:x
While I was home convulsively Delilah got use to being out of her crate, when I went back to work she went back to being crated because I am still not doing stairs I have her “small” folding crate upstairs, Today she figured out how to un-hook the front and escaped
today's list of destruction
1 book dust jacket
1 chair cushion
half of my bamboo knitting needles
3 skins of yarn un wound and knotted
came home just in time otherwise Teddy would have been toast and not just damp
and I don't think I left a kong in my bed.
Tonight I zip tie..

I am sadly familiar with this kind of story. Skeena, warrior princess, will try and escape from any crate given half the chance.

I use two of these, one top and one bottom, for the wire crate to keep her in.

http://www.keyosk.co.uk/images-products/pr-key-accessories-key-clips-belt-clip-dog-lead-clip.jpg

She did not open the door she knocked the whole front of the crate down the door was still shut and locked. I zip ties the sides together and will use the latch you sugested for the door, Unless someone want to train her up for me :-)

She did not open the door she knocked the whole front of the crate down the door was still shut and locked. I zip ties the sides together and will use the latch you sugested for the door, Unless someone want to train her up for me :-)


Yep, zip ties are the way to go. Let us know how it goes! We've all been there.

my dog amazingly escaped his crate as well. the door was still locked so he must have squeezed himself through the sides somehow. It must have been quite traumatic really. He had scrapes on his neck and head. It scared me, now he doesn't crate at all. It's a pain when he has to stay with other people though, the crate absolutely freaks him out. Luckily he does well out in the house, otherwise it'd be terrible.
good luck. damn lovable dogs.

Yeah, my sympathies. Sita absolutely LOATHES the crate. I think she was traumatized by being left at the vet's office for almost a month in one of those little holding cages. If I put her in a crate, she barks obsessively, drools, scratches and tries to dig her way out, and has diarreha for a week. Thank goodness she's one of those rare "good" dogs that I can leave out (even with cats in the house!!) and nothing is destroyed or damaged when I come home. She doesn't even get on the sofa or chairs when we're gone! Just leave her a couple of rawhides, ropes and other random chew toys, and she's happy as a clam.

So for those (say, myself) who are about to welcome in a new pup (say maybe, a 7 week old Yellow Lab), any specific thoughts on how to assure a positive experience being crate trained?

And good luck with the break out bandit.

Bozer, the following link is not about a puppy but a rescue being taken into a home with other 2 dogs. It's a story from our other family (ROC) member and I hope you can find some good advice. If nothing else it's just a very nice story to read.

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23160

So for those (say, myself) who are about to welcome in a new pup (say maybe, a 7 week old Yellow Lab), any specific thoughts on how to assure a positive experience being crate trained?

And good luck with the break out bandit.

Start early. Put them in when they're tired and want to sleep anyway. Lure them in with a toy or small treat. Do NOT go to them when they whine - just like kids, they learn what works really quickly. The rule Guide Dogs uses is one hour in the crate for every month of age (unless they're sleeping).

Place the crate next to you while reading or watching TV and have them go in for short periods of time.

Keep the door open when they're not in it and soon you'll find that they put themselves to sleep in the crate - it becomes their safety zone.

Very nice, indeed. Thank you for providing the link. That pup fell into some loving arms.

Very nice, indeed. Thank you for providing the link. That pup fell into some loving arms.

There is someone somewhere watching over us and our beloved pets.

DD, hang in there and all the best with keeping her in the crate.

Oh yeah, and don't use the crate as a "punishment" tool. You want to create "good" memories of the crate not "bad" ones. Same theory as not using your "Come" command if you need to discipline your dog for doing something wrong. They learn to associate the "Come" command with "I'm in trouble" and won't come any more.

Giving them an extra-special treat when they're in the kennel and not sleeping is also a good way to make them think the kennel is great. And since you're getting a puppy, I highly recommend something frozen and crunchy (water ice cubes, chicken / beef broth ice cubes, frozen baby carrots or large carrot sticks). They think they're getting a great "people food" treat, and the cold really helps with those painful teething gums.