Crate training

I'm always working on training my dogs, even with commands they already know, so that way I am able to give the command once and they do it. 

Well, crate training for my dogs isn't as important as it is for other dogs, simply because Scamp and Rooney live outside and don't have to be crated when we leave or go to bed at night. However, it is very important for transportation. Because, as we all know, dogs should never roam around a truck bed while driving 45 mph down a road. Not safe. 

Between the two of my dogs, Scamp is more crate trained than Rooney. If you give the command "crate/in" he goes in, no problem. I still work with him on it, even though he knows the command, I want him to know it in different situations. Example being, if I have him in a room with strangers and the crate is on the opposite side of the room. I want to be able to tell him to "crate" and he goes into it and stays until I say otherwise, without getting distracted either.

Now Rooney, on the other hand, will not just go into the crate on command. He knows the command and what it means (a little).

I've tried coaxing him with treats and the whole baby voice routine, but that doesn't help...at all. I've also tried just picking him up and putting him in too. But that has no effect either. What I have found that works, is a combination of both. I'll toss a few treats in the back, and as he goes in halfway, I block him from backing out. I don't shove him in, just sit there, quietly, moving up occasionally so he doesn't get any ideas that I'm backing down. Once he walks all the way into the crate, and turns around, I block the door with my body, I don't shut the crate door. I sit there, without saying a word, and wait for him to sit down on his own. With no commands given. Once he sits, he gets a reward. Then he will be able to put it together, "if I go in here and sit down, I'll get a treat."

And once he becomes comfortable going into the crate, I'll work in the "crate" command. 

As of right now, Rooney will go into the crate with no problems, but we are still working on putting the word "crate/in" into the training. And Scamp is learning the command from a short distance, hoping to go further soon.