Crate training a rehomed Staffy cross

Crate training works when the crate becomes a genuinely positive space — and for a dog who's already been rehomed twice, that matters even more than usual. The right size and type of crate, and a very patient introduction, make the difference between a dog who settles and one who panics. To point you in the right direction: what breed mix is involved alongside the Staffy, roughly how big is he or she now, and are you starting fresh or has there already been a bad experience with a crate? Also helpful to know — is this mainly for home use, or do you need something portable too?

That history makes total sense — she's learned the crate means punishment, so we're essentially starting from scratch and rebuilding what it means to her. The good news is that Staffies and Staffy crosses are incredibly food-motivated and people-oriented, which works strongly in your favour here. At 18kg she needs a medium-large crate, roughly 36 inches. Before I suggest anything specific — do you know if the crate she came with is still around, or has it gone? And is she showing any destructive behaviour or separation anxiety, or is it mainly just that she refuses to go near the crate?

Two weeks in with that background and not destructive — that's actually a really promising start. She's testing the waters but she's coping. What I'd recommend is the MidWest Homes for Pets Folding Metal Dog Crate, the 36-inch double-door model. It's around £45–55 on Amazon UK depending on when you look, which is genuinely affordable for what it is. It has a divider panel built in, which lets you make the space smaller at first — important because a crate that feels too big can increase anxiety rather than reduce it. The double-door design also gives you flexibility in where you position it, which helps when you're reintroducing slowly. It folds flat if you ever need to store it, and the tray is removable for cleaning. For her specifically, the key is leaving the door off entirely for the first week or two, feeding her meals just inside the entrance, and never closing it until she's choosing to go in on her own. With her history, that slow approach isn't optional — it's the whole game.

Keep it simple and don't overspend. An old fleece blanket or a worn T-shirt of yours is genuinely better than an expensive bed at this stage — your scent is what reassures her, not the price tag. A couple of treats scattered inside when she's not watching, so she finds them by sniffing around, helps build that positive sniff-and-reward loop. Once she's going in willingly, a Kong stuffed with something like peanut butter or wet food and frozen gives her something to do in there that she actively enjoys. The goal is that the crate becomes the place where good things happen quietly, not somewhere she goes because she has to. Given she's only been with you a fortnight, don't rush the door-closing stage even if she seems settled — a week or two longer of patience now saves months of setbacks.

You're doing right by her — a slow, consistent approach is exactly what a dog with her history needs, and the fact that you're thinking it through properly gives her a real chance to settle. The 36-inch double-door MidWest is the one to look for. If the price varies, the single-door version is a few pounds cheaper and works just as well for home use. Good luck with her — Staffy crosses who find the right person tend to be extraordinarily loyal once they trust you.