Crate trained dog/schedule question

[heightsyankee]

I have had dogs my whole life but never had a crate for any of them. Our new dog came "crate trained" but we didn't plan on using a crate. That is until he started chasing our 2 cats. I bought a crate and he sleeps in it at night (in my sons' room) so the cats can, oh you know, eat and use the litter box in peace.

I had always heard dogs like their crates. Not Oscar. He fights when I put him in it. He sleeps most of the night fine once he's in though.

I guess my questions are:
How long is your dog in its crate in a normal day? I would also like to put him in there for a couple hours during the day for the same reasons.

Does your dog like their crate? Is there something I should be doing to help him enjoy it more?

Any other tips or advice for crating a dog for someone who has never done it before?

[jen812]

Make the crate the best place ever. Hide treats in there. Give him a stuffed kong or other super awesome treat/toy he only gets in his crate.

[justaname]

What PP said. Feed him his meals in his crate, give him a special treat or chew toy that he only gets in his crate, play crate fairy and drop treats in the crate when he isn't looking so it the the place where treats magically appear.

[nital]

Define "put him in". Are you forcing him in the crate? My dogs would put up a fight too. Give him a crate command, and lure him in with a yummy. Wait a second, then give a release command to come out of the crate. Repeat a couple times. Then give the command, without a treat, but just pointing your hand in the crate. Still reward once he's in.

[secondhandscottie]

The other posters have covered making the crate a special place and not forcing him into it, so I'll skip that.

What kind of crate do you use? Is it a wire crate or a plastic crate? Some dogs have preferences. For example, B loves his wire crate, but merely tolerates his plastic travel crate. Some dogs prefer to have their crate dark, like a den. If he doesn't chew on blankets, I'd suggest putting one over the top of his crate to make it more calming.

[starlettedir]

May 12, 2012 20:55:31 GMT -5 jen812 said:

Make the crate the best place ever. Hide treats in there. Give him a stuffed kong or other super awesome treat/toy he only gets in his crate.

This. R haaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttteeeeeeeeeedddddddddddddd his crate when we got him. Like literally tore himself out of it or shat everywhere.
We did the above. Frozen kongs, treats etc.
He loves it now. He will even seek it out sometimes.