Crate problems

[sherryberry]

I know there have been lots of threads on this, but I just don't know what to do in my situation. My 9 week old Lady really hates her crate, if it is by the bed at night with the fluffy dog bed inside she is quiet and content.

During the day though... it's another story! We can't even sit outside of the crate without her crying, whining, barking and making some awful yelling sound that she does. She also spends hours biting the crate bars until her bed and crate wall is soaked in her saliva. I feel so bad, but we have to be gone at work for 3-4 hours at a time (we come home during lunch for an hour). She even freaks out if we are in the same room and she can still see us... it's the same thing.

We tried setting up a baby gate in the laundry room that looks into our family room where we spend our time, but she is still so vocal and we come home with her greeting us at the door because she climbs out. I've tried sitting in there until she falls asleep but that's not always practical, and she just wakes up and starts barking when she realizes we aren't there.

I tried throwing treats in there for her to find, giving her a kong with kibble/peanut butter, toys, even throwing treats in there. When I feed her in there she would rather not eat, or she takes a kibble in her mouth and carries it just outside of the crate to eat it.

It seems nothing works except letting her run around the house while we are gone, but then I spend all day thinking she might eat a wire or shoes or something and get hurt.

Any ideas? Since we have had her a week her little voice has grown so much it's really loud now!

 

[Stellar]

if she sleeps in the crate at night and for 3-4 hours at a time during the day, then why is she in the crate when you are home? seems like that'd be too much time in the crate.

anyhow, keep the pillow in there during the day and leave the crate door open during the day while you are home so she can go in there on her will to get use to it or take naps. she'll come to understand that her crate is her personal space. my dog barked and whined for the first week and a half we crated her, but now she's quiet and just sleeps or plays with her toys. give it time and she'll get use to it.

 

[kathysboxer]

if she sleeps in the crate at night and for 3-4 hours at a time during the day, then why is she in the crate when you are home? seems like that'd be too much time in the crate.

anyhow, keep the pillow in there during the day and leave the crate door open during the day while you are home so she can go in there on her will to get use to it or take naps. she'll come to understand that her crate is her personal space. my dog barked and whined for the first week and a half we crated her, but now she's quiet and just sleeps or plays with her toys. give it time and she'll get use to it.

Good advice. Also, through out the day, just throw a few treats in there and let her get them. Try to encourage her to go in. Once she is used to going in, then have her go in, close the door, give a treat, praise, let her out. Slowly increase the time the door is shut. Use an extra yummy treat only for this training. Pieces of boiled chicken, liver treats, anything she won't get otherwise.
After she is used to that, then slowly work your way to moving out of her view.
When your home, would she be able to have run of the house? If she is in the crate while your home, she may be just plain tired of being in there. She wants to be with you when your home. Not stuck in the crate.
You could also try feeding her in it. That may help also.

Also, play her out before you leave. Long walk, tons of play. A little saying around here "A tired boxer is a happy boxer"

 

[caruse]

We don't crate them when we are home either..we only crate when we have to leave...Laila used to cry and make terrible noises that I could hear as I had to leave and sometimes when I got back but she learned that I would be back!...the treats are good and maybe leaving a radio on or something so it's not just so quiet....
I would leave the door open during the day but never forced her into it..I let her explore the treats and toys in there...now when they see us get ready and know we are going somewhere they both just go sit in the crate and wait for us to close the door and give them a treat...it was easier to train Frazier with the crate because he was side by side to Laila and didn't feel so alone...getting used to the crate will happen but using it on a schedule that they become use to anticipating will be really helpful...mine love to know the routine about everything...
I know it's hard but it will work out!!!!
Barbara

 

[sherryberry]

Thank you for the advice, I will try to keep up the treats and maybe start back at the beginning with just closing it then opening it then increasing the time, that's a good idea.

I don't keep her in there while we are at home (because the whining is terrible), but it would be nice to be able to put her in there while I shower, etc when I can't watch her.

