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April 2, 2015

(Un)Crate Training

This is Penny’s crate: It may not look like much, but I’d argue it’s the best training tool out there Penny’s crate is her home, her domain, her safe spot. Piled with comfy bedding, it’s a cozy retreat. When her bedding is in the wash,
This is Penny’s crate:2.1

It may not look like much, but I’d argue it’s the best training tool out there

Penny’s crate is her home, her domain, her safe spot. Piled with comfy bedding, it’s a cozy retreat.

2.2

When her bedding is in the wash, Penny gives me the saddest, “Hey, you stole my house!” look

Combined with positive reinforcement, crate training is an invaluable resource for growth and development. From house training to separation training to basic safety, a crate is great. Penny loves her digs, and when I’m heading out she darts right in to curl up and enjoy a treat.

That said, crates have limitations. Namely, they are crates. My apartment’s not very big, but it’s got slightly more room than a crate for Eko to stretch out in. Granted, Eko usually curls up most of the time in a space smaller than a crate but you know what I mean. If he wants to hop up for water or a stretch, he can.

A few months ago I tried to uncrate-train Penny. Despite some initial success the overall results were less than stellar.

2.3

Penny tried some artisanal woodworking

2.4

Then took her artistic talents to leather materials

I thought these two incidents were aberrations, until one day I received the following text from Emily.

2.5

“Just came home to this. She goes back in the crate. Now.”

First, Eko was relieved to know he wasn’t blamed for the above crime. Second, I was relieved to know Emily wasn’t calling off our engagement. Third, Penny was relieved of her new privileges and went back to being crated each time we left. In retrospect, I didn’t set Penny up for success and tried to make the switch too early.

Now, with the help of some 21st century tech and a bit more thoughtful planning I’ve started to uncrate-train Penny again. The first step, which I should have been more diligent about the first time around, is to make sure Penny is exhausted.

2.6

It doesn’t take much encouragement, but before uncrate-training sessions,Eko helps make sure Penny is run ragged

Next, I follow the same routine I usually do when leaving and give the pups a small treat. Except now Penny gets hers on the couch. Here’s where my new eye-on-the-table camera comes in handy. For Penny’s first stints alone I would just head to the bottom of the stairs and keep an eye on her while I answered a few emails.

2.7

It sure beats crossing my fingers and hoping for the best

2.8

I’m happy to report Penny’s largely adopted Eko’s habits of snoozing

2.9

But, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me a bit anxious when I watch Penny hop off the couch

2.91

That’s where my strategically placed toy-field comes into play. It entices Penny to (hopefully) keep her jaws where they belong

2.92

I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but so far the results are quite promising. I’ve watched Penny nap, play with her toys and head right back to napping

Is it wise to try uncrate-training again so close to my wedding? Some would say not. But I think Penny is ready and I’m ready to help her succeed. And it’s probably too late for Emily to back out anyway! I hope.

I also managed to record some video of the new camera helping us train so check back tomorrow for the full report.

Comments for (Un)Crate Training

  1. meANXIETYme says:

    We had un-crate issues with our second dog, too. We never had to crate train Le Moo, but Butthead required it (she was slow to understand house-training and she destroyed EVERY TOY so we couldn’t leave her out with toys for fear she’d swallow something bad. Also, I’m pretty sure she had separation anxiety and the crate helped with that, too). We probably crate trained Butthead for longer than necessary, but truthfully, it saved my sanity. My husband was much more interested in ending the training EARLY, so I feel for Emily. Now that we’ve successfully un-crate trained Butthead, we still leave her crate out for her to snooze in–which she does daily. But then again, we have the room for it, so it’s no big deal.
    Crate training is awesome when done right and un-done right!

  2. cdog5 says:

    I agree about crates, Will. Unfortunately, what I know and what I do doesn’t always seem to mesh (we were kind of lousy crate-trainers with Charlie). And oh does Penny look so proud of herself and her woodworking and leather refashioning! LOL Dogs will be dogs, 🙂

  3. Sarah says:

    Best of luck with this! We found that crates are wonderful, and useful up to about 18 months/2 years which seems to be the time the chew-and-destroy-everything urge seems to pass……my husband is retired and I work at home 2 to 3 days a week, so we don’t need all day crating–but it’s sure handy when we’re going out for a few hours.

  4. Kismet says:

    You probably jinxed yourself. Dogs have a way of doing that.

  5. I’m surprised that our fourlegged wrecking ball is a good guy when has to stay alone at home…. I always worry that bad things could happen, but by now there was no mischief…. I hope Easy will not read my comment to show me the opposite tomorrow when has to stay alone for an hour…

  6. dashlilly says:

    oh fingers crossed because well, its Penny…

  7. raisingdaisy says:

    I hope it works out for you! Sounds like a good plan with good potential. Since I work from home, Daisy doesn’t have to be alone for too long, but she actually prefers the crate when we’re out. We tried leaving her out and when we came back (we made it really short, just half an hour), she was huddled on the couch and very nervous, staring at the door. No matter what we did, she wanted her crate. Whenever she knows we’re getting ready to go out, she noses the crate door open and gets inside as if to say, “Leave me in here, please!” She’s always preferred small spaces, so I guess she just feels more secure in there with her blankets and cushions. 🙂

  8. Elyse says:

    I’ve never crate trained a dog before Duncan. It is a great tool. But like Penny, Duncan needs to get out — and crates are not the most attractive things unless you’re into wire.

