Crate training older dog and crate recommendations

fruitycar

Hello :wave: from a long time lurker,

We are about to go visiting family and taking our 5 year old dog with us. Some of the places we are staying have cats and he is not very good with cats (ask our one!) so I think a crate may be the answer, it will give him a familiar place while we are staying in unfamiliar houses and will keep him from the cats.

Has anyone crate trained an older dog? I assume I follow the same method as if he were a puppy?

And I am looking for recommendations for a good crate that will survive being folded down and put up, but is also value for money.

krlyr

Ebay can be a great place to get crates cheap, I got several XL ones for a few quid or so when I was looking. My last one was a tenner from Gumtree as I was on a time limit so no chance to wait for one to pop up locally on Ebay, but even that was a good price for a barely used large crate IMO. I tend to keep a pot of Hibiscrub on hand for cleaning wounds etc. so just used some of that in water to disinfect the crate (it's what vets use to wipe down tables between appointments, wash their hands etc.)
Crate training an adult, yes very much like a puppy, but obviously a puppy may be shut in the crate overnight very early on to keep it out of trouble and so on. You're not working with a blank slate so I would say err on the side of caution and go slightly slower with an adult dog, afterall it's had a lifetime without the crate.
These videos may help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Gb-TF9c9U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUzF0g0PwY4

fruitycar

I have managed to borrow one and now have two weeks to get dog used to it. Will start with putting his feeds in there.
Thanks for replying Krlyr.

Bonniew86

Never put a dog in their crate as a punishment is a good tip, they need to see it as a cosy haven where they can relax. Putting a sheet over it can also help it become a 'den'. My dog loves hers as it is full of soft blankets which she can ruffle up into a nest.