New Puppy! 11 weeks old. Terrified of the crate!! Any other methods?

Question

My husband and I just bought a Jack Russel/ Fox Terrier Mix. He is 11 weeks old. He is very good going potty outside. We got him from an Amish Farm. He only had one accident in the house since we brought him home, and that was because of the long car ride. He is absolutely terrified of the crate. It is big enough for him and we've tried getting him comfortable with it, leaving him in 15 minutes one day, 20 the next. Bust every time we put him in it, he starts freaking out. Like crying hysterically, biting, barking. Is there any other way to keep him secure till he gets a little older? My mother suggested gating our bathroom and letting him run around in there? Any Suggestions??!

Answer 1

Teach him to associate the crate with good things.  When you put him in the crate feed him or give him a treat and when you let him out, give him lots of love and praise.

Answer 2

first try putting treats and toys like kongs in the crate, kong toys are great because you can fill them with peanut butter and they last along time! 2nd once you place him in the crate sit by him while he is in the crate to know that its ok, and reward him when he quites down, the last thing you wanna do is make him scared of a crate, a crate should be a safe spot for a dog to go like a den for fox or wolf an area to go when there scared or just to calm down

Answer 3

Give him shorter sessions, leave him with a safe chewy such as a stuffed Kong. And under no circumstance (unless he's injured, be sure to take his collar off when he goes in the crate) give in to his whining.

You are teaching him that throwing a fit gets him what he wants. Everytime you give in you reinforce this. Ignore him until he's quiet for even one second, then let him out, nonchalantly. Repeat. Reward lavishly for being in his crate. Feed him treats in there, feed him his meals in there. Make it a very pleasant place.

At night keep the crate next to your bed so he feels closer to you.

Answer 4

Will he go inside it without you putting him there?  He MUST like the crate or it's never going to work.  From now on feed him every meal inside his crate.  You don't have to shut the door, but put his bowl in the back so he has to go in the crate to eat.  When you're playing with him, toss a toy in the crate so he has to go and fetch it.  He needs to feel comfortable going in and out on his own.  ALWAYS give lots of praise (and even a treat maybe) when he goes in the crate.  Think of a command to associate with going in the crate (with my dogs we say "coop it up," I've also heard "kennel up," "go to bed," etc.), and say it whenever he goes in (and then of course give LOTS of praise).

Make sure the crate feels safe to him; he should have some toys, a comfy bed, and something to chew (safely) in the crate.

Q:  How long are you leaving him when you're at work?  A puppy his age should not be left for more than 3 hours, simply because he shouldn't be expected to hold his bladder that long.  If he is being left for longer than 3 hours then crating him while you're gone really isn't an option, in that case he's better off having the bathroom or the kitchen to himself for that time.

And another Q:  You said you got him from an Amish Farm??   Amish farms make up a huge percentage of America's puppy mills.... if your pup came from a puppy mill that might explain why he has such anxiety with the crate.

Answer 5

Try wearing an old shirt long enough to get your smell on it and then put it in the cage with the dog. Always use the same command like "get in your cage" so the dog learns where to go and try giving it a treat when it gets it right. My dog can find her crate anywhere that I put it in the house when I tell her to go get in her cage. The t-shirt thing worked well to comfort a beagle/jack russell mix puppy I had.

Answer 6

The crate should be large enough for him to have some nice, warm, comfy padding at one end, and a bowl of water & newspaper at the other end (for tee-tee, etc). Also put the crate in your bedroom while you sleep. Re-assure him when you "tuck him in" at night by talking calmly and soothingly for awhile while putting him inside and after he's in for a few moments. It takes a few heart-breaking sleepless nights of whimpering. Just reassure him once in awhile. Don’t let him sleep with you. That can be a very difficult habit to break.

Be sure to have a blanket or sheet to cover the crate if it's a see-thru crate. At night, cover the crate completely so he cannot see out, and securely close the door. He will eventually come to regard it as his secure place and want to go in on his own.

I would lock the door only at bed time, esp since he's doing well otherwise in potty training. While you’re at work, I would put the crate into the kitchen or bathroom (or other room you can securely close off) with newspaper on the floor in one corner of the room. Leave the crate door open so he can go in for a nap when he wishes.

Also, very important, get him a chew toy as well as a soft stuffed animal to sleep with and name it. "Here's your teddy bear, or here's your bunny". That worked very well for my dogs. They still fall asleep with their special (and shredded) surrogate mommies. Now, when I ask my pug (now 6 yrs), "Where's your teddy bear?" , he goes searching around the house until he comes up with it (it has been exchanged many times over the years). So cute...

Best of luck with your new best friend!

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