We have a new chocolate lab who is 13 weeks old. She's really good at
night in the crate as long as we run and play for about an hour or so
to exhaust her before bed. I'm currently at home during the day and
need to crate her so that I can run errands and just do basic daily
tasks. The problem is that she hates the crate during the day. I try
not to force her in...I tempt her with toys and treats and sometimes
pet her until she falls asleep in the crate, but as soon as I leave or
simply close the door she starts barking. I've put a towel in there
to keep her warm, too. Today I went to a yoga class and came home and
she was still barking. I've never left her in there for more than 2
hours (except at night when she is fine) but I'm getting so frustrated
during the day. She loves to sleep in the living room, but I can't
leave her alone. Does anyone know how I can get her to enjoy her
crate and minimize the barking when she is left alone?

In article ,
(Sarah) wrote:

Does anyone know how I can get her to enjoy her
crate and minimize the barking when she is left alone?

You could cover the crate, being sure to let enough air in there, but
blocking her view of you doing "fun" things. Can you move the crate to
the living room?

In article ,
(Sarah) wrote:

Does anyone know how I can get her to enjoy her
crate and minimize the barking when she is left alone?

You could cover the crate, being sure to let enough air in there, but
blocking her view of you doing "fun" things. Can you move the crate to
the living room?

From: (Sarah)

We have a new chocolate lab who is 13 weeks old. She's really good at
night in the crate as long as we run and play for about an hour or so
to exhaust her before bed. I'm currently at home during the day and
need to crate her so that I can run errands and just do basic daily
tasks.

Run errands, yes. Daily tasks? Best if you incorporate her into hanging out
with you while you do them unless they're something dangerous (think power
tools! ;-D).

The problem is that she hates the crate during the day. I try
not to force her in...I tempt her with toys and treats and sometimes
pet her until she falls asleep in the crate, but as soon as I leave or
simply close the door she starts barking. I've put a towel in there
to keep her warm, too.

Some puppies actually prefer a bare crate. Where is the crate?

Today I went to a yoga class and came home and
she was still barking.

Still, or barking AGAIN. Since you were gone, you can't REALLY know.

I've never left her in there for more than 2
hours (except at night when she is fine) but I'm getting so frustrated
during the day. She loves to sleep in the living room, but I can't
leave her alone.

If she's asleep in the living room, you can dog household chores, but you're
right - leaving her in the LR is not very practical if you go out. A crate in
a pleasant area is safest. A special toy (stuffed kong or such) and simple
"crate" place her in and goodbye should get her adjusted. It sounds like
you're giving off vibes that she has to be coaxed. Be matter of fact. PUT her
in the crate, say goodbye and leave.

Does anyone know how I can get her to enjoy her
crate and minimize the barking when she is left alone?

Be matter of fact about it, not regretful. PLACE her in pleasantly - using a
word or phrase ("crate", "kennel up", "go to your house", whatever). TREAT her
AFTER she is in the crate (no tricking her, no luring her - she gets the reward
AFTER she's in the crate). Leave a radio or TV on. Practice leaving
frequently for short periods so she can adjust. Don't crate her when you are
home unless you're in the shower or asleep.

Keep a positive attitude and it will win out.

Janet Boss
Best Friends Dog Obedience
"Nice Manners for the Family Pet"
Voted "Best of Baltimore 2001" - Baltimore Magazine
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

From: (Sarah)

We have a new chocolate lab who is 13 weeks old. She's really good at
night in the crate as long as we run and play for about an hour or so
to exhaust her before bed. I'm currently at home during the day and
need to crate her so that I can run errands and just do basic daily
tasks.

Run errands, yes. Daily tasks? Best if you incorporate her into hanging out
with you while you do them unless they're something dangerous (think power
tools! ;-D).

The problem is that she hates the crate during the day. I try
not to force her in...I tempt her with toys and treats and sometimes
pet her until she falls asleep in the crate, but as soon as I leave or
simply close the door she starts barking. I've put a towel in there
to keep her warm, too.

Some puppies actually prefer a bare crate. Where is the crate?

Today I went to a yoga class and came home and
she was still barking.

Still, or barking AGAIN. Since you were gone, you can't REALLY know.

I've never left her in there for more than 2
hours (except at night when she is fine) but I'm getting so frustrated
during the day. She loves to sleep in the living room, but I can't
leave her alone.

If she's asleep in the living room, you can dog household chores, but you're
right - leaving her in the LR is not very practical if you go out. A crate in
a pleasant area is safest. A special toy (stuffed kong or such) and simple
"crate" place her in and goodbye should get her adjusted. It sounds like
you're giving off vibes that she has to be coaxed. Be matter of fact. PUT her
in the crate, say goodbye and leave.

Does anyone know how I can get her to enjoy her
crate and minimize the barking when she is left alone?

