Crate Training 101

[Dave]

My girlfriend refuses to use the crate, no way around this. Will this be ok? She also negates all my training attempts and research through these forums/dogbreedinfo.com or anywhere...kind of frustrating

 

[Lahree]

My girlfriend refuses to use the crate, no way around this. Will this be ok? She also negates all my training attempts and research through these forums/dogbreedinfo.com or anywhere...kind of frustrating

What's her objections? Does she think using a crate is cruel?

 

[PonyForever]

Addendum....to really answer your question (I just re-read my last response), yes, it really is about consistency. It doesn't matter where the crate is, but that it is HER crate!

I got Bacca in June at 8 weeks old. June is cottage time for me. Which means shleping back and forth, first by car, then transfer gear to the boat because we are on a island, than off the boat into the cottage. The constant for Bacca was the crate.

In the car - in the crate
In the boat - in the crate
At the cottage - when we couldn't supervise, in the crate
Nightime, different location - in the crate.

Always, the crate was the constant. No fuss, no muss!

This is what I thought too. I've not done crate training before; but since anyone with a show dog or performance dog has to use one, it would make sense that the crate was the constant, not wherever it's placed. The dogs are smart enough to understand the distinction, so this wouldn't be likely to confuse them.

My girlfriend refuses to use the crate, no way around this. Will this be ok? She also negates all my training attempts and research through these forums/dogbreedinfo.com or anywhere...kind of frustrating

Ah, it depends. Like I said, I haven't crate trained before, but with all things training: I would make sure you were the one dealing with the dog all the time at first, if she is not on board with how you want him/her trained. At least while the dog is learning the new behaviors. After time, I think the dogs learn who is "in-charge" and who is not. My husband is a great guy, but gives in to soft puppy dog looks more than I do. So he gets less cooperation than me. They know he's not going to enforce anything, so they're all "whatever dad, we're cute, it's enough!"

I'll mention that we have Shiba Inu's, I'm still looking for my Sheltie. So the level of cooperation I get in the first place is pretty low, haha. But that's another story for another day...the point is that they do "obey" me more than him

I never saw the need for crate training with the Shibes. My female never had an accident in the house. The male had ONE. I expect the new Sheltie to do Sheltie things, though, and also plan to do some performance. So I'll probably be doing some crate stuff when I get the new puppy.

 

[Matsuki]

My girlfriend refuses to use the crate, no way around this. Will this be ok? She also negates all my training attempts and research through these forums/dogbreedinfo.com or anywhere...kind of frustrating

Just a friendly suggestion but maybe time for a new girlfriend? I can only imagine what kids with someone like that would be like...