Please note that we are not certified dog trainers. We are just sharing our experiences.
What might work for us may not necessarily work for you.
We have always felt that crate training is a very important part of the dogs training process. We have not treated crate training as a negative thing. Meaning, we do not use the crate as a form of punishment. In fact, when successful, the crate can be used as a place for the dog to have a "time-out" (kind of an act of punishment) OR it can be used as a place where they can "hide". Many experts feel that a crate satisfies the dog's (usually puppy's) need for a "den-like" enclosure. Something that caters to their wild instincts. We had found that crate training really worked for us to potty train Shasta and also to give him a place to hang out when either the house got too crowded with people or the people that visited didn't like dogs. But, we had Shasta from 8 weeks old and crate training him seemed almost too easy. Again, Rainier is 9 months old.
The first time we tried to put Rainier in the crate, it was her second day here. It was something short of impossible, trying to push an 85lb dog into the crate. There was food and treats in the crate but she just wouldn't go in. The second time... was impossible. She's a smart dog and the first experience didn't feel good to her. Plus, she had only been with us for 2 days.
So, after a week of totally not using the crate at all, we started feeding her in the crate. We would put her food bowl in the crate but just let her eat without bothering her. We didn't even watch her. Of course she seemed a little weary initially, but after less than 3 meals, she started getting comfortable. She would not go all the way into the crate but at times, she was 90% in. One of the reasons she might not have gone all the way in is that the crate is probably only just right in size for her, maybe a tad too small.
Then we started throwing treats into the crate. That seemed to work even better. She would go in and stay in.
Step 3 (if we could call it that?). She really likes the chicken liver treats that Jessica bakes for her. And Jessica would throw them into the crate, kind of lightly push her butt in and then lock the door. She would then continue feeding her the treats through the door. We worked from 5 mins and gradually increased to 20 mins.
Step 4. We then put cottage cheese, that was frozen in a "kong" like product, into the crate. At first, she would go in, take the "kong" out and then work on the thing outside. We then kind of lightly pushed her butt in again and then locked the door. It would usually take her anywhere between 30-45 minutes to finish the frozen cottage cheese. So, when we first did it, we would lock her in the crate for about 30 mins and that gradually increased to an hour. On at least 2 occasions, even after Jessica opened the door, she continued to lay in the crate, finishing her frozen treat.
(At this point, if it works without the dog whining/crying, you have most likely succeeded. However, you need to continue doing this for a few weeks. Consistency is key. Also, try not to let the dog out when they are whining/crying.)
Two nights ago, Rainier got into her crate, even when there were no treats in the crate... and she lay there. She didn't spend the night in the crate but she lay there... like it was her "safe" zone.
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