Crate Behaviour

[Wendy Swalls]

Mickey has been howling in his crate for over 2 years now. He crates up just fine and stays quiet until about 3-4 in the morning. The he howls on and off until we get up. As soon as he hears us open the bedroom door, he shuts up so he's not making any noise when we walk into the room. We are used to it and ignore the behaviour, but when we have overnight guests, it's a bit off-putting to them. Any suggestions?

 

[gmacleod]

Well, I'm afraid that if you've responded to him (fairly regularly, it seems) when he howls in his crate then he *knows* that that is the way to obtain release or some attention. It would take a LONG time of not responding to break him of the habit (dog's memories aren't that short).

The first thing I wonder, given that this is happening overnight, is whether or not he's howling to go to potty? What do you do with him currently when you get up? *If* it's a potty thing, you might like to have a vet check him over, and if there's nothing wrong, think about limiting his water intake in the evenings.

If it's got nothing to do with potty needs, then your options are as follows:
(1) Ignore the howling. Consistently, absolutely and for however long it takes for him to be convinced that that technique no longer gets your attention or him released from the crate.
(2) Move his crate into your bedroom. Being near you through the night may well be sufficient to stop the behaviour.
(3) Stop crating him overnight, and instead give him a dog bed either in your room or elsewhere in the house where he's likely to be content until morning. He's probably old enough by now to be trusted loose overnight.

Good luck

 

[Wendy Swalls]

We don't go to him when he howls, but at some point we do have to let him out. I don't think it's a potty thing, he can hold that. And we do let him sleep with us (in the bed), but then he makes us get up by bouncing around on the bed and generally being a pest until we let him out. You know Boxers, they will do anything to get their way. He wouldn't even be crated at night at all if he wouldn't do the 4:00 wake-up calls!

 

[gmacleod]

How about the crate in your bedroom idea? Then he's with you, but can't jump on you till you get up... Plus, it seems from your signature that you have other dogs? What are their sleeping arrangements, and is he any better crated alongside them?

 

[Wendy Swalls]

Yes, I have 3 other dogs. Our pit and Mickey are crated, the other two aren't and mostly sleep on the floor in our room. Mickey and Mya get the bed (and usually end up kicking me out during the night). I will try the crate in the bedroom, that is a good suggestion. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks for your help.

 

[Jan]

You might try putting some music or the radio on. He may be responding to noise that he is hearing outside. The radio will help drown out the other noises that he is responding too.

Putting his crate in your bedroom would really help too.