27
Jul
Collies and Crates
Are your collies, and other dogs, crate trained?
Crate training is an awesome thing for both dogs and us humans. Dogs are den animals, and they like a small, comfortable place they can be safe in. Crates are just the thing. Crates are not a punishment, they are not cruel, they are actually a kindness to your dog and your dog would love you if you crate train him.
Of course you have to introduce the crate slowly and make it pleasent. Feed your dog in the crate, throw toys in the crate, and make it a fun place. You can close the door and leave the dog in the crate for very short periods of time at first, maybe a minute or two. Then work your way up.
Crates help house training puppies, help nervous dogs be calm in storms, and confine dogs too excited when guests come by, as well as many other things.
They might even allow you some time to setup a wireless router so you can surf the web at home!
I crate trained my collie-girl right away when I got her as a puppy. Like you say it helps them know where to go if they are scared or just need to be by themselves for a while. I used the book The Art of Training a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete as a training guide and have a very well behaved senior collie now. Everyone we meet is always surprised (WHY!) at how well behaved she is. She no longer uses her crate- she prefers my bed instead! And since she is a senior now I let her get away with it. But my next puppy/dog will definitely be crate trained as well. I feel it just makes the puppy/dog feel safer and more secure as you progress with training and getting to know each other.
July 29th, 2007 at 3:41 pmHi Cynthia
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:47 amExcellent post - we do not use crates very much here in the UK but it is true that I always seek out a secure corner wherever I am. Wireless access is also a good idea if your dog gets caught up in all the wires under your desk!
Hugs and Licks,
Kev
xx
Hi Ladybug glad you had such success! I’m not too crazy about the Monks, I prefer Karen Pryor and clicker training. My dogs all like crates, too.
August 4th, 2007 at 8:42 pmHi Kevin the Collie. Yeah I don’t like it when the dogs get stuck in the cords!
August 4th, 2007 at 8:42 pmI found the Monks to be great. With a sensitive dog like the Collie, you don’t need any force at all to train, but I found the detailed steps very helpful in training. And the fact that they spelled out the different stages of growth was super. The only training books I had seen before I found this one were not nearly as informative or step-by-step. Now of course there are so many to choose from! Everyone is able to find one that suits their personal style.
August 5th, 2007 at 2:32 pmAbout “caves”- my collie-girls favorite place is under the kitchen table. I’ve even put a bed there for her since she spends so much time there. I type away on my laptop and she lays under the table, waiting for me to finish so we can go for a walk. And all my cords are over there, not right where she is, so that’s not a problem either. Just the Right Place for a collie-girl to be!
Ladybug
I’m based in the uk and have 3 dogs (one at a time) Collie, Labrador and Staffordshire Bull Terrier and i have crate trained them all, but only until about 4 months. I found the crate invaluable especially when very young and especially for toilet training. All three of my dogs loved their crates (I left the door open during the day and only closed at night and found they actually felt safe and secure in them and went in of their own accord. I would definately recoment crates.
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:46 pmI got a Cavalier puppy when she was 8 weeks old.I would suggest that crate training is the best way to getting your dog used to sleeping in a crate at night and when you are not home.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:59 amYour dog will probubly cry and wine for the first couple of nights, thats ok, don’t take the dog out if it makes noise. Crate training is the best thing you can do for your dog, it keeps them safe and it makes house training much easier.