Be matter of fact about it, not regretful. PLACE her in pleasantly - using a
word or phrase ("crate", "kennel up", "go to your house", whatever). TREAT her
AFTER she is in the crate (no tricking her, no luring her - she gets the reward
AFTER she's in the crate). Leave a radio or TV on. Practice leaving
frequently for short periods so she can adjust. Don't crate her when you are
home unless you're in the shower or asleep.

Keep a positive attitude and it will win out.

Janet Boss
Best Friends Dog Obedience
"Nice Manners for the Family Pet"
Voted "Best of Baltimore 2001" - Baltimore Magazine
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

Be matter of fact about it, not regretful. PLACE her in pleasantly -
using a
word or phrase ("crate", "kennel up", "go to your house", whatever).
TREAT her
AFTER she is in the crate (no tricking her, no luring her - she gets the
reward
AFTER she's in the crate). Leave a radio or TV on. Practice leaving
frequently for short periods so she can adjust. Don't crate her when you
are
home unless you're in the shower or asleep.

Janet - you've got great advice about making sure the pup is in the crate
before she gets her reward and turning on the tv or radio, but I have to
disagree about not putting the dog in the kennel while you're in the shower
or asleep. It's hard to house train a dog while you're doing housework or
other things around the house. When we got our pup we were told to only
have the dog out of his kennel when we were able to watch him. If you're
going about your daily business, how are you supposed to know when your dog
is wanting to go to the bathroom?

We've also had times when we've had friends visit that really can't stand
animals (I know, it's hard to believe). Times like that we'll put the dog
in his kennel to keep them separated. We trained him for times like this
when he was a pup. We kept him in his kennel for a while every day when we
were home because we didn't want him crying nonstop while he was in there.
He got used to it and despite the fact that he spends very little time in
there now (maybe once or twice a month while we have him visiting at a
friend's house and we go somewhere), it's a place where he feels safe is
comfortable.

--
Shelley & Rusty
http://www.bump.us/rusty

Be matter of fact about it, not regretful. PLACE her in pleasantly -
using a
word or phrase ("crate", "kennel up", "go to your house", whatever).
TREAT her
AFTER she is in the crate (no tricking her, no luring her - she gets the
reward
AFTER she's in the crate). Leave a radio or TV on. Practice leaving
frequently for short periods so she can adjust. Don't crate her when you
are
home unless you're in the shower or asleep.

Janet - you've got great advice about making sure the pup is in the crate
before she gets her reward and turning on the tv or radio, but I have to
disagree about not putting the dog in the kennel while you're in the shower
or asleep. It's hard to house train a dog while you're doing housework or
other things around the house. When we got our pup we were told to only
have the dog out of his kennel when we were able to watch him. If you're
going about your daily business, how are you supposed to know when your dog
is wanting to go to the bathroom?

We've also had times when we've had friends visit that really can't stand
animals (I know, it's hard to believe). Times like that we'll put the dog
in his kennel to keep them separated. We trained him for times like this
when he was a pup. We kept him in his kennel for a while every day when we
were home because we didn't want him crying nonstop while he was in there.
He got used to it and despite the fact that he spends very little time in
there now (maybe once or twice a month while we have him visiting at a
friend's house and we go somewhere), it's a place where he feels safe is
comfortable.

--
Shelley & Rusty
http://www.bump.us/rusty

Shelly asks:

If you're
going about your daily business, how are you supposed to know when your dog
is wanting to go to the bathroom?

You keep your puppy WITH you. All of mine have followed me, but a leash is
useful for this if needed. Puppies learn best by LIVING with the humans.

We've also had times when we've had friends visit that really can't stand
animals (I know, it's hard to believe). Times like that we'll put the dog
in his kennel to keep them separated.

I have friends who don't like animals too. Oh well - the animals live here.
If they don't want to see animals, they can invite me to THEIR house or we can
meet somewhere else.

If I have a large indoor party, the dogs do get put behind a gate in my office
(and get a lot of human company going to visit them! It's not that they bug
the company, but the tails!!!!!!!!!!!


Janet Boss
Best Friends Dog Obedience
"Nice Manners for the Family Pet"
Voted "Best of Baltimore 2001" - Baltimore Magazine
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

Shelly asks:

If you're
going about your daily business, how are you supposed to know when your dog
is wanting to go to the bathroom?

You keep your puppy WITH you. All of mine have followed me, but a leash is
useful for this if needed. Puppies learn best by LIVING with the humans.

We've also had times when we've had friends visit that really can't stand
animals (I know, it's hard to believe). Times like that we'll put the dog
in his kennel to keep them separated.

I have friends who don't like animals too. Oh well - the animals live here.
If they don't want to see animals, they can invite me to THEIR house or we can
meet somewhere else.

If I have a large indoor party, the dogs do get put behind a gate in my office
(and get a lot of human company going to visit them! It's not that they bug
the company, but the tails!!!!!!!!!!!


Janet Boss
Best Friends Dog Obedience
"Nice Manners for the Family Pet"
Voted "Best of Baltimore 2001" - Baltimore Magazine
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com