Crate training, going poorly

[matrok]

Oooo do DH and I remember those days. Leila had this cry that DH imitates from time to time and we laugh now, but then....it was heartbreaking. Stay firm and make sure that the crate is not isolated from you. This is the key. We made the mistake of setting up the crate in a separate room and it only made the problem much worse. 1st time dog owners....didn't know any different. Our parents have schnauzers and they crate trained like a dream. We did everything they told us to do and none of it worked for a boxer. Just remember that it is okay to try different ways to crate train. What works for one may not for another.

 

[ncaton]

Our Cassie cried a lot when we first got her, but we then draped a bed sheet over the top of her crate and she immediately stopped. We did this for the first 6 onths (or until she dragged the sheet into her kennel) and all has been good since. Our new little fella whines horribly right now, but he is getting better each night, so we are not doing the sheet thing, but you may want to give it a shot. Good luck.

 

[Deacon]

Sarge cried horribly thru the night when I first brought him home too. Thought it was going to drive me insane. I found on here that someone had laid down beside their puppies crate so the puppy didn't feel alone. So off I went to grab my pillow and blanket. I laid on the floor in front of his cage for what seemed like an eternity before he fell asleep. I would then get up and go to bed. This went on for about 3 days, but I wasn't giving in....I knew the safest place for him was in his crate. I do believe it was his 4th night with us that he slept peacefully in his crate. Hang tight, the whining and crying will come to an end, even though it tests your nerves.

I wanted to say THANK YOU for posting this. I read your post and tried it, and it worked like a charm although i ran my pup around for an hour started to put him to rest on his favorite blanket. then when he was almost twitching i woke him up disassembled the crate laid him in there with his toys and blanket. he passed out and i assembled the crate and he cried at first so i lied there with my pillow and blanket till he passed out and then moved to my bed. took about 10 minutes from assembly to me getting into my bed for sleep.

 

[Tinarmrz]

I really want to thank all of you. I have been putting a blanket over the crate, I have been from the begining because that is how I did my Schnauzers. This morning when I put her in her crate while she was napping I left the cover off and guess what no crying, well almost no crying she cried a little and then stopped when she saw me. I guess she wanted to see everything going on. I was thinking about everything you guys said about them all being different and how to keep them near by, then I realized maybe she just wanted to see me and no I was near. So tonight when she goes to bed with my son I will put the crate next to his bed so she can see him. I thought her being near my Schnauzers in a crate would work, but I guess she likes us more than the Schnauzers.LOL I can't believe she is in her crate right now and no crying. I am so relieved, I can't even tell you.
Tina

 

[Indy's mom]

Good luck with it tonight! My fingers are crossed for you.

 

[long shank]

Hi im from Australia,
i don't understand why you put them in crates, is it just at night? or when you go to work?
Im interested why ?

 

[Indy's mom]

I had never used a crate with a dog until I got my first boxer. Wow, what a difference. We use a metal crate. It was initially used for times we were not home, house-breaking and bed-time (until house-breaking was finished). The theory as I've always understood it is that the crate gives the dog a safe place, a 'den' to go to. Indy is our 3rd boxer. Each of ours has loved his crate. Rocky, Rascal and now Indy, all their crates as their favorite place to sleep at night, as well as a frequent place to nap during the day. While raising our children, the crate was completely off limits to the kids. If the dog was in there, it was time to completely leave him alone until he chose to come out. In that way, the dog could go somewhere to get a break from a houseful of insanity! It was good for the dogs as well as the kids.

The crate is terrific for house-breaking because most dogs do not want to 'dirty' the place where they sleep. Keep the crate not much bigger than the puppy needs to turn around. So, if you potty outside prior to sleep time, put your pup into their crate to sleep, and then outide again immediately when he wakes up, it really helps with house-breaking.

We have always made the crate a positive place for our dogs to be. Even when they first came home. Warm, soft blanket. Treats in there. Just a happy place. We never scold a pup and then put him in. Even when it's used as a time-out spot, for instance, Indy was a big time barker for a while. If he didn't want to stop when told or be redirected, we would simply tell him to 'go to his room'. He would quietly go into his crate. He would lay down there and wait until he was called back out. Sometimes 2 minutes, sometimes longer. The benefits are many. We also have asked Indy or our past dogs to go to their rooms when we had house guests that weren't comfortable with dogs. Since our dogs were crate trained and LIKED their crates, they would simply go and stay there until called out.

Many people do crate their dogs whenever they cannot be home to supervise their dog. For a dog that has a hard time staying out of mischief or suffers from seperation anxiety they are truly life-savers. For both dog and owner.

Sorry, I went on and on. Hope this helped to explain a little. The crate is not a cruel thing at all, and truly once past house-breaking many dogs generally use theirs when they choose, but they really like them.