Crate Training

[Polarbug]

We are new to this forum and were just wondering what every ones thoughts are. Our Polar is 10 weeks old. He slept in a soft sided crate with his siblings. When we brought him home we have one of the metal crates. We tried putting it in our room, and letting him sleep there. Well eventually the crate made its way to the living room with very little in the way of him being "crate trained". He loves to sleep in it, although prefers the heat register. The problem starts when we shut the door. He goes nuts!!! Howling, barking, whining, acting crazy!! To the point that we were scared for his mental and physical state. Bear in mind we are new puppy parents. Well we took a step back and started with the crate again. Got him happy to sleep in there, etc. Again if you shut the door when he is aware/awake, he goes "crazy". One of us is sleeping on the couch in the same room as him, with one eye on him, and the other asleep. The door stays unlocked on the crate. Needless to say we aