Crate vs. Bassett Hound - who will win?

Question:
 Hi. I am trying to settle our new bassett into our home. He is a year old and was crated by his previous owners. (One of their family members ended up having an allergy to the dog.) I am using the same crate that they used. They told me how much he loved his crate and that they were going to send it with him since he used it so well. However, when I put him into it crate last night at bed, he whined, howled, and barked so loudly and for so long that I was afraid he'd wake my kids. Needless to say, I let him out and woke to two puddles on my new tile floors! I put him in today when I went out for groceries. I had to entice him in with a treat and then lock the door up before he could bolt out. He was barking and howling like a madman as I left. To try to make him more comfortable in there, I have put several treats into the crate for him to discover in there. He gets in to eat the goodies and then right back out.What do you think is going on with this pooch? Has anyone had a similar experience? Perhaps he is simply anxious in his new home? TIA for any tips, reassurance, or similar experiences you might be able to share. S.
Answer:
 Please bear in mind that ANY change in a dog's life can cause a regression in behaviors. A new home and owners is a serious change for a dog and one that can cause a lot of anxiety in some dogs. Below is my crate training handout from class. Start ALL OVER as if the dog was never trained before. Start slow and easy and also WEAR HIM OUT BEFORE CRATING as he will be more likely to sleep when you have to leave the house during the day while you are working on training. Crate training is not cruel nor should it be punishment for Puppy. A crate the proper size for Puppy is: a safe place to be while sleeping; safety when you are not around to watch him; a place to eat uninterrupted; a place to go to get away from it all. Dogs are den animals and many like a place they can curl up in and feel secure. WHY USE A CRATE? You can leave Puppy or Doggy home alone with peace of mind. He is comfortable and not forming bad or destructive habits. He also is not going to be confused by your reactions to bad behavior when you return. Remember, dogs do not have the reasoning humans do. When we return and see the garbage rooted through and then punish Puppy, chances are he will not realize what you are punishing him for. He may think you are punishing him for something completely different. Crates also make house training easier. Puppies and dogs generally will not soil their sleeping and eating area. Used with a consistent schedule, a crate can be your best ally with house training. Crates offer safety when traveling. A dog in a crate is far less likely to be injured in an accident. A crate keeps your dog from bouncing around, getting on your lap, blocking your view or even getting under the driver's feet! If crating while driving is not possible, at least train Puppy to lie quietly in the back seat or use a doggy seat belt available at many pet supply places. WHAT A CRATE IS NOT! A crate is not a substitute for human companionship. Use of a crate should be limited to no more than eight hours, less for a younger animal. If your work schedule is longer than that, consider getting a dog walker to exercise Puppy or Doggy for you midday. There are also Dog Day Care centers cropping up! Crates are not to be used for punishment. The crate must be viewed by Puppy as a safe place to be. Do not allow your children to torment Puppy while crated. Make sure he has fresh water, a sturdy bed and safe toys (rotate toys daily so he always has different ones and a different combination). HOW TO MEASURE A CRATE. If buying for an adult dog, get a crate big enough that he can fit in from tip of nose to base of tail (a few inches longer in each direction). He should be able to stand up, sit, turn and lie down on his side stretched out comfortably. If buying for a puppy, get one that will fit him as an adult. Some manufacturers even make crate dividers so you can expand the crate area as Puppy grows. If in doubt of size, I opt for the next size up. A crate slightly too large is better than one too small! WHERE TO PUT THE CRATE. Put the crate in a people area such as family room, kitchen or even the bedroom. You do not want your dog to feel banished when crated so the cellar or garage is no good. WHERE TO GET A CRATE. Many pet supply and feed stores carry crates or you can mail order them. Do not be put off by the cost - crates are far less expensive than replacing a shredded couch or even carpet cleaning by a professional company. Some crates are quite reasonably priced. You can even find them at yard sales!!! (Make certain all the hardware is there and the door latches correctly and securely). PetsMart, PetCo, various pet supple and feed stores generally carry crates. If you wish to check out mail orders, a few places to get catalogs from are: Cherrybrook 1-800-524-0820, www.cherrybrook.com; Mid-West Metal Products, 1-800-428-8560; Doctors Foster & Smith, 1-800-826-7206, drsfostersmith.com; New England Serum Company, 1-800-637-3786, www.neserum.com. Or else, check out your local dog shows. Often vendors selling a myriad or doggy items will be there. I have purchased many an item from dog shows - including crates! For a list of upcoming dog shows nationwide, check out INFODOG.COM! INTRODUCING THE CRATE First remove your dog's collar so he will not get caught. It happens rarely, by why take the risk. NEVER crate a dog with a choke collar on. Choke collars should NEVER be used for everyday use - they are for training and walks only, then should be removed. The same for a pinch collar! Set up the crate in the place you wish to keep it. Encourage your dog or puppy to enter the crate by enticing him with bits of food. Use something he cannot resist like cooked chicken or hot dog slices. Praise as he enters. Let him walk in and out a few times. Now start to encourage him to lie down quietly and relax. Give him a couple safe toys and close the door. Sit with him and talk softly. Let him out. Now start to leave for a short time. Even if he cries and whines, do not weaken. He should adjust to the crate eventually. Just keep making it a positive experience. HOW LONG TO USE THE CRATE. Some dogs can never be trusted with run of the house unattended. Some dogs are fine. If you think your dog is able to behave uncrated, begin testing by leaving his loose for five minutes while you walk outside. If that works, increase to ten, fifteen and so on. Should he begin to misbehave, continue using the crate. It is safer for Doggy and saner for you!
Answer:
 Hi, I also have a young basset hound that had a serious lifestyle change from Humane Society to my house. I'm also in the process of crate training and i've found a few things useful. She will also run into her crate to retrieve something and then make a bid for freedom. This is what i'm currently trying out and it seems to be encouraging her to think of her crate as a positive thing:- When I'm home I either put the leash on her and attach it to myself somehow so that if she decides she's going to go on my carpet i can catch her in the act. It also helps to keep her active during the day so she passes out when i'm not around or when it's night time. I've slowly started transitioning the leash from being attached to me to being attached to her crate. The leash is 6 ft long so when she is attached to her crate she still has a good free reign. I always play with her (right next to the crate) for about 10 minutes after i've attached her to the crate. She loves rope toys and I play fetch with her by throwing the toy into the crate and then she'll come right out and we'll repeat the process. After a while i'll get up and get some VERY SMALL dog treats. Then i'll kind of sprinkle a few in there. She'll usually wander in to get them and i will get up and potter about just out of her reach. She tries to get to me and when she finally gives up and heads towards her crate for a lie down i'll say "kennel up" and sit down next to the crate. She'll go in there will some food coaxing and i'll just push her bottom down so she'll sit then i give her a treat. Sometimes she'll lie down sometimes she won't but then i'll go off into another room and she'll start looking for me but after 5 minutes (max) she'll go back in her crate and she's out like a light. At night I take her outside immediately before crating her. When i crate her at night i let her loose and close all the doors so that she can't go very far. Then i'll put some treats in there for her and start turning off the lights so she knows it's bed time. Bassets need a schedule and consistent behaviour from their owners. She's starting to take my actions as a sign for her to do certain things. The first few nights she wandered around a while before getting in her crate and then when she was good and asleep i crept out and closed the door. Now she'll go in sooner and i can close the door with her awake - i just always make sure that i give her a treat through the door so that she knows she's not been crated for being bad. Hope this helps