Crate training 8 week old (things to do and not do?)

[awoww]

Hi there! We have a 42 inch wired crate with a training divider for our 8 week old female.
it is our 1st night with our boxer and at first she did not really like the crate but after a couple hours she has been napping out in the living room and we would lay her in the crate (which is in the room next to us) and she would nap there, we would keep the door slight open for her. (Not sure if we should just lock it or not?)

We eventually just moved her wired crate next to our bed ( advised from reading from the forums)

So far she does not mind sleeping in it at all.

My questions are:

Should i keep the door shut and locked while she sleeps?
If so, if she starts whimpering and whining, when do i open it? and let her out?

How do i get her to actually walk inside her crate and sleep in it ? instead of carrying her while she is passed out and putting her inside

For the next 2 weeks it will be my boyfriend and I having full supervision. Then after that we will both start work and would have to leave our puppy (only sat and sun) at home un supervised. That time will stress us out the most since we do not feel comfortable leaving her in a crate for 4 hours. But any advise at all???? (note: we do have a chihuahua as well, but that is a whole other ballpark)

If you guys have any more advice about crate training and leaving her alone in the crate. We would appreciate your input!

 

[ScoutLove]

When our Scout was little we would get her into her kennel with a treat all the while telling her to go night night. Once she went into the kennel she got the treat. My sister in law used a favorite toy to get them to go into the kennel. Eventually they will go in the kennel on their own. With Scout it got to where we would tell her to go night night and she would go in there and open the unlatched door with her nose and go on in. She still got the occasional treat for going in. We always locked the door behind her. The expection was if she went in there on her own because she didn't feel good or was scared, then she could come out whenever she wanted.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Ditto the above. I not only use the crate for potty training in the beginning but then also for safety, so leaving it open would defeat both purposes if I was going to be gone or sleeping. So I also say latch it unless puppy goes in there voluntarily.

On leaving for 4 hours, that is too long at this age. Do you have a friend or neighbor who could come by once in the middle so that puppy is only in the crate for 2 hours, then let out to potty, play and maybe eat and then put back in for the last 2 hours? I wouldn't leave her free to roam the house, for safety as well as potty issues, but 4 hours is too long. A friend, neighbor, or neighborhood teen wishing to make a few extra bucks on the weekend may be a good place to start for the days you guys work.

Good luck!

 

[elgerdes]

I am currently crate training my pup Zoe. Have always crate trained my pups, always will. Just what I believe in. What I'm doing is when she isn't super rambunctious, bring her to the kennel and lead her in with super yummy treats. It is partially blocked off to fit her size. The command we chose for her to go in was, "bed." So as she enters I tell her, "Bed. Good Bed!!" with lots of enthusiasm. I lead her as far back as possible with the treat and she gets it. Usually she then looks at me like, "Now what?" I continue praising and I give her treats. I want her to know this is a good place. Then, after 5 seconds of not trying to leave, she gets a treat. I have done this for longer periods. So far, the door has been open the whole time.

Done a couple round of door shut, and give her treats if she doesn't cry. I always open the door BEFORE she cries so she doesn't think crying=being let out. I know eventually she will be in there and will probably cry. I attempt to have her associate crate/bed with happy things (praise, treats, Kongs)

Good luck and don't give up!

 

[Mrcapo]

I am trying to crate train my white puppy girl Roxie. At first it was a nightmare but something in her (now shes 12 weeks old) has clicked and its better. And by nightmare I mean pooh everywhere and barking whining none stop.
The main problem we had was at night times so I would be interested to hear what people did at night time as I was/am determined not to let her in the bedroom.

 

[SnowDove]

I not only use the crate for potty training in the beginning

How?? I'm very confused... What is a normal schedule for crate training to aid in potty training? (I am home all day with her for the next month.)

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

How?? I'm very confused... What is a normal schedule for crate training to aid in potty training? (I am home all day with her for the next month.)

Anytime you cannot physically watch the pup they go in the crate so that they do not have the chance to potty in the house (that's the way we did it). There were times that I had to go to the store for grocery shopping or make dinner, pick my son up from school real quick, take a shower, go to the bathroom, put laundry away, sleep, etc where I was not able to physically watch him 100% of the time to keep accidents from happening so those were the times he went in the crate. I also work from home so there were times that I HAD to sit down for 2 hours and work at one stretch so he was crated then as well. When I went to bed at night or took a nap in the afternoon, etc. Basic things like that.