So my girlfriend and I just purchased our first house (yay, exciting times).
I'm a shift worker at the local Nuclear Power Plant, so she is often at home alone during the night. I am not comfortable with this so we decided to go out and purchase some "protectors"

Two, yes TWO Bernese Mountain Dogs (Living in Canada, we went with a dog that enjoys outdoors in the winter).

I've been reading online the Do's and Don't of crate training.

Curious, if anyone has some personal experience of something's that helped and things that didn't to save me some possible growing pains of the situation.

Thanks, any advice is appreciated.

dont use the crate to punish your dog. ive had bad experience with crate training.. it seems to be a go to place when your annoyed with your dog.. alzo the dogs I n have trained lime that seem much more aggresive towards people idk why... I would just spend time workin on house training. positive reinforcement works best imo

After the dogs have ate they go in the crate for a while then straight out to pee. Each pee / poo outdoors treat it like its the greatest thing in the world, Encourages the dog to keep doin it. Do not punish or give any attention if the dog has an accident indoors, Just stay calm and clean it up.

Also as above:

Crate should be a nice place, Not used as punishment.

Get some pics of tjhose beasts up

I had rottis all my life and just got a puppy a few times for the same reason. I had always trained them and no issues. The crate at first we started to lock her up only at nights until u establish potty training. Then only put her in it when no one is home so she understqnds that she can't onder around when no1 is there. Never yell at her and associate her crate for being bad. That is her home and shouldn't be afraid of it.

I had rottis all my life and just got a puppy a few times for the same reason. I had always trained them and no issues. The crate at first we started to lock her up only at nights until u establish potty training. Then only put her in it when no one is home so she understqnds that she can't onder around when no1 is there. Never yell at her and associate her crate for being bad. That is her home and shouldn't be afraid of it. Also when u have the needed shots take her to stores like petco or whatever. They offer free puppy play time and builds the needed socialization with other dogs.

thanks for all the input! will get pics up soon!!

Feed the dogs in their crates!! Also I put my dogs crate in our bedroom with a blanket we slept with for a few days so it smelled like us. Put treats in the back of the crate. They go inside for a treat and come back out. Keep doing this over and over. They will eventually like to go in the crate and go in it on their own! I started by leaving the pooch in crate for 10 mins and worked up from there. You dont want them to hate the crate, but feel relaxed and enjoy it. Hope it helps

Putting food in their crates is a great idea, I used this method to help my dog Roxy get used to her crate. When we first got the crate, I let her go inside it many times without tricking her and closing the door after she goes in. I let her become comfortable with being inside so she doesn't feel like she trapped because she should feel safe in her house. Like the posts above me state, you should never use the crate as punishment or force them inside the crate if they don't want to be inside it. Make sure the crate is big enough for your dog, they should be able to turn around and sleep in it without their sides pressed against the side of the crate.

When I first crate trained my dog I only put her inside at night or when I left the house. In the morning or when I come home, I let her outside so she can do her business. The first few nights are difficult because they might cry a lot inside the cage or maybe have accidents but be patient because they will get used to it over time. My dog loves her crate so much that she will go inside on her own when she gets tired and will prefer sleeping in her crate than on my bed or somewhere else. It is her safe little home. On cold nights I put her blankets in the dryer so they are warm for her. The warm blankets put her right to bed almost every time. I also put some thin blankets over cage so it gets a little darker, like a cave. I leave the side with the door open so she has ventilation. If your dog has trouble sleeping leave a bone or two in there for them so they can chew on it until they get tired.