Zeb isnt keen on his crate, But after today im thinking he needs to be in one when we arent home because he got into the kids room and shut the door behind him and ate the carpet

He also hates being left, we havnt left for more then hour at most it 20-30mins while i do school run

OH is off for the next 10days atleast (hes got pneumonia) so i was hoping to get this sorted and hopefully have him happy getting in it

Im not fussed at night as i do like him sleeping in our room he has a bed upstair which he sleeps on nearly all night, Its nice to have him there as OH does do nights

He also has a bed downstairs which he'll sleep on and he goes to if hes been naughty.

Hes very clever and very egar to please, But i just want to get it right for all of us and not stress him out.

Is it best to start feeding him in it? then after a few days shut the door? Then do like shutting him in for 5mins,10mins 15mins e.t.c and only let him out when hes been quiet?

He gets walked about 3-4 times a day and lots of play outside, and inside with the kids,cats and toys so he does sleep through 98% if the time

Oh hes 14weeks nearly 15weeks and we've had him since he was 8weeks

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Owner to-
lots of rodents
2 monster dogs
1 slinky cat

Little steps is definately the way.


Cover the top with a blanket so it is like a proper den.
Will his bed fit in it???


If yes do that first and don't even think about shutting the door.

Regularly drop a few pieces of food (if he is on dry) in there so that when he wanders in he gets an automatic reward (saves watching all the time and making a big deal out of it). Dinner in there wouldn't do any harm either.

Then progress to shutting the door when he is asleep in there and opening it immediately as he wakes up (try to catch him before he gets frantic). Reward lots of fuss.

Then progress to putting him in there with something he loves like a stuffed kong or pigs ear/bone. Shut the door and leave him alone.

If he does make a fuss to come out try and ignore it until he settles and then let him out. reward etc.

I ALWAYS leave Oscar with some food in a kong every time i go out. It seems to distract him and i can leave calmly. Do this for the school run to start and se how it goes.

The trick is to let them out only when they are calm and they learn that jumping about gets them no where. You may have to let him bark for a bit in it once you have got him established in it.

Thanks very much he LOVES pigs ears so he'd be very happy sitting anywhere aslong as he had one of those lol
Its a big cage hes bean bag bed will fit it no problems, not much else would, towel/blanket over wouldnt be a problem either
We will start tomorrow give him a good walk so hes tired and hopefully he'll fall alseep in it if i put some goodies in there

Thanks very much

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Owner to-
lots of rodents
2 monster dogs
1 slinky cat

No worries. Hope he likes it !!!!

Had great fun explaining to the Ofsted lady who visited me this morning (i am a childminder) why i had a child sized cage in the corner !!!!

It was even worse because i had sent puppy off to work with OH.

LMAO!! i wonder what she thought, i could so with some child cages at times lol

Thanks again

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Owner to-
lots of rodents
2 monster dogs
1 slinky cat

Read the thread "Crate training children."

It's quite amusing and getting really silly now.

I found a good online source on how to train your dog to a dog crate.

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