Barking in crate..

[SSpiro]

My new rescue (3 months old) is still getting accustomed to his new lifestyle and house with us.

He's not 100% with the crate yet. We're working on this; it seems he notices the difference between getting in the crate for sleep and getting in the crate for the daytime while we go to work. Funny.

His current favorite thing is sleeping very lightly. If I awake in the night and roll over or shift myself or change pillows, or etc; he'll wake up and start barking. While it only lasts 2 minutes or so (because we'll ignore him to not encourage), it's still obnoxious. This past night it happened 4 or 5 times. As you could imagine, I'm tired today!

I am letting him out in the middle of the night for potty breaks, but not doing it when he's crying. The nights I don't wake up, he lasts until the morning without eliminating in the crate - so I may just end the late night outtings.

Anyway. Are there corrective measures needed here? He also barks and crys when we crate him in the mornings before going to work. He'll do it until we're getting into the car.. then he seems to stop. It's obviously for the attention. We're not giving it; yet the barking/crying continues.

I'll add to this.. I put him in his crate this afternoon while I did some cleaning around the house. Because he knew I was here and functioning, he cried and barked the whole time, which was quite a while. Same thing at dinner time.

What to do!?

 

[Pearlywhirly]

I'm just wondering if you add up all the time he's in the crate per day how much it would be? It sounds like he's getting lots of crate time which might be why he's unhappy. At three months it's not like you can go for a brisk two mile walk to tire him out but some more interaction of another kind might be what he is craving. You're doing very well by not acknowledging the times he's being vocal, that's a slippery slope that will be hard to turn around if you do. Keep at it, just like human babies, a routine helps but sometimes they just need to cry it out. Aren't puppies great?

 

[SSpiro]

I'm just wondering if you add up all the time he's in the crate per day how much it would be? It sounds like he's getting lots of crate time which might be why he's unhappy.

Yes, he does get a bit of crate time. 8 hours a day typically, plus bed time.. unfortunately. I work about 45 miles from home, and the wife works about 35 miles from home.. so neither of us can go home and play/walk with him at lunch time. A year ago, different story.

At three months it's not like you can go for a brisk two mile walk to tire him out but some more interaction of another kind might be what he is craving. You're doing very well by not acknowledging the times he's being vocal, that's a slippery slope that will be hard to turn around if you do. Keep at it, just like human babies, a routine helps but sometimes they just need to cry it out. Aren't puppies great?

Yes.. puppies are great *coughBScough*

What do you mean not being able to go for a 2 mile walk? Can he not handle a walk that long? We've taken him on some walks around the block.. probably 3/4 of a mile. Just want to make sure I'm not doing something wrong there..

Either way - I'd like to remedy this issue. Perhaps more time spent on crate training with rewards, etc?

Left for work this morning while wife was still sleeping. He barked and cried until I was gone.. and could have continued; not sure.. since I wasn't there.

 

[Pearlywhirly]

Check this link or do a search about "forced exercise" or "growth plates", it has a great explanation written by gmacleod.



http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126660&highlight=growth+plates

Maybe in the meantime you can give him something really great that he only gets in his crate, a super toy or a frozen Kong stuffed with cream cheese or peanut butter.

 

[SSpiro]

Check this link or do a search about "forced exercise" or "growth plates", it has a great explanation written by gmacleod.



http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126660&highlight=growth+plates

Maybe in the meantime you can give him something really great that he only gets in his crate, a super toy or a frozen Kong stuffed with cream cheese or peanut butter.

We're trying the kong today. we'll see how that goes!

I will read the link - thank you!!

 

[SSpiro]

Any other thoughts from anyone on the crate issues?

 

[simmons]

Just as if you were bringing home a new puppy, it will take time for him to adjust to the crate. It's pretty normal to get "No Rest" for a few weeks...sometimes even longer. Just as if you were brining a new skin baby home. I would just make sure your puppy gets plenty of playtime.

Maybe instead of putting him in the crate when the house gets cleaned, gate him off in a tiled area. I would always bring my puppy with me wherever I was in the house and gate it off. Or, if your just afraid he'll potty when your not watching him, have him on a leash with you.

Do you keep the crate door opened so he's comfortable going in there? I also used a special treat...whenever mine saw me get his treat ready he would run right into his crate with no problem. Invest in a puppy kong, it's well worth it!!!! You can fill it up (freeze it or not) with plain yogurt and peanut butter and it will keep him busy for hours. Maybe some extra toys too!!