I'll keep you guys updated on how she's doing with it

 

[Bodhidog]

Hi Sherryberry,

We are having the exact same experience with our 9 week boxer pup too! She's so good with sleeping in it at night, and hanging out in there with the door closed when we're in the room but the minute we walk out she starts whining and barking. If you find anything that works let me know!!!

Erin

 

[kathysboxer]

I don't keep her in there while we are at home (because the whining is terrible), but it would be nice to be able to put her in there while I shower, etc when I can't watch her.

When your in the shower, cooking or something like that, try giving her a frozen kong. Put her in the bathroom with you, give her the kong, and see how it goes. Tyson is constantly in the same room as I am. He has always been my shadow.

When we are getting ready to go somewhere, he sits right in front of the door. No getting out without him! But he pretty much goes everywhere with us. Our friends just chuckle.

Try putting one of your old shirts in the cage. Maybe your scent will also help.
Keep us updated on the progress!

 

[Abby Angel]

I know there have been lots of threads on this, but I just don't know what to do in my situation. My 9 week old Lady really hates her crate, if it is by the bed at night with the fluffy dog bed inside she is quiet and content.

During the day though... it's another story! We can't even sit outside of the crate without her crying, whining, barking and making some awful yelling sound that she does. She also spends hours biting the crate bars until her bed and crate wall is soaked in her saliva. I feel so bad, but we have to be gone at work for 3-4 hours at a time (we come home during lunch for an hour). She even freaks out if we are in the same room and she can still see us... it's the same thing.

We tried setting up a baby gate in the laundry room that looks into our family room where we spend our time, but she is still so vocal and we come home with her greeting us at the door because she climbs out. I've tried sitting in there until she falls asleep but that's not always practical, and she just wakes up and starts barking when she realizes we aren't there.

I tried throwing treats in there for her to find, giving her a kong with kibble/peanut butter, toys, even throwing treats in there. When I feed her in there she would rather not eat, or she takes a kibble in her mouth and carries it just outside of the crate to eat it.

It seems nothing works except letting her run around the house while we are gone, but then I spend all day thinking she might eat a wire or shoes or something and get hurt.

Any ideas? Since we have had her a week her little voice has grown so much it's really loud now!

Our Abby is now 4 months old and she loves her crate. I am at home all day which is an advantage,but I leave the door open on her crate when we are at home. She goes in there to take naps on her own. To get her use to it I would throw her favorite toy in it and make a game out of it by playing with her,never locking the gate behind her. That way she could run in and out and feel comfortable. When we leave she barks a little but then stops after a few minutes. At night she sleeps by us. Just a little spoiled.....works well for us though and she loves it! Good luck......

 

[sherryberry]

'Watch me' to get out of crate?

Lady had progress... sort of... we have been leaving the door open on the crate and last night after going outside she actually came in and laid down in it for the first time!!! She of course didn't stay there for long though!
We keep her behind a new tall babygate with vertical bars now to be her area when we have to be gone for more than 3 hours while we are at work. She is fine eating in there now, since we keep the door open when we are home, and walking in to just check out the area, but STILL stresses out and is covered in saliva when we get back. Same thing with the crate, she will still bark bark bark the entire time we are gone. I throw treats in there and toys in there all day randomly and she doesn't have a problem with going in and coming out.

If we leave the house while she is loose running around she doesnt mind at all!!! is this really separation anxiety if she doesn't have a problem then? It seems like it's just a barrier issue... like she wants it her way or no way.

Anyways... is it bad if she learned 'watch me' at her 1st week of puppy class, and when she is barking and carrying on for 30+ minutes in her crate that I give her that command and when she stares at me and quiets down I let her out after 30 seconds?

*she is in there while I'm at home because she starts up before I wake up (even tho she has 2 night potty breaks) and I can't let her out until she quiets!!!

 

[kathysboxer]

It almost sounds to me like she has claustraphobia (sp?). Not too sure what to do to get her to stop barking. Not sure if a "quiet" command would work. Someone will chime in with a few suggestions.
But good job getting her to go in for a little bit
You could also get an old shirt of yours and put in the crate with her. It would have your scent and may calm her down a little too.