Have I already waited too long to crate her? No
Where do I put the crate? Bedroom or kitchen or where she can see you
Do I put a blanket in there? Yes or a crate pad to fit. It should be comfy.
Food or water? Neither. She should not be crated for periods of time long enough to need food or water. Some trainers advocate feeding in the crate so the dog associates it with food. I do not. I like it as a resting and sleeping place. You would not feed a child in a crib so why a dog?
Keep her collar on? no unless it's a break-away type or can't snag on the bars
Put toys in the crate with her? safe ones like a kong or if she doesn't chew them up a "lovey"
Will the other animals taunt her? probably not
Will she cry? Maybe at first
Does she go in it at night? yes, It's her private den and sleeping area
How can I make it an enjoyable experience rather than a punishment? Go slow letting her get used to it. First make sure she's already pottied. Give her a treat when she goes in. Lots of praise and encouragement.Start at about an hour at a time at first. Never for longer than 3 or 4 hours except at night if she is sleeping through. When she wakes you MUST take her out. It is unfair to leave her in the crate and not give her an opportunity to void.
Should I get a doggie door as well after our training? if your yard is safe and fenced...absolutely

Make sure the crate is not too large. It should only be big enough for her to comfortably stand,turn around and stretch out in. If it is bigger that that than block off a section of it. When she is trained it won't matter but until then it is very important the crate be a cozy but relatively confined space.

Some dogs like to be able to see out of all sides. Some feel better if only one end is open. You can experiment with a blanket thrown over it.

I had one dog who so loved his crate we could never take it away.We kept it up for 11 years with the door open. My experience has been that hyper dogs seem to like the crate better than low energy dogs. It seems to be the only way they can wind down.Like an over-tired child they learn to appreciate it as a tool for calming themselves.

My current dogs don't care for the crate. The Lab used it happily until he was out of puppyhood and will willingly go in to this day if commanded to but the Rottie hates it. Occasionally we put them in for a bit just so they will be ok if they ever have surgery or are ill where crating is necessary.

Thanks so much for the great answers wildchild.
I do have a couple more based on your comments....
What would the material for a crate pad?
When I am not home in the mornings, should her crate be where all the animals hang out (the livingroom)?
Do you put the crate in a spot and leave it in the same place all the time?
The first time I put her in there, should I leave the house? or do a few practice runs while we are home?

Can you tell I am nervous about doing this?

Trin

Trin...no, it is not too late to crate train your dog, but you can't just put her in there and close the door. It should be a gradual process. Also if you are feeling the least bit anxious your dog will feel your anxiety and will also be anxious. There are no fast and hard rules, but being calm and having the dog calm are the only way to make it okay for her. Try to make a game out of it with food. She must go in on her own and only for a few seconds with the door open. Gradually build up time, but still with the door open. You may have to give her the stay command. when she goes in quickly on her own and doesn't seem anxious try shutting the door for a couple of seconds. Gradually increase that time. After she accepts the closed door walk out of the room for a few seconds and pop right back in. Give her treats when she stays in without any crying. Treat heavily in the beginning of any new exercise and gradually decrease the amount of treats. There are good articles on the internet about crate training and I probably should have suggested that first. Try www.dogproblems.com Good luck.

Crates pads are like mattresses to fit the crate. Most are egg crate foam covered with fleece. They sell them at the pet store. A folded blanket works as well but doesn't stay in place as well as a fitted pad. Then again our Lab would push anything soft out of the way and lay on the cold metal. LOL

If the crate is small enough to move easily just put it where the action is and move it to your bedroom at night if you wish. The important thing is you have it where you are aware when the dog needs to go out.

First time should be with you at home if possible. You don't want a terrified lonely pup. Then she will never want to go back in there again since she will equate the crate with being abandoned.

Don't be nervous. You may be surprised that she may actually like it. Dogs like dens. To her it should be a nice cozy den to escape to. A nice place of her very own.

Don't ever use the crate as punishment. Even if you are putting her in the crate after she's gotten into mischief be very calm and matter of fact about it and praise her once she's in.

My dog was about a year old and trained very well when I got her. I noticed though that she was beginning to do things, I think, out of separation axiety. Since she was house broken I tried to work without the crate. Then I noticed that she was purposely doing things - jumping on kitchen counter and trash can episodes, when I would leave the house. I actually caught her doing it right after she thought I had left ( I closed door but didn't leave). She was at it, right away. I ended up getting the crate, but still resisted using it until it was just obvious I couldn't leave her out all day anymore. At first she refused to even smell it, much less enter it. I started using treats - I put her in there and used "Stay", and would give her treats. Now, piece of cake. She watches my actions in the morning - getting ready for work on weekdays. When I put shoes on and head out of my room, she RUNS to the crate because she knows I'm leaving. I've even reduced the treats to almost none, and she still does it. I can always tell when she's done something "bad" - she RUNS to the crate and crawls under her blankie. I've heard most dogs love the crate, once they get used to it. It's a safe harbor, I guess. I will say though that my Bijon HATED his crate. He never got used to it, and ruined it with "going" in it all the time. I didn't know at the time how to work with Bijon's - they are difficult. Now though I think it would work. I don't have him any longer because my job took me out of town and I couldn't take him. But I miss him terribly.

