What I would like to ask is people's experience in what they have used crates for when they have had puppies and how they have used them then using them for a way to control if you get a rescue dog and a behaviourist has suggested using one :-)

We used the crate overnight  and when going out - in bedroom and also had set up in the main room - Bentley choose to go to crate door left open during day

Although he hadn't used one at the breeders he took to it brilliantly no crying and slept through the night - clean! 

He had his dinner in there too

It was his safe place to go to sleep - get some quiet time and also have any special treats / dinner without the other boys pinching...

I haven't used one before Bentley so all went pretty good!

we used a crate with our pup and he took to it really well, in the day the door remained open for him to go in as he pleased, it was only at night and if we had to leave him  he went in. Slowly built the time up aswell, in the end he really thought of it as he own little house, putting all his chews and treats in there if he hadn't eaten them yet:)

used correctly a crate is invaluble. it is a safe den for a pup, esspecially if young kids in home, but like everything in life, it is only good if used properly, i have seen them abused sadly.

I introduce the pups I breed to a crate around 5 weeks of age. Prior to going to their new homes they are crate trained.

Pups I have had I have used crates ... I feed in them, give treats, they sleep in them. Initially, a new pup in my home sleeps in their crate next to my bed. They are the most brilliant invention. I no longer have a kitchen table ... I have 3 up 3 down crates (ie 6!) ... the doors are open the majority of the time, my dogs will chose to go and sleep in their crates. I can put them in there when I'm cleaning, visitors arrive, and other times when they need to be somewhere they feel safe and secure and when I'm busy. They are fed in the crates, doors closed - stops food guarding, not that we've had a problem with that, but everyone is relaxed eating as they know no one else is going to come along to intimidate them.

Have a friend who has done rescue work, she's re-homed 500+ dogs ... she's found crates really usefull with rescue dogs. They like being in their own little dens. Some need training to a crate, admittedly.

Crates create a safe space, a safe and happy environment - if the dog is in a crate, it should know it is completely safe ... safe from other dogs, safe from children, safe from visiting adults. A place of sanctuary.

Crates can greatly increase the speed of house training. They prevent huge problems with chewing ... I've been asked if my house has been trashed by my dogs!! Why would it? They can chomp their own chew toys in their lovely crate when they're at the time of teething, why would they want to trash my house?! They can help the introduction of a rescue dog - a safe haven, something some rescue dogs never have. Crates are wonderful if introduced correctly - just ask my dogs, they'll confirm :D

Crates are NEVER a place of punishment. Crates are NEVER a place of imprisonment for hours on end. They are not an excuse to training and bad dog ownership.

I got my pup last Sept and it is the first time I have used a crate. He was used to a crate when he came home so I suppose that made things easier. He slept in there at the side of my bed from the first night, and went in there with treats if we had to go out. I used it too at times I wasn't able to watch him properly e.g when I was cleaning, or at times when we had visitors, it gave him a chance to settle before greeting them. I have to say it has made things so much easier.
It is only used at night now, still next to my bed and that is only because that is where he wants to sleep.  I would love him to sleep on my bed but his routine is such that he will go into his crate and wait for his treat when it is time for bed.
jane

Both have been crate trained & although there have been long periods when they haven't been used, as soon as one is brought out know I will find one of them curled up inside. A breed that shouldn't do stairs they have rarely slept overnight in our bedroom &  have always slept on the floor down stairs when needed. When he came to us Otto had a crate from his first night, he was safe, could sleep along side Lucas without fear of being squashed & he never once cried. A great place for time out, resting a pup & yet still be with you, have never used them for disciplining, just like a basket somewhere that's theirs & safe.

Unfortunately both have either suffered serous injury or had major surgery & again crates have been invaluable in a breed that curl up, rest together, lol all over each other & love company. They have been able to be together but safe, don't know how we would have managed through paralysis, slip disc & having to keep one quiet for months after surgery. Great for travelling away in the car & sleeping/staying away with friends (those that will put up with them!).

