We’ve been working on Luke’s crate training for a while now. He had a crate as a puppy, which he loved, but when he outgrew it we let it go. I didn’t anticipate having another use for it in the future, but I was wrong. Since Luke is afraid of strangers coming to the house, I wanted a place for him to go where he could feel safe while getting used to having people around. Even though I doubt he’d ever bite anyone, it’s not a chance I’m willing to take.
We had great success when a friend visited for the weekend recently, keeping him separate in gated rooms. He was able to get used to having someone else here without having to have any direct contact to stress him out. But being gated in other rooms doesn’t get him as much exposure to the people as I’d like. The new house is open concept and we’ll be spending most of our time in the open area, with no options for gating him where he could see us. In addition, he wants to be with us. I am willing to have him on a leash at times, but when you’re entertaining company, that’s not an easy option.
Thus the crate seemed like the best solution, but when we brought a new one in something happened to make him afraid of it, and now we’re trying to work through that with positive training. It’s been a slow process, but Luke has managed to make it fun along the way.
We tried shaping, letting him take gradual steps getting in, and clicking and treating as he advanced, but we just couldn’t seem to get to the step of having him put 4 or even 3 paws in at once. You’ll see in the videos how he can stretch all the way to the back of a pretty big crate! I had read in one of the books I have that I shouldn’t lure him in, but that was the only way I was going to be able to get him all the way to the back. So our routine was to do some shaping and if we didn’t progress there, I’d put treats as far back as I could in there.
The crate is set up all the time, and I got in the habit of throwing all of their toys in there so he’d have to step in to get one when he wanted it. I left them in there when we were training, and one day he decided he wanted to try a new game; he would pick up and pull the toys out of the crate! At first I thought “oh great, another distraction” but then I decided to go with it. It could be another way to make the crate a fun and safe place for him. Sometimes he’d pick the toys up and drop them inside the crate still, but it didn’t take long to train him to bring them all the way out. Our first video shows Luke’s new game.
If we can’t make the progress needed once we’re in the new house, I will probably try a different kind of crate. I just don’t want to give up on him (or spend more money!) too soon. We may find ways to make this even more fun as well. I might bring his toy box in and have him put all the toys away in there. He already knows that trick so that should be pretty easy. Either way, we’ll keep having fun with this and hope that it pays off in other ways in the long run.
We are joining the Positive Reinforcement Pet Training hop this week. It begins on the first Monday of every month and runs all week long. The hop is hosted by Cascadian Nomads, Tenacious Little Terrier, and Rubicon Days. Please visit them as well as other blogs through the links below for more positive pet training tips.
That’s cute! 🙂 Keep up the good work with him! It can be frustrating to re-teach something they knew once upon a time that went away for one reason or another, but you’re doing a great job.
Sounds like he’s figuring out for himself that it’s okay to go in there, so maybe it is just a time thing and eventually it will be okay. Love the suggestion of the ex pen – we’ve used that in the past (with Jeffie who when he was about 2 decided he would never ever go into a crate again.)
Good job! I have a question about clicker training. You clicked and treated as he came out of the crate, but you want him in the crate. Shouldn’t the reward be when he is in rather than out of the crate? Maybe a bunch of praise when he is in the crate?
You are so right, Linda. The book I had read said to treat him when he came back out, but I don’t remember now what the reasoning was there (it’s the same book that said not to lure him, and since luring works better….well, maybe not the best book?). It doesn’t make sense to me so I’m going to stop doing that, and treat and praise him when he’s in there like you said. Thank you!!
What a great idea. Well done Luke.
Yeah, way to go Luke! What a great idea!
How cute that he’s made up this game all on his own! I love that you’re just going with it and using it to help train him. I’m not entirely sure how to help him make the connection between the rewards and getting all 4 paws in the crate, but I know when we’re training contacts in agility–like stopping at the end of the dog walk–our trainer has us treat on the equipment instead of once Bar’s off it. She said if I treat after Barley comes off the equipment, she’s being rewarded for leaving it, so maybe if you treat Luke while he’s still in the crate the connection will be clearer to him? I didn’t do a lot of work with Barley to get her to love her crate, but I did feed her all of her meals in there–with the door open the first few times, then closed but not latched once she got used to that, then latched but I’d open it as soon as she finished, and then eventually we started adding time before I unlatched it.
One of the books I had read said to treat him when he came back out of the crate, but that never really did make sense to me. I’m going to try your way. I had also thought of feeding meals in there, that’s something else to consider (I just don’t want to make meal time stressful for him so I’d want to take that slow).
