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Ok so we got a travel crate for Cookie cause we are going to Buffalo Memorial day weekend and we will be taking her to our cabin in Maine for the weekends in the summer. We put her travel crate in Jason's computer room on a small area rug she likes to lay on. She absolutely LOVES her new crate! We wanted to get her used to it before we left and now we can't get her out of the thing! She's always in it. She likes it a heck of a lot better than her regular crate which is in the living room. Last night I felt bad, she was sleeping in the new crate but I had to take her out and put her in her regular crate. She doesn't mind it, but doesn't like it nearly as much as her new one. We have yet to close the door on the new crate. So here is my question. Since she likes her new crate so much, should we just use that from now on? I am so afraid of closing the door and ruining it for her. Should I move her regular crate to the spot the new one is in? I wanted to close the door last night and let her sleep in it, but I was afraid she wouldn't like it anymore. Jason suggested closing her in the computer room at night and leaving the crate open. But I'm afraid she'll wake up in the middle of the night and tear the place apart. We have a lot of expensive equipment in that room along with some fish and my tarantula.
Any advise would be great! Thanks!

>>Ok so we got a travel crate for Cookie cause we are going to Buffalo Memorial day weekend and we will be taking her to our cabin in Maine for the weekends in the summer. We put her travel crate in Jason's computer room on a small area rug she likes to lay on. She absolutely LOVES her new crate! We wanted to get her used to it before we left and now we can't get her out of the thing! She's always in it. She likes it a heck of a lot better than her regular crate which is in the living room. Last night I felt bad, she was sleeping in the new crate but I had to take her out and put her in her regular crate. She doesn't mind it, but doesn't like it nearly as much as her new one. We have yet to close the door on the new crate. So here is my question. Since she likes her new crate so much, should we just use that from now on? I am so afraid of closing the door and ruining it for her. Should I move her regular crate to the spot the new one is in? I wanted to close the door last night and let her sleep in it, but I was afraid she wouldn't like it anymore. Jason suggested closing her in the computer room at night and leaving the crate open. But I'm afraid she'll wake up in the middle of the night and tear the place apart. We have a lot of expensive equipment in that room along with some fish and my tarantula.
>>Any advise would be great! Thanks!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Before doing anything else, I would try her old crate in there with the door closed and put the new one where the old one is now. Perhaps it's the location she likes, and this would be a way to check that out.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Thats a good idea, Kathy thanks. I will try that. I let her sleep in her new crate last night, and she is in it as we speak although I am very nervous about it. Last night went very well. I was getting her ready for bed and when I told her it was time for bed, she ran to her new crate and laid down. I felt so bad putting her in her old crate since she so obviously wanted to sleep in her new one. She did really well, even slept later than usual, she didn't wake up until about ten of six this morning. Then this morning, when I was getting ready for work, She did the same thing. I told her it was time for bed and she ran to the new crate. But as soon as I tried to zip it shut, she ran out. So I said ok, but now you have to sleep in your old bed. So I went to her old bed and told her again it was time for bed, and again she ran to her new crate but tried to dart out before I had it closed. At this point, my ride was outside beeping so I had to go, but she didn't seem happy. She was crying and scratching at the crate and now I feel awful. I wish I had just put her in her old crate. I can't stop thinking about her ripping apart her new crate. It's only made out of canvas since it's a travel crate. I am more worried about her being happy than I am about the crate and I feel I have made a mistake. I guess we'll see how it goes tonight and if she willingly goes to it. I'm just worried that I ruined the whole experience for her. She loves her new crate, as long as the door is open but we can't leave it open.
Thanks again for the advise, I will switch the crates tonight. Thanks!

To my releif, when I came home at lunch, she was sitting comfortably in her crate. pillows, crate, toys and all, intact. I went about my regular lunch time routine with her, not really knowing what I was going to do at the end of my break when I had to put her back to bed. So the end of my break came and I stood in the hall, kind of between both of the rooms the crates were in and told her it was time to go to bed. Usually she'll run to a spot she likes, like on one of the couches or more recently, her new crate. When she does this, it's usually only for a minute and I put her Kong in the crate and she goes in and lays down. Today she didn't run anywhere, but walked to her new crate and laid down. Again, as soon as I started to zip it, she squeezed by me. I was able to coax her back in and this time, I had to keep one hand on her to keep her in, and the other to zip it. She pawed at it and whined as I was leaving. But I know she's not crying long cause she stops when I am gone.
I guess we'll see tonight how she feels about it. Since we took it out, she has been taking all of her naps in it with the door open, we'll see if she continues to do that, which is what I would like. I have no idea if I did the right thing, or if I rushed her too much. I'm going to assume, that she will still like it with the door open. I think she will never care for being locked in because she knows we are leaving. She does it obediently and that might be all we can really ask for. I think last night wasn't a problem, because she knows we are not going anywhere at night. During the day is different, she knows we're gone, and she's awake during the day. But I think she'll continue to nap in it as her bed, when we're home and the door is open. At least I hope so.