behavior of my puppy

Question
My puppy is 8 months old and a poodle mix (very small)and although she is a good dog we have one major problem. Whenever she knows I have to leave for work and put her in her crate, she runs under my bed; since under my bed is only small enough to fit her, it is too hard for me to reach her and I am always late for work.  Therefore, I have 2 questions?? One, is there any device or blocker that I can put under my bed made for this situation that will stop her from going under there?  Two, how do I get her to like her crate...because she absolutely hates it???

Answer
Hi Celia,

Thank you for writing to me about your puppy.  I want to thank you for your patience in waiting for my response..I have been involved in some urgent rescue work.

There are several things can do to change your dog's behavior pattern.

1- Close your bedroom door.  She will not be able to get near the bed.

2- Keep a leash on her prior to leaving so that you can gently pull her out with the leash and give her treats to reward her for coming out.

3- Place her in the crate with enough time to allow for getting ready to leave.

4- Be sure to give her a very long and vigorous walk before leaving for work so that she is very tired and will be ready for a nap.

5- Work on the command "sit" and "come."  Do this in short 5-10 minute training sessions using praise and lots of treats.

If you can't crate train your puppy because she associates it with something negative, you can set you an area with a baby gate or buy an x-pen (J&B Wholesale Pet Supply)and keep her in there during the day.  Give her a wee wee pad or newspapers so that she can relieve herself but follow puppy housebreaking rules so that she will learn it's still best to go outside to relieve herself.

Crate Training:

Keep a bowl of all-natural dog treats near the crate. Every time you put your pup in the crate give a "CRATE" command and toss 3 or 4 liver treats into the crate. It gives your pup a nice reason to go in. You will be surprised how quickly he expects to get a treat when he goes into his
crate. Going in becomes a positive experience.

As your dog ages and learns, give the "CRATE" command before tossing the treats in. Expect your dog to go in on his own. This exercise is the beginning of teaching your dog to go to his crate when people come to the
house. Dogs that bark and act stupid when they hear the door bell need to be told to go to their crate. This is how that training is started.

When thinking of the size of a crate needed for your dog, think small.Think den not condo! The use of too large a crate for a puppy will encourage your pet to use a small portion of it for a bed and the remainder as a relief station!

It is OK to place the crate in your bedroom for that early morning trip.

A crate is never meant to be used as a place of punishment for your puppy, so a couple of safe toys would be welcome for crate-time. A kong filled with peanut butter or cream cheese goes a long way towards keeping a puppy quiet in a crate. Be careful of the toys you choose to leave - soft squeaky toys with bells are not healthy for pups. To often pups chew up these soft toys and get parts of them stuck in their bowels which often kills them.

Start crate training while you remain in the same room with your crated dog, frequently praising him and letting him know clearly it is pleasing to you that he remains in the crate, quietly. Frequent trips out of the room with quick returns with a treat through the bars will condition your dog to your comings and goings.

Gradually extend your absent periods, and in a short time, you can be gone several hours. While in the crate, your dog should not be scolded.

Crate confinement works so well that most dogs soon choose the crate for naps and, in general, consider it their own private domain. They learn that they can go into their crate and sleep and no one will step on them or jump on them. Feedall your dog in her crate.

I always suggest that a dog being crate trained be fed his meals in his crate.

Best of luck,

Shelley Davis