Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Training
  3. Charlie depressed in crate?

Charlie depressed in crate?

Basenji Training
  • PujiP

    Hello all,

    We're in the process of crate training our 7-month-old pup. He has been eating his meals in the crate since we got him (at 3 months) and learned early on to go into his "house" on command. But we didn't start real crate training (closing the door) till a few weeks ago. We are now keeping him in there for about an hour a day, with us in the same room. We give him his favourite treats once he's in: a kong with peanut butter and his bully stick. He'll quickly lick out all the peanut butter and will sniff his bully stick, but he won't chew it - even though it's his favourite chew of all time and he only gets it in the crate now. He'll just sit there or lie there and look at us. He doesn't whine or try to get out - he'll paw weakly at the gate here and there, but that's it. When we open the door, he runs right out with tear stains on his sweet little face. So… we get the feeling that he's not freaked out by the crate, but that he doesn't like it either. Is this normal? Will he learn to like it with time?

    Our goal is for Charlie to stay willingly and peacefully in his crate for an hour or two at a time when dog-fearing guests come, or when we're vacuuming, etc. Any suggestions to make the crate a happier place for him?

    0
  • DukeD

    Well of course every dog is different. For us - we never put Duke in his crate just because for training purposes. We put him in his crate with treat because we had to leave the house. Now a days, I find Duke and Daisy in their respective crates because they're resting. I find this interesting, because they used to run and stay on our beds when someone was home. In the very least if the bedroom doors were closed off and they couldn't access the beds, they would snooze on the sofa together. Now - I see them in their inidividual crates. Granted, no treats are involved with their choice. The thing that has changed is . . . I bought some very nice comfy cozy crate beds and blankets - so this may be the motivator they go in the crates voluntarily. Stay consistent - keep the treats coming when they must go into the crate. You never know when they'll surprise you …

    Jill

    0
  • PujiP

    Thanks, Jill. Your post made me and DH reconsider our crate training goals. Also, we started to think that perhaps Charlie might be so unhappy in his crate because we were right there in the room with him - but he couldn't join us. So… here's what we did. We got him a larger wire crate to replace his plastic crate. He can fully stretch out if he wants to - it's roomier and airier for him. We put his old doggie bed in there and made it as cushy and comfy as we could. And we decided to crate him when we have to go out - and when we're at home only if necessary (repair man, etc.). We were having issues with Charlie busting through the baby gate that closed off his puppy-proof room, so crating when we leave feels like a step in the right direction.

    So far, it looks like he's not sure what to make of the new situation :rolleyes: He's had the new crate for 3 nights now. He didn't sleep in it the first night, but chose a pillow on the ground instead. But he did sleep in there the next two nights. He's been left alone in the crate twice now, but still goes in when we ask him to. His last nap was on that little pillow though... oh well... I think he's wary of the crate, but we just need to stick to the plan and he'll get used to it... hopefully :o

    0
  • BarklessdogB

    In our experience they are like babies & cribs, let them cry and start with very short intervals, make it positive and act or do something else to ignore them. Also make the crate really comfy or put in a a nice blanket.

    They grow to love their crates. We leave them uncrated when we go out and when we return we often find them asleep in their crates. They feel safe & cozy in them.

    0

Suggested Topics

  • A

    Diggs Crate?

    Basenji Training
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    4k Views
    G
    Hey. I have my first Basenji and the diggs crate is great but I must admit it is heavy and bulky to take up and down the stairs. I had to buy an additional crate for travel because it was becoming too much. If you were looking for something to travel with I definitely wouldn’t recommend it especially because it is expensive. My puppy loves it though since he can see everything from it but you could get that from another crate.
  • AnnA

