Crate Problems?

[ldelagar]

My 2 boxer puppies--Rocky and Nellie are 8 weeks old. I am trying to get them to like their crate. I want them to know that they can go to their crate and sleep and hang out. Currently, I have to take them and place them in the crate. How can I have them go into their crate with no help from me. My wife and I have put the crate in the living room where the puppies play in the evening. They just fall asleep on the floor--they don't go inside the crate and sleep. They only stay in the crate for about 6 hours in the day when I am at work--(only 3 hours at a time)

I appreciate any advice I can do to inspire my puppies to go into their crate BY THEMSELVES.

PLEASE HELP!!

[Krikkit]

What have you been doing so far, besides physically putting them in? Do you have a crate for each of them, or are they sharing a crate? How many times a day are you practicing going into the crate? If you actually shut the door of the crate, are you giving them interactive toys (Kongs for example)? What type of crate do you have?

Here is an article on crate training puppies that might help:

http://www.boxerworld.com/puppy/crate/

Here are other threads on crate training:
crating and crying during the night
My puppy hates her crate
crate training

Sharon

[Boxer Baby]

What I did with Hannah is when she went to asleep somewhere I would very gently pick her up and put her in the crate, I did this for one day and the next day when she was tired she started going into the crate herself to sleep.....I have a very thick fluffy egyptian cotton towel in the crate and I also bought a small cheap clock that ticks and put it in some thick rolled up socks, the ticking clock is a familiar "heartbeat" sound for the puppy and she snuggles up to the socks and dreams away!

Wish you luck

[Steve Andrew]

We have only had Banjo for a couple of weeks, but he goes into his crate by himself. We put a chewbone and a toy in his crate leave the door open. Like you, we keep the crate in the living room where he is most of the evening. Sometimes he falls asleep on the floor, but about half the time he goes into his crate. The breeder said she had crates open during the day too, so he was probably already used to having a crate to go into.

[Scorpio]

One thing, everytime you put them in the crate make it an enjoyable experience, treats, toys. Also try putting them in when your home so they don't associate going into the crate only when your leaving.