    So I’m going to watch and wait and learn from your, umm, successes. And other things.

  9. Emmadog says:

    We wish you more success than Bailie has had. She is on her third round of crating. She can go about two months with no incidents and then all of the sudden she starts tearing the house apart and goes back to having to be in her crate. The last time she started eating couch cushions and that was real bad! We’ll give her another chance again in a few weeks. She has antlers, toys and stuff, but she prefers to destroy pillows. Naughty wild child of ours.

  10. T&S says:

    This reminds me of our white Christmas Eve… an inch of our living room wasnt visible of all the papers and things they brought from the garage 🙂 our male is the main destroyer in the house, I think I still have that picture.

    We wish you and Emily a great and most important relaxed wedding day, a lot of fun for you and your guests… (and a light wedding dress for Emily, if she reads this, thats best advice when picking up a wedding dress) nothing else matters (we did it two years ago 🙂 )

  11. Ellen Quilty says:

    I completely agree that crate training is an invaluable tool.At almost four years old Nikki is long since over all the puppy behavior but I still crate her when I leave the house.She is so used to it that like Penny she is in there before I have my coat on so I never saw any reason to stop.I have also found it is a safe place to put her when I have on occasion dropped a glass on the tile floor in the kitchen.That way she is safe and can’t rush over to “help” me clean it up.Very rarely someone comes to the house who is afraid of dogs and she goes in the crate until they leave.Yes the crate takes up a lot of room and is not the most beautiful thing in the world but oh well.

  12. Khoi’s Den has saved his life many times. We’re waiting awhile longer to uncrateable him. Neeka, on the other hand, was uncrateable. She was so frantic to get out, she broke through the front of a crate just like Penny’s. We clamped it down, and the next day she bent the bottom near the pan and escaped. We ended up using a mesh muzzle on her and gave her free rein of the house. It worked and she didn’t mind the muzzle at all. She could still chase her Kong and drink. She just couldn’t rip apart the couch cushions anymore. Four years later, (and no more muzzle) she still can’t be cooped up in a crate or a small room alone.

  13. coastingnz says:

    We didn’t do crate training with either of our dogs but I think it is something perhaps Ziggy would have benefited from. He is great now but goes mental when we get home but that’s ok, we don’t mind mental 🙂 Will try crate training with our next pup – but that is a long way off I hope.

  14. Maybe now that she’s not a wild ‘teen’ and with the aid of big bro, Eko wearing her out, I’m sure she’ll do much better. I’ve never used a crate but admire those who do and are able to keep inquiring minds from getting into trouble. I think Sam sleeps all day (I hope) so mostly I think his free range seems to be ok. At least he hasn’t destroyed any wood or leather…yet. 😉

  15. I used to say I didn’t “believe” in crate training…until I started fostering dogs! It became an absolute necessity as you have no idea what these dogs know as far as house manners, and making sure other furry family members are safe and everyone has their own space. Ruby won’t set foot in her crate voluntarily, but Boca regularly opens her closed crate door and heads in for a nap.

  16. Victoria says:

    I love Emily’s text – she is such a trooper! Good for you on your new tactic -seems like you have it all worked out – congrats

  17. Ah to crate or not to crate. We were advised by a trainer to crate train our puppy Moe. The idea was to put him in his crate at night and eventually the crate would become his haven. I think the training lasted all of 10 minutes. I am not sure who caved to his whining first, me or my husband. Unfortunately it is one of the few things I regret. If we had persisted then he would have a safe place to go when he gets stressed out and needs a quiet place.

  18. Dottie and Tuffy-Cat says:

    The photo of Penny in the destroyed room should be titled “Mayhem’s Revenge”, or “I’ll Show Them”. But, it may not even have been Penny. It looks more like the CIA were hunting for someone with a similar name, and Penny saved the day by teaching them to check their facts better next time. Hey, it sounds good to me, but I really doubt that Emily would fall for it. I can’t blame her for being a bit upset. It will all work out eventually, but sooner than later is always preferred. Good luck.
    Dottie and Tuffy-Cat

  19. Penny has “grown up” a lot since your original un-crate training failure! Looks like (paws crossed) things are on the UPSWING in that department now. I’m sure she’ll make the perfect flower girl at the wedding (tee hee).

    Pam and Sam

  20. Ogee says:

    Shared this with a friend who adopted one of our two year old still puppy rescues. Didn’t want her to think she was alone in the world. And your example of patient practice (untrust and verify!) is perfect!

  21. I think crate training is the best thing for them and once trained I too let them stay out except gman he will be in one forever.

  22. how to untrain a 2 1/2 year old RR who needs her crate as a retreat from the monster aka vacuum cleaner? Any advice welcome

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