I also kept one of those loud ticking clocks near his crate, that seemed to work at nights. Continue taking him potty at nights and ignore him when he does bark (and has already gone potty outside)

Hang in there...he will adjust and it will be easier for all of you.
BTW, a good way to tire a dog out is with doggie play. If you don't know of anyone that your baby can play with.....doggie daycare or puppy class is always a great option!!!

 

[Newtonian]

I like to view "crate training" as a command like any other. When I am getting a new pup used to a crate, I set up times throughout the day to train the "crate" command; which basically means "you wait quietly IN the crate and when you are quiet you get OUT of the crate". When working on this, I usually drape the crate with a blanket or sheet so pup can only see out of the front of the crate. Then, I give the command "crate" or "kennel" in a happy, upbeat voice. Pup gets a food treat for getting in crate. I shut the door, and move out of pup's field of vision. If pup is QUIET, I let him out after 2 - 3 seconds (positive reinforcement of being quiet) with lots of treats and praise. If pup is NOT quiet, I attempt to disrupt the noise making by making the "aaa" corrective sound OR by tossing a shaker can (pop can filled with coins) at or near the crate. Hopefully, this disrupts the barking for the desired 2 -3 second period of time at which point pup gets released again and treated and praised. This has worked really well with my last two dogs and it is SO nice to have a politely crate trained dog!!! You can also try feeding meals in the crate to make it seem more of the pup's "own room"; also be sure to leave the door open so pup can choose to come and go as he pleases when NOT crated: our 11-month-old uses his "room" to store his toys and to retreat to when he get tired. Good Luck!

 

[ELubas]

Any other thoughts from anyone on the crate issues?

Maybe I misunderstood but he is in the create for eight hours plus all night? And he three months old, right? That seems way too long to me. Not criticizing mind you but I think it could be contributing to his displeasure at being in there. Anyway you could get a dog walker to come in and give him a break during the day perhaps? If not, how about letting him sleep on a bed in your room at night and then eventually move the bed to wherever you want him to sleep. I think if you need to crate him that long then when you are home you really need to make an effort not to crate him. Give him a really interesting, food filled toy while you do stuff. As for the walking part, puppies will always stop and rest given the chance so short walks and play sessions are best at this young age. Best of luck

 

[SSpiro]

Maybe I misunderstood but he is in the create for eight hours plus all night? And he three months old, right? That seems way too long to me. Not criticizing mind you but I think it could be contributing to his displeasure at being in there.

Went to his first vet appt yesterday, and the vet estimates 4 months. You are correct; he is in there from 6AM when I leave until 8AM. The wife takes him out for 25 minutes or so for him to go potty, and play for a bit, and back in at 8:30 AM. I get home at 5PM, and let him out. He goes back in at 11PM when we go to bed. Rinse, repeat.

I do think he's in there too long, but I don't really have any options. I have a fenced in back yard, but he somehow managed to wiggle under it the second day we had him. 45 minutes later we found him playing with a neighbor's kid. I have a full garage, so this isn't an option.

Anyway you could get a dog walker to come in and give him a break during the day perhaps? If not, how about letting him sleep on a bed in your room at night and then eventually move the bed to wherever you want him to sleep. I think if you need to crate him that long then when you are home you really need to make an effort not to crate him. Give him a really interesting, food filled toy while you do stuff. As for the walking part, puppies will always stop and rest given the chance so short walks and play sessions are best at this young age. Best of luck

Dog walker really isn't an option. We've had security issues, and we're not at a point in which we are trusting to have a stranger come into our house, walk our dogs, and leave.

And letting him sleep outside of his crate is also out of the question. He's extremely puppy, and little to no sleep will be happening. I can see it now. Lots of potty breaks around the bedroom, Torn up furniture, holes in the carpet, etc. Been down this route many times before and I can tell you its not pretty. This is the reason he's in the crate.

I can't be the first person in this situation. Re-reading the post, I sound somewhat negative - but I'm just laying it all out there... not holding back details, etc in hopes of finding some good solutions.

Last night wasn't TOO bad. Only woke me up once at 3AM. A quick "AHHH" and he laid back down and went back to sleep; then up as normal on schedule at 5AM. When it was time to go to bed, he only barked and cried for 2 minutes.. instead of his normal 3 or 4.

I got to find a way to end the barking and crying.. it's chipping away at my sanity.

EDIT: AND I'll add that he gets a kong at 8:30 AM.. btw.