> Some need training to a crate, admittedly.

Do you have any ideas on how to crate-train a 6 year old dog that has never been in a crate before? Genuine question, the dog concerned has a fear of enclosed spaces.

> We used the crate overnight  and when going out - in bedroom and also had set up in the main room - Bentley choose to go to crate door left open during day
>

same here with all of ours.

current boy did not take to his for a couple of days as a pup, then loved it, even when confined to crate pretty much constantly for about a month after TPLO op :(

his crate is HUGE and my flat while big is laid out so that it is long and thin, so the crate occupies an awkward chunk of the room when up so it's been living under the bed for a couple of years now. However, boyo started behaving quite anxiously when i was leaving for work (being manipulative as it turns out. lol cheeky bum) so we got out his crate as we know he finds it comforting, straight into it, "where have you been my lovely house?!!". he knows when i leave for work, even if i break up my routine, and gets into his crate when he feels i should be leaving lol.

so, best things ever. safe, secure, cozy and a boon to you and the dog :)

> Do you have any ideas on how to crate-train a 6 year old dog that has never been in a crate before? Genuine question, the dog concerned has a fear of enclosed spaces

high value treats, door open to begin with and something that smells like you? worth keeping next to your bed as well maybe until the dog is used to it.

i ahave a duvet thrown over ours to give a cave effect- sounds like the opposite is needed for your new boy, so maybe make sure nothing is on it (though they do make such a handy dumping ground :))

best of luck with it :)

> best of luck with it :-)

My apologies, I should have worded it better :)
...as in crate-phobic dog.... had him since a 9wk pup and to my knowledge he's never had a negative experience in an enclosed space. It's only in the last 18mths I have realised that some crate-training would be beneficial to him, for instance if I took on another dog, or if he ever needed to be constrained due to illness or injury. He will simply not go into any kind of enclosed space, even if his dinner is in it.... or even if I spend time clicking and treating any move towards it (which has always worked well before when he is shy of new things).

I had a flash of inspiration & bought some puppy pen panels. Put them up slowly, one by one, around a space he was comfortable with [C&T of course for any positive moves] but once it started looking anything like an enclosed space he switched off.

It's not the end of the world of course... and I'm more or less resigned to it, but I'm at a loss how to resolve it, if I ever wanted to take it further.

I wonder if your boy has caught a foot or toe in a crate early on, you probably wouldn't be aware of? My youngster did this at night when about 4 months ... she became fearful of going in her crate. Can't blame, judging by the noise she made, it hurt :-(

I think my approach would be take it very slowly, possibly set out with aim it will take some months. Establish where you want crate or pen to be, set it up and leave it there. My crates are all covered, as someone else has mentioned. This may or may not help ... you could partially cover and see.

I'd then feed him in room where crate is - not close to it. Or better if you are able to set up a crate in room where he's already fed. Just let him get used to it being there. If he's not bothered move his bowl a little closer every few days. Always gradually so that he's not worried about getting closer to crate. Aiming to be able to feed him right next to the crate. Then next step would be to move it inside. If any signs of unease then step back to previous stage.

If he'll play with you I'd also do lots of play near the crate, so he becomes used to it there and good associations are made with it in the room.

Completely different to how I'd start an adult dog off, but sounds like you've done the tossing of treats inside. If he's crate phobic the this is the approach I'd take, and slowly. :-)

assuming it is a 2/3door crate could you have all doors open and gradually get him to just walk straight through - trail of treats possibly?

Zuma had never been in a crate when I got him but took to it straight away, had big one back room downstairs and small one that moved from our bedroom to sitting room every day. When he outgrew small one I got another big one for spare bedroom upstairs.
He used to get shut in at night till he was 'safe' to leave loose  and in the day when visitors etc. He still uses both to nap and mainly sleeps in the upstairs one - obviously with door open. I put a  fleece type mat in the corner where sitting room crate used to be -about 3 years ago! - and he still goes to the mat when he gets a carrot or tripe stick etc. :-D