Ok my first time crate training a puppy, the books are helpful to a extent, but I would like a personal view on training Ruby successfully.
Advice and tips please?
She is not alone at all apart during the day. Just in the night when we plan on putting her in it to sleep, and if I need to go to the shops. I plan on it being her sanctuary that she can't be told off when she is in there, and for her to have a secure place to sleep. The door will be kept open for her to get freely as much as possible.

We found feeding ours in them works wonders and always give a treat when they go in. A filled kong keeps them busy for a while.

Yes I agree. We have lovely soft bedding in the crates, and the dogs always get a biscuit or treat when they have to go in. They love their crates. In the daytime the doors are always open, and the dogs often go in to it to sleep.
Infact my oldest dogs who never had a crate, uses the larger crate to sleep in too when the other dogs is not in it.

If you want to get the dog used to it, start with a shorter time, maybe 5 or 10 min to start with.

Aw I have a Ruby too! My other dog had surgery on her knee a few months ago and had to spend 6 weeks on box rest. It sounds silly but watch out they don't feel isolated in the crate, mine was on the floor where the dog couldn't see me and she became really mopy and depressed so I bought a table to set the crate on so she would be up high beside me and she cheered up other than that I have no other hints as I am terrible at crate training, mine just never took to it.

When our dog was a pup, we would leave put him in his crate in another room & if he cried, we ignored him so he didn't think that was the way to get attention. Once he stopped crying, a few minutes later, we'd go a see him & give him praise & a treat.

We'd gradually increase the time from him stopping crying to going and see him so he got used to longer without us & give him lots of praise when we saw him.

He eventually went in without a whimper & would be quite happy sleeping over night in it or stay in if we were away shopping.

As hard as it is, you need to ignore their crying

we bought petzpodz, it's just like a natural cave.

Only problem with them is dogs don't live in caves, they seem like very over priced fashion items really. Company clearly knows little about animals as they are dreadful for rabbits and chickens. Better to buy a proper dog crate designed for purpose IMO

of course dogs naturally live in burrows and tunnels they love to have their backs protected, there was a tv programme where they were left to their own devices and they dug their own system of tunnels and runs, are you saying that a crate is natural for them?

No I am saying you can buy a decent crate for much less that will last many years. You said it was like a cave I said dogs don't live in caves which as far as I have seen is correct.

The design of these "caves" could lead to over heating with a crate you can cover it in cold weather and allow air in when it's warm. They make them for rabbits too and it's a terrible problem for them.

Molliepops, before buying, I actually bothered to research the product, and read the literature that comes with the product. Which is what I would suggest you do. It is fully insulated, double walled so stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. My little one didn't have to be coaxed in, or bribed to stay in he loves it. That is the test for me

Well great for you, not something I would buy for mine and I would suggest anyone else think long and hard too.

Thankyou Molliepops, that is exactly what I did, thought long and hard, sought advice from a vet, and bought one

Just googled the petzpawz to see what it is, OMG the price! My dog can just continue sitting under the bed if she wants a little cave!

please read this

http://blog.thebehaviourcompany.com/...to-crates.html

I hope this will explain why we chose our pod

I used a cage to house train my Staffie because she would often wee during the night. I was racked with guilt at the thought of her in a wire cage, but I needn't have worried. She loves it, gets in it during the day for a nap and happily trots in at bedtime. And she no longer pees at night. So we're all happy. She has her favourite cushion with a blanket over the top, and then I place another blanket over the top and sides of the cage so she has privacy. She's a happy little dog.