Need Crate Training Tips - new rescue

[Hero715]

Hey Everyone,

I adopted a wonderful little mini-schnauzer mix about 1.5 weeks ago. He is 1-2 years old (still has a lot of puppy behavior, so probably closer to 1!), housetrained and sweet as can be!

I'm not quite ready to leave him out in the house, so I've been crating him when I leave. I have another dog, Hero, who is completely trustworthy in the house, so she is left out.

The problem is, Louie is not content in his crate. I know I've seen tips about how to crate train so they like their little den.... Can anyone pass any of those tips along?

When I leave for work in the morning, I give him treats (today it was a KONG with peanut butter that I had in the freezer overnight) and put him in the crate. The only trouble is, he doesn't really go in there willingly and I'm afraid I'm going to make this into an unhappy experience for him.

THANKS!

[borzoimom]

I start out with simple introductions- dinners in the crate, or giving a cookie but in the crate. For the first two days, I just put dinners in there or a cookie- but the door is propped open. then at feeding times, I close the door, but wait for them to finish, being really casual when I open the door like see this is just soooo calm. Then after 2 days of this, I start casually delaying how long before I open the door- always approaching the crate calm and casual and little words other than " good dog okay lets go out side" always walking slow, casual and calm. The day you notice the dog lays down waiting for you to return, You know it has worked. Always remember- do not give cookies or show excitment when you let the dog out of the crate. Then instead of the dog relaxing in the crate, they are excited in anticipation to get out. After this put the dog in the crate at night. I dont crate my dogs at night, but I do when I start them so they learn the process, then know how to relax in a crate. And never put the dog in the crate if you are angry- as a form of discipline.

[Love That Collie]

I always keep the crate door open all day long if I'm home. Chloe is 5 months old and I crate her when I go to work. I put her favorite toy in with her.
I used to feed her in there when I first brought her home because I have Bailey (who is 20 months old) to keep him from eating out of her dish too and so she would be more comfortable in the new environment. I don't crate Bailey at all now, not for a long, long time.

Very soon Chloe (and Bailey did this too when he used a crate) began going to her crate and lying down on her own to nap or just lay down and rest with the door open. For quite a while now when she sees me get my shoes on to go to work she automatically goes to her crate and takes her own toy with her, lays down and I calmly close the door and nonchalantly say "bye, bye, gotta go to work"
and leave. At night I tell her "It's night, night, time" and she goes to her crate and lays down. She does this because it is a ritual and because Bailey used to go and get her and herd her to her crate and I don't think she likes this so she just goes on her own now so she doesn't have to put up with being "goosed" down the hallway. LOL I say the same words to her when I go to work and at night. Mostly dogs just sleep when we are gone anyway.