Best wishes, and don't worry. Your puppy will still love you like crazy - especially when you get home and open that crate door.

Crates are wonderful for dogs and you are doing the right thing for her.

When we are getting a dog used to a crate, we have it in the same place all the time and leave the door open for a few days before putting the pup in the first time. The inside should be soft and comfy. We don't provide water or food but we do use snacks and chew toys. I usually use a blanket (buy a yard of polar fleece at the fabric store - dogs love it and it's easy to launder) on top of a piece of carpet or a small rug so that it's easy to wash once a week. I don't use a soft pad unless the dog is elderly.

To get them seeing the crate as a positive thing, I toss a couple treats in there and then walk away. Let them go it to get it on their own. When they do, praise them and give them another treat. Now the crate is a good thing. After a few times of doing that, close the door for a minute or two, then another treat and praise when they come out and an immediate trip outside.

You said "I think her biggest problem is not knowing how to "let us know" she needs to go out. " Having raised dogs for over 50 years I am guessing that she IS letting you know but you haven't figured it out yet. Watch her constantly and you'll see a sign. She'll give you an intense look or she'll start to sniff the floor or she'll run into another room. If you are watching you'll see it - then you say whatever word you are teaching her for 'outside' and dash to the door to let her out. "Outside, Brandy! Good girl! Come on! Outside!"

Great thoughts and ideas from everybody!
I think one of the problems we encountered was that we "used" the older dog to help show her what to do outside. That really was a big help, however, she now will not go outside unless the other dog is with her. And of course the older dog has no interest in going outside every hour.
I feel if I don't get this under control soon, than we will not get her properly trained at all. I am at the panic stage, and think goodness we have just a few carpeted rooms, but the fact that she potties anywhere in the house is very upsetting to me.
The plus side, is just this last weekend, my granddaughter came to me and told me that Brandy had an "accident" in her bedroom.....come to find out the washer was leaking on the other side of the wall. Whew! caught that one just in time.......lol

Trin

I know folks say to put the crate in a main part of the house, but the only way we've survived is to put Teddy's crate on the sunporch (away from traffic). It's the only way she'll ratchet down and drift off to sleep. When we had her in the main traffic area, she'd just go nuts non-stop and would never settle down.

I agree about the no-water thing. Teddy just gets mad and throws her water dish over. Makes a big mess of everything. And I'm confident puppies can go two or three hours without water.

And she seems to be a very, very light sleeper.

I do believe that different things work for different animals.

We have crate trained our lab puppy. She has the huge crate and I didn't bother with the divider. (I actually have a the big costco dog bed in it for her.)

She loves her crate, I never close the door in the daytime, but she still goes in to take a nap.

At night I do cover it with a sheet, and she sleeps until we get up. We have the crate in the family room and it stays there. I really didn't want to do a crate, I thought they were cruel, but now I know how good they are, and that she considers it her house. Good luck! Kathy

I used a crate for my last 2 dogs. Both were Wheaten terriers. Great dogs but both were hard to housebreak. Both used the crate as their bed and "safe place". I'd feed and walk mt dog, then bring it inside and put it in the crate. Ignore the whining and/or chewing to get out. Only you decide when to let Brandy out. Give ger plenty of exercise, and she'll come to enjoy resting in the crate. Everyone else gave plenty of good advice.

For the outside training try this: the next time she messes in the house wipe it up with an old rag instead of a paper towel. Take the rag outside and put it where you want her to go. Secure it to the spot with a stake or rock. Take her out to that same spot every time and let her sniff the rag. Tell her this is "outside" (or whatever word you want to use) and "good dog".

I'm sure others have told you this, but don't play with her when you first take her out. It's a 'business trip' and you want her to know that. Once she does her stuff, you praise her, then play with her a little. If she doesn't do anything, just take her back in the house without the playtime. My friend gives her dog a cookie every time he gos so now he squats even if he doesn't need to! She has to watch him to be sure he's not faking. lol

We had a bichon and an indoor cat, and they both wanted to "live" in the crate, but they must have worked out an agreement because if the cat was in there sleeping and the dog wanted it, the dog just nosed the cat out...

We trained the bichon to go outside by having a jingle bell on a ribbon over the back door handle, and she used to go and ring the bell whenever she wanted out.....smart gal.

I have that "fake" problem with my Chihauhau! For a while she wanted to go outside all the time. I was so proud of her, and always gave her a treat when she came back in. I caught on after awhile. Now I can tell the difference - she'll scratch at the door when she really has to go. But, I watch her to be sure. The bigger problem - it has been VERY difficult to get her to go out back without me. She is definitely a "walker" (sometimes a 1/2 mile or more!), even when it is zero degrees outside!! I was blessed to have her "fall into my lap" when I was looking for a dog, but it's too COLD to be outside for that long! She knows it too because she starts crying when it gets too cold, and wants me to carry her home. Gotta luv her...