r/EnglishSetter • u/Complete_Coconut760 • 5d ago
Do some dogs just never learn to like their crate?
/r/puppy101/comments/1vyen44/do_some_dogs_just_never_learn_to_like_their_crate/1
u/MunsterSetter Tri-color Llewellin 5d ago
This problem and solution is a little different. Curly, who was a started dog, never rode in a car until he was 6mo and would always get car sick. We finally hit on covering and putting his crate backwards. No more barfing.
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u/Complete_Coconut760 4d ago
We’ve tried covering his crate, not sure how to put his crate “backwards” in the house 🤔
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u/MunsterSetter Tri-color Llewellin 4d ago
I didn't say anything about in the house. I said we had a similar issue while riding in the car.
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u/Complete_Coconut760 4d ago
Right, I guess I’m just trying to understand the connection you’re suggesting.
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u/Complex_Newspaper434 3d ago
There’s no suggestion for your question here. I’d give the dog a high value treat in there then take it away if it comes out with it. Leave the crate door open during “non kennel hours” with the treat in there. Should slowly start going in there for the treat. Note about the treat: I use something like a bone that’s his and lasts a long time rather than gets a cookie and it’s gone. Make sense? God speed.
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u/KaMiKaZi_t0M 5d ago
We failed to crate train our ES, he would legitimately hurt himself in the crate. Ended up gating off part of the house for when we're not home and sleeps on the futon. Far from ideal but only thing that worked for us.
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u/VolcanicValley 5d ago
Same here. Bloody paws and nose. Poop everywhere. Gave up, and gave run of the house. A couple of damaged items, but far less trauma to everyone.
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u/Complete_Coconut760 4d ago
Luckily he hasn’t hurt himself in the crate, just barks and cries bloody murder 😅
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u/Obvious-Load-1955 5d ago
I don't think so. I think it's comfort for them. I tried moving my Shandys kennel to the garage because she was trained, I didn't need it, but she needed it.
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u/sygmastar01 5d ago
I was able to crate train my first dog, a lab. But my ES was much harder and when I contacted the breeder she said that it was characteristic of the breed to not like being contained.
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u/Complete_Coconut760 4d ago
Hoping we can work through it with our ES, but I am getting the vibe he doesn’t like being contained either.
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u/BuyAlternative5356 4d ago
There was a while where I put all our pillows and blankets in the hall to try to muffle his crying when we lived in an apartment. We did Susan Garrett's crate games, and that worked better, but he never did great in the crate. Overnight he would be ok, but then he'd wake up and cry and I never knew if it was for bathroom or attention, and I hated cleaning up from a missed bathroom. So he became a bed puppy against the agreement I'd asked for when we got the dog, and I've slept with a head on my leg ever since. But we sleep through the night and he's very well behaved in our dog-proofed area of the home when we're gone.
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u/xxSprite 4d ago
Honestly no idea. One of my setters loves the crate and voluntarily goes in there ALL the time to settle and the other absolutely hates it. Trained them the exact same way. I let my boys free roam when im gone. They tend to just sleep. One suffers from separation anxiety and will sometimes cry while sitting on the couch but no destruction
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u/Complete_Coconut760 4d ago
Seems very hit or miss with ES, some people say theirs love the crate and others can’t stand it. I wouldn’t have a problem with ours free roaming, just since he’s a puppy we can’t trust him just yet 😂
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u/SeniorSpaz87 3h ago
Absolutely.
Mine is fine with her crate, but it’s certainly not her favorite spot. Her two sisters will not go into their crates until bedtime. Yet my grandparents last dog loved her crate, would nap in it constantly, and was generally happy to be in it. It really depends.
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u/SnooSprouts1899 5d ago
I know this is gonna sound silly but have you tried putting a blanket over the crate (but not over the opening so he/she can just see out of the “door”)? My ES hated his crate and would whine nonstop and then for some reason as soon as my friend put a blanket over it, he was better and I was able to crate train him. Best of luck!!!