    Crate Guilt

    Basenji Training
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    10k Views
    nobarkusN
    @Ann: Hi Dan. Thanks for your feedback. Noel will be 5 in November. (I don't know how she spent her first 4 years.) Our fence is 6' so other dogs can't get in…it's her reaction to them that could cause problems. I'm sort of a hyper worrier since Noel has a weak front leg. It was badly broken in December and, when there's squirrel/dog activity around the yard or in the alley behind us, she forgets about her leg and goes into a full run and jump mode. It's great to see her fly over our 2' stone ledge and run the periphery of yard like a guard dog or chase a squirrel back to its tree, but if left outside alone all day there's the potential that she'll overdo it and tire out her leg to the point of pain. I know I'm sounding over-protective...The vet recommends plenty of exercise but in small doses to avoid the fatigue thing. (I'll be posting some queries soon in relation to this!) OK Ann, now I see your dilemma here. This is a tuff one keeping a Basenji still or low activity especially when you're not there. The only other thing you could do is set up a kennel run or large dog pen to reduce the area. see this picture. http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_kennel_runs_pen_fence_.htm
  • Katrina02K

    Crate

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    RedVelvetLynxR
    I have the same story as nobarkus - we moved our first puppy's crate around a few times. Even from a full backyard view to a shared front bay window view (had to make room for B #2), she's always been pretty good. I think as long as the pup understands crate = happy place, you'll be fine with wherever. I used & still use treats. And to my much appreciated surprise, my little crate hater boy has become the model crated B of the 2 - he was soooooo vocal during his first month, but now he just lounges - and now my female is the whiner. :p
  • wrx227wrcW

    Crate Tray

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    wrx227wrcW
    I did, Pat. They are both Midwest and they wanted like $35 for each plus 20 shipping last I checked!! Foster&Smith seems like the cheapest. About $57 for one 36" and one 42" with shipping. Right now I've got George in a crappy old metal one (that has a rusted tray) and Pig is in one with a blanket. I decided I better get new ones just because I don't like him in the rusty one or Pig without a tray. I went to another pet store today and they wanted $40 and $37. Crazy! Thanks for the ideas guys…
  • PujiP

    Wrestling in the crate

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    ComicDom1C
    Our dogs do wander in and out of each other crates. They will even lay down in the others crates. Having said that, I am of the opinion that each dogs individual crate should be their own safe place. I know our Boston uses hers as a place to retreat when she does not wish to be bothered by the Basenji or just senses she needs to be out of the way. Roo our Basenji actually seems to respect that and will usually leave her be. Of course her crate is smaller so it would be difficult for both of them to be in it at once. Jason
  • FlashF

    Peeing in crate during the night

    Basenji Training
    26
    0 Votes
    26 Posts
    15k Views
    D
    We have really good luck with our little 9 week old at night now (wish I could say that about daytime)… He falls asleep on one of our laps typically around 9:30pm (usually my fiance' is watching tv) and then we wake him back up once he is good and asleep and WARM, and take him outside to pee, this way he does it very fast and wants to go back to sleep, so then we put him in his dog bed. After he is asleep we move the whole dog bed into his small crate in our bedroom. Mind you we won't use the crate once we can TRUST HIM. Our bedroom has brand new carpet and new paint and all new very expensive furniture (basically we did that right before we decided to get a Basenji :P) So then if he wakes up and whines, I get up and rush right to him and immediately take him outside on the leash, he goes immediately, then I give him half a treat and he lays next to me on the bed to fall asleep (he will NOT go back to sleep if I put him in the crate and my fiance' can't handle the screaming (she needs her sleep as she commutes a LONG drive every day)) so then if he falls asleep before I do, I move him back to the crate. Obviously the downfall to this is that sometimes I fall asleep first and then he gets to sleep in my bed... but he always wakes me up if he has to go (I keep my arm around him). But we started this method about a week and a half ago and only had an incident in our bed the first night, since then its been better and better every night! Now he only has to get up one time per night, which is usually around 3:30am now, it used to be 2, then 2:30, etc... so he is getting better. However I have learned to give up on the idea of getting him to fall back asleep after my fiance' gets up for work, he will just fight me the whole time. I sure wish I had the ability to be home all day to not have to crate my dog, but it is not an option, people have to work. So a lot of dogs will have to be crated for long periods of time. Hopefully eventually they get used to it. :)