When did crate become haven?

[Carty80]

Hi all, boxer 4 months old does love his crate, goes in it when needs to, at night, when kids eating, when needs to escape the hoover etc but I have to put him in there. Just wondered when I will say "crate time" and he will wander in on his own? DH had boxers in past and reckons another couple of months, any other thoughts please? Not a problem putting him in but just want him to feel he can escape in there when he decides. Thanks.

Sorry title should be "does become..."!

You say he loves his crate but then say that you need to put him in it. Surely, if he loved his crate he would go in of his own accord?

Ok, he is happy when he is in there, either chews a toy or settles himself down and watches what is going on or sleeps. Just wondered when he will wander in there of his own accord to get away from it all when he feels the need?

Well if you stopped putting him in when the hoover's on, he might wander in on his own.
But that's if he's afraid of the hoover, or he might just associate the hoover with being in his crate...
I'm confusing myself
I'll leave it to the knowledgable dog owners

He isn't afraid of the hoover, he just trys to play with the lead of it which would be dangerous for him so I pop him in there for 10 mins while I do it and he just watches me, then i open the door for him and he wanders out when he wants. Dont hoover every day either so cant think he associates crate with that but thanks. A few friends with dogs say their dogs go in on their own or to their beds on their own accord when they want to and I just wandered what age that would be.

My pup went in hers much more of her own accord when we moved it to a slightly more central location. She was very happy chilling out in there in a more 'central to the action' position than put away in the corner. I also removed all other comfortable surfaces so it was either super comfy delux crate which had treats thrown in it on occasion or the cold hard floor.

Dog chose crate pretty quickly

Minimu also suggested putting her in the crate, leaving the room and then coming back in quickly and letting her out again all with no fuss. In out in out increasing the time I was out of the room so she became quite chilled when I popped her in and not "waaah I'm about to be left alone "

Thanks Slubber, only other comfy place he is allowed on is sofa so maybe stop him from chilling out on there with us? We have open plan kitchen/living room and his crate is in there so he can see what is going on. We have done the training and leaving him on his own out the room in crate so settles quickly, definitely does work, doesn't cry when in there. Its not a problem, i get a treat and lead him to it and he goes in, just wanted to be able to cheerfully call "crate time" and he leaps in it happily, he is a pup so just obviously needs more time. Thanks.x

@ on the sofa

Big no no here I'm afraid
[meany dog owner]

If you want him to go, nay ZOOM in of his own accord you need to train (clicker train is the easiest way) him to do so.

Have to go out now but one of the proper clicker trainers might be along to explain how to do it. Tis very simple and hugely satisfying.

Ha ha, we did have "discussions" about whether or not to let him up on the sofa, more me being a bit selfish letting him up and liking the cuddling time with him when the kids are in bed!

He is doing the KC GCDS bronze at mo, but we have discussed starting clicker training and DH was going to ask at next lesson about it. Anyone recommend a good book? Thanks.

Just read through previous posts and will order Karen Pryor's clicker training and The Idiot's Guide to dog training books and do some research. Thanks.

It's fine to let him on the sofa if you want to, but I doubt he is likely to want to spend much time in his crate if he is sociable and you are all on the sofa. He'll almost certainly prefer the sofa to his crate.

Do you leave treats for him to find in his crate? You can also tie a toy in th eback that he can only get if he goes in his crate. Also feed him all his meals in the crate. (you don't have to shut the door)

We have four dogs and one crate now as we don't keep them up once the dogs are older. One dog has never loved the crate, but the other three can often be found piled up inside the one we do have up.

Yep I would prefer a nice warm lap and cuddle to the crate too probably! He has a favourite little toy that can be hung up inside so will try that and leave some treats in there too, thanks.

Bet thats a funny sight seeing all 3 in there! We may get him a bed in a few years but the crate has been brilliant since we got him. Thanks.

I am sure I posted on this thread - I am going mad!

What I thought I had said was:-

That it can depend very much on where the crate is. If you are all sitting in the warm sitting room and the crate is in the kitchen I doubt many 4 month old puppies will think (or remember) it is in the kitchen and will want to stay near you in the sitting room.

If the crate is in the sitting room and is warm and comfy and when he pops in there now and again he finds a bit of chicken he will often go and rest in the crate.

Great thanks for advice. Crate is sort of in living room, between living room and breakfast area so is nice and warm and not far away at all. Will pop some nice bits in there for him and see what happens. He is a daddy's boy so wants to be near daddy on the sofa even though it was me who let him up! Thanks.