Barking in Crate

[Jess041]

Missy is now 7 months old, and there's just one behavioral thing we haven't been able to get rid of. When I put her in the crate to leave the house, she barks. I'm not totally sure how long she barks, because I'm usually rushing to get to work.

She has no problems getting in her crate (if I have treats), and she has no problem sleeping in her crate without barking. Sometimes if I put her in there during the day on a weekend, she voices her displeasure with a few little barks. I've tried giving her a kong, but that only momenterily distracts her. As soon as she hears me open the door, she starts barking. I was kinda hoping this was something she would just grow out of or she would get used to it, but it doesnt' seem to be getting better.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Or is this just how she's going to be...?

Also, I noticed this weekend that she is not flexible when it comes to her crate. I was moving furniture around and had to move her crate in the livingroom. I tried to crate her in the livingroom while I took a nap and she was very unhappy! Also she didn't have her crate cover, so it was less "den-like". I guess she needs her crate in my bedroom and with the cover for her to be happy! Silly dog!

 

[corbinam]

Are you able to back chain the behavior?

In other words, find out at what point she starts to bark. Is it as soon as you shut the crate door? Is it when you step away? Is it when you leave the room? Whatever it is, stop one step before the action that triggers the barking and reward her for being quiet. So for example, if shutting the crate door makes her bark, then start to just move towards the crate door and reward her. Keep doing that until she expects it and then take a small step towards what causes the barking. So in the example, shut the crate door a tiny bit more. If she barks, go back a step and reward for being quiet.