Can I have a bit of advice on crate training and what they are used for?

[OwlLady]

I have had a rescue dog and the organisation I have had them off has suggested a crate for her. So this morning I went out and bought one, have put a towel in, some toys, some treats etc but she is paying no attention to it at all and my older dog, who is 10 for heavens sake, keeps going in there ( to get the treats most probably)and now the little one is the older dogs basket :o I do realise it's only day one of having the dog and crate, but how do you go about doing it? I am discouraging the older dog to go in there and I am quite suprised she has let the new dog get in her basket

I have had dogs for 20 years and crates are just completely new to me and I am particularly clueless, so i do apologise

Well, I'm at the other end of the scale here - I have the crate but am still awaiting a rescue dog to go in it!

My understanding is that a crate as two purposes (and should never be used as 'punishment'):

1. To give the dog somewhere of their own that feels safe and secure, where they can get away from things if they want some peace and quiet.

2. Somewhere for the dog to be safely enclosed when you're out to avoid potential conflict with other pets / chewing of furniture etc

As for training them to use it, you can start by feeding her in there so she associates it with good stuff. You can clicker train her to go to it. You can also get her used to being closed in it by popping her in it for short periods of time with a kong toy or something that she only gets when closed in her crate, again to help good associations.

As for how you stop the other dog going in there - I'm afraid I have no idea!

Bearing in mind that I have never yet owned a dog, I'm sure someone who actually knows what they're talking about will be along to advise you soon!

no, that is really helpful but I have no idea what a kong toy is :o

Kongs are chew toys, some of which you can stuff with food to keep doggie occupied trying to work out how to get the food out.

If you have a Google, I think the black ones are quite good and you can put peanut butter in them or freeze them with yoghurt in or something, to give a time consuming, tasty crate treat.

ahh seriously, what kind of dog are you after? :) I have heard about those toys, I just have never seen one. I will have a look on-line. She has been going into her crate of own accord today and other dog has decided she is not interested in it :o

We have a 1 year old Westie and crate trained him from 12 weeks when we got him... life is sooooo easy - if we go away we take his crate - we shut him in at night and we know he won't destroy the place!

Every night at home, he tootles off to his crate, same if I lock the back door in preparation for going out. He loves his crate and will retreat there if the kids are being too playful.

Sounds like you're making progress OwlLady!

We've got our eye on a crossbreed and am just waiting for a bit more info and then to hear if they will homecheck us. We did have our eyes on a Podenco, but that didn't work out and this fella is gorgeous, if a little...er...larger than we were originally after!

He looks a bit like a Great Dane, but smaller and slimmer (desperately trying to tell myself he's not that big and probably won't get any bigger )!

When we got our pup we fed her in her crate to get her used to it. We use it for when we go out to stop the house being chewed and to make her feel secure. She also sleeps in it at night and often during the day. It is her own private quiet space.