the toys away from there...let him and keep the toys somewhere else for him. Playing in the crate with the toys is good way to get him familiar being in there (as explained in the link Joanne posted)as well as luring him into the crate with treats. You can even turn his instinct to 'clean up' the toys and treats away a kind of a 'play'.
If you can provide him another place to sleep as well and as long as he is not bothered being in crate, that could be a place where you can keep him when you will have to make sure he is secure for his own safety/comfort.
My dogs are totally in ease with their crates but they never really used them for sleeping for very long (only few first months) and instead they have cushions and beds scattered around house and use of settee as well.....they are like restless souls that sleep when ever and where ever they find suitable at the time....'bed hopping' is a norm in our house...