If you crate-train your dogs, they will often see the crate as their den, and will voluntarily go into the crate when things start getting a little crazy because they see it as a safe place. And they'll often go into the crate - with the door open - when they're left alone.
But the OP is right - you have to start them off very young and get them used to it. I've had a number of dogs but never crated-trained them because they were too old when I got them. If you try to force a dog into a crate after the age of 6 months or so, especially if they have had the run of the house before that, most of them are going to resist the confinement. My brother adopted a dog that was so upset by the crate that it actually broke a tooth trying to bite its way out. |
