Chocolate Lab Crate Training Problems

Chocolate Labrador retrievers are highly intelligent dogs that like to play and spend time with their owners. Often, this can lead to problems when attempting to crate train. While dogs typically enjoy the confinement and protection crates provide, they don’t like to be separated from their owner or the rest of the family. While crate training is an attainable goal, chocolate Lab owners may run into a few problems along with way.

  1. Purpose

    • Chocolate Lab owners crate their dogs for many reasons. According to the 8 Paws Up website, Labs are often crated to teach them to become housebroken and to keep them out of household items that could be dangerous to them. When a dog is in a crate that is just big enough for his size, he will have to lie in his waste if he eliminates—a consequence that is usually enough motivation to prevent a dog from doing so. Additionally, crating a Lab when you can’t watch him will keep him from chewing electrical wire, breaking into your cabinets and ingesting cleaning products and other serious problems that many Labs encounter.

    Types

    • Unfortunately, crate training doesn’t always go as planned. There are many problems that occur during the process. For instance, your chocolate Lab might eliminate in his crate. The Lab may whine, cry and howl each time you place him inside the crate and does so until you let him out. Your Lab might refuse to enter the crate or may try to bite or beat his way out.

    Causes

    • If your chocolate Lab eliminates in his crate, it is probably because the crate it too large. Dogs tend to avoid lying in their mess, but they might not mind if it’s just a few inches away. Labs are typically social creatures that like to be surrounded by humans and animals alike. Therefore, he might not want to enter the crate and if he goes inside, he may whine and howl until you let him out. According to the 8 Paws Up website, some Labs have aversions to crates because they might have had past negative experiences, including spending too much time inside or being placed in a crate as punishment.

    Solutions

    • Prevent elimination in the crate by placing your Lab in one that is only big enough for it to stand up, turn around and lie down. Never let your Lab out of the crate if he whines or howls. By doing so, you are reinforcing this behavior and teaching the Lab if he makes a lot of noise, he will get what it wants. Make your Lab’s crate appealing, by placing toys inside, along with treats and food. Give your Lab a treat when it enters to reward that good behavior. In addition, initially place the crate in an area where you spend a lot of time and keep the door open to entice the Lab to enter. He will likely start spending time inside. Once he does, move the crate to a more private and quieter location.

    Prevention

    • Consistency is key when it comes to preventing crate training problems with chocolate Labs. Labradors are extremely smart, but can become confused if their owners are inconsistent in their teaching methods. Therefore, place your Lab in the crate at the same times each day to get him used to the routine and process. Always give him praise for entering the crate and if you choose to crate the dog while you sleep, do so every night. Skipping nights will likely make the dog protest going into the crate on the nights you choose to place him inside.