crate problems

Question
QUESTION: Australian Shepherd -male,2yrs, fixed we live in a small VA. town our dog stays outdoors in a large fenced area in the day, we walk him when we can or go to Petsmart on occasion. So I know he doesn't get the exercise he needs. Then at night we crate him until am. He rarely has a pee accident in the crate and that is usually because he has been there awhile.Then this week he won't go in the crate no matter what. We have done the food, treats, good boy thing. We are losing our patience, but love the dog, but he is so stubborn, sets down we can't push him. Any suggestions, we ended up leaving him out the rest of the cold,wet night.

thanks.

ANSWER: Sounds like something has happened to make him fearful of going in the crate.  Move the crate to another part of the room or the house.  Clean it out, put fresh bedding in along with a shirt that you've worn recently and haven't washed yet.

When it's feeding time, put his food bowl just inside the crate doorway.  On top of his kibble, put a really tasty bit of chicken or roast beef.  If he's hungry, he needs to put his head in to eat.  Ignore him when he does this.  Each mealtime, put the food bowl a bit further back in the crate with a small goodie on the top.

Occasionally during the day, drop a yummy treat in the crate when he's not looking.  Allow him to discover the treasure himself.  

You're going to recondition the crate as a safe place to be.  While you're going through this process, allow him to sleep outside if he so chooses.  Do not force or bribe him to get in the crate at night.

When you get to a point where he realizes that the crate is good, you can begin to do door work.  When he goes in the crate voluntarily, walk by, say the word "door", toss him a treat, swing the door shut and then open it back again immediately.  If you can do this without panic, gradually lengthen the time you hold the door closed.

While you're going through this process, perhaps you could also try just allowing him in your bedroom on a dog bed, or in a bathroom at night or laundry room with a baby gate if you don't want him roaming the house at night.  If he's housetrained and is all past the chewing stage, maybe you'll find he doesn't need his crate anymore.  Maybe that's what he's trying to tell you!

Please let me know if you have any further questions!  Good luck

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for a prompt response, we are really cramped for space his crate is extra lg 65lb dog. maybe we can move it around the same room, in the past we would put pillow, towel he would chew or push it out he likes just the tray. we do have a food bowl w/treat on top however he also free eats outside.
Of course we were bribing and forcing him into the cage,because we made sure he had eaten, water and used the bathroom.

Laundry room/basement is where the crate is now. The only thing I could do is buy a baby gate and out him in the bathroom, but because of his size I was thinking he may knock it down or jump it.

Ms Barb thanks for taking the time to help:)

Answer
Just one more thought for you:  Stop allowing him to free feed.  Put down his bowl twice a day and pick up what he doesn't eat after 15 minutes.  When you control all the food, you have so much more "leverage" in the relationship with your dog.  Only allow him access to food when you have placed it in the crate.  Training goes so much easier when the dog needs to look to you for all the good things.