I love that Luke is showing you the games he likes to play! It takes a lot of patience, perseverance, and time – in “baby steps” at times – but when it finally “clicks” that first time is a reward in and of itself. ????????
It’s so true….I guess the more challenging it is, the better it feels when you finally get where you want to be, even if it takes a while!
Crate training is my Waterloo with Mr. N so far… He has separation anxiety which complicates things. I hear the DVD “Crate Games” recommended a lot though. Thanks for joining the hop!
I have heard of that CD too, I will definitely have to look for it. I had also read that separation anxiety can complicate things with a crate…that might be the one anxiety Luke doesn’t have, thank goodness (and knock wood…LOL).
He’s such a cute smartie! That’s some good stretching he does, boy, but he got the 4 paws in, awesome!
You had a lot of patience working with him to get ALL those toys out! Great progress getting almost all paws in the crate! Would it be possible for you to get behind the crate and click/treat him when he stretches his nose all the way in to get the treat through the bars. Then maybe you could guide his nose around to one side so he has to turn his body and bring his back paws into the crate. Click/treat at the side wall, then click/treat as you lead his nose back to the front door where he can get out.
That is a great idea, Raven, I am definitely going to try that. I had been thinking something like luring him around might work. Once we get in the new house we’ll have a lot more space to work in and that will make it easier.
Aww I love so much that you found a crate game that’s enjoyable for you both – and that it’s one he came up with himself.
I think Luke is doing a great job and he his sure helping guide you with what he needs and wants. BRAVO Luke!
Luke is too cute! That’s awesome he found a crate game that he likes! I’m sure he will probably figure out that the crate isn’t horrible but if he doesn’t you could always try an ex-pen for the new house. Some dogs do much better in those than being crated and that way he and your guests are still safe. They make pretty tall ones and the one we had worked really well and was easy to fold down when I didn’t need it.
The ex-pen is a great idea, Lauren, thank you! Luke is such a jumper I didn’t think it would work, so it’s good to know they make taller ones too. That might be a better option to try than a different crate, and it’s probably easier to put one up and down than this crate is.
Both of the boys enjoy their crates which makes life easier. I won a new clicker ring so when it arrives, I’ll be attempting clicker training.
I can’t wait to hear how your clicker training goes. I definitely want to try one of those rings too!
Great to see Luke’s progress with the crate. And it looks very familiar.
Honey loved her metal crate. But I started training her as a puppy with the bike cart (with the wheels taken off), she was very hesitant. She did the same stretch that Luke did to keep all his paws out.
Our big breakthrough came when our trainer said we should teach Honey to jump through the cart–in the back and out the opening in the front. She loved jumping through and it made it easier to get her comfortable to sit in it later.
Some crates have two doors–one on the side and one on the end (to give you more flexibility for arranging furniture). Maybe Luke would enjoy slipping in one door and out the other?
Can’t wait to see video in the future of Luke chewing a toy in his crate. 🙂
What a great idea, Pamela, thanks so much for sharing that! This crate does have a side door, so it is definitely worth a try. Once we get in the new house we’ll have a lot more room to have both open (it’s kind of tight where it is right now). I also think the side door is wider, so he may just be more comfortable using that door too. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!
When we got a new crate for Blue, he was afraid at first, so I would lay in the crate with him (it was HUGE) and we’d cuddle together and play in the space. Then he loved the crate. Blue was the EASIEST dog to train on most things. I miss him.
Thanks for allowing me to go down memory road and for the great tips. We have a new crate that I’ll be opening up this weekend. I’ll use your tips to see how the dogs do with it.
I’m so glad my post brought back some good memories for you. I can just fit inside this crate with Luke, so I may have to try that! He is such a snuggler I think he would enjoy it.
Bailie goes in any crate, but she really prefers the Vari Kennel she has had since she was a pup. I think she feels more safe with the “walls” and not the bars. I prefer the kennel like the one Luke has.
Luke doesn’t like the noise of the metal, I think that is his biggest issue. With that crazy Lab tail of his, he’s often whap, whap, whapping the side of it! For that reason, we may have to go to a crate like Bailie’s, or a soft sided, instead.
Luke I love this game!!! do you think it works with my toy box too that I can pick all toys one after another ? …and my momma hopes if it works it will work vice versa too, that I bring them back to the box lol. Many thanks for a great idea, I think this trick has a lot of options we can try on a boring and wet day :o)
Exactly, Easy! There are so many variations on the game. You just have to show your humans how to do it right. 🙂
Woofs! – Luke