Nanda & Nelson Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 In December we are moving from Canada to the Netherlands, obviously we are taking Nelson with us (odd detail, a lot of people we've told that we're moving assume we won't bring the dog and just put it on craigslist, or whatever...?!). He is almost 3 now. We booked a direct flight with KLM all-in-all I estimate he would be in the crate for a max of 12 hours. Going to potty won't be a problem, he can hold it for days. The problem I see now it, getting him used to his crate... Unfortunately, he isn't crate trained. As a pup, he disliked his crate, he thought it was scary and always whined (I was tough but after months of whining, I gave up the crate). It's been 2 years since then and I got another crate, a plastic-airline approved crate, for our travels. I figured I'd work in steps, to get him used to the crate. To start, I took the top of the crate and put his bed in it (he LOVES his bed). So far, he really dislikes it. When I tell him to ' go to bed ', he goes on there, but leaves his head out of it. I know he absolutely hates it and seems afraid of it as well. I'm giving him praise when is on there, am positive and give him a few treats. As soon as I 'release' him, he pretty much bolts away from it. Any tips on teaching an adult dog to accept a crate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon's girl Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 Feed him in it and throw treats in it for him to go in and find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess's Girl Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 Find something he REALLY REALLY wants. Put it in the back of the crate and close the door. Let him sniff at it and try to get to it. You don't want to wait so long that he gives up, but wait until he wasn't it so bad he just can't stand it. Then open the door and let him go in and get it. Do this a couple of times then start closing the door for a couple seconds at a time and slowly build up. All meals in the crate and if you give him a treat always put it in the crate for him to go get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Elle Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 Feed all meals in the crate, keeping the door open. Give treats for going into the crate. Put bed/blanket/toys in the crate. Always keep the door open. Keep this up at least 2 weeks, then close the door for 5 seconds when the dog in eating. Next day, ten seconds. Build up the time that the door is closed gradually until the dog feels comfortable in the crate whether the door is open or closed. then try walking out of the room for a few seconds. Build up that time slowly. And so on. You may find that your dog eventually learns to like the crate. But at least, if you go slowly, he can learn to tolerate it. My concern, of course, is that the flight in the crate may be traumatic enough for him that he will learn to hate it again and you will have to start all over again on the other end. Maybe a mild tranquilizer for the flight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cass C Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 If your dog loves peanut butter or another soft food/treat you can stuff a kong or something else you can stuff then put it inside the crate. Only allow him to have the tasty treat toy in the crate. Start with the door open, and just return the toy to the crate if he brings it out. After a week or so close the door when he gets his treat toy, then open it when he finishes. Slowly extend the amount of time before you let him out, however don't let him out if he is throwing a fit wait until he is quiet and just waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanda & Nelson Posted October 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 Thanks for the tips, will try all of those. I already put his favourite toys in there and he hesitantly goes in there to grab them, but he makes sure not to but both feet in, just the front ones. Tasty food will be a good one, though he is the kind of dog that if is food is somewhere he doesnt want to go, he'll probably starve himself before going there. And D'Elle, I am going to ask the vet about the mild tranquilizer next week, there are quite a few options there - some defintiely safer then others. I think that the flights is going to be slightly traumatic for him either way and I feel aweful about having to put him through that - but I am making sure not to give of this vibe to him. I'll be happy when we are on the ground! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanda & Nelson Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 So the first few days, I played with him, fed him in there and so on. He would only put his front two paws in - never all of them. The best trick so far was..........to go into the crate myself. I crawled in it, played with his toys for a bit and had him come towards me. After, he walked in it himself. Now I am at the point where he knows 'Go to Crate' and I will have to tell him 'All The Way' so he moves all his paws in there (otherwise he'll keep a paw out or stick his head out), but he's in. Thats progress from last week when he didnt even want to come near it! Yay!We have two more months to go before the flight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligande Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 When I brought Rievaulx to England, both British airways and Virgin said that dogs can not have any sort of tranquilizer for the flight as they did want anything that could possibly interfer with their breathing. We also got the question are you taking the dog, and this was from people who knew us well and often had dogs of their own, as if there was any other option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanda & Nelson Posted October 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Guess what... ever since Monday morning - I am pretty sure he loves his crate. He has a bed that he loves and he is allowed on the couch as well, but he has been choosing the crate since Monday! It's interesting how a week ago he thought it was the scariest thing ever and now its his comfy spot!This relieves some stress on my end thats for sure. I want him to be happy on our journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Great news! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMP Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Excellent! I always use the get in with them trick. Glad I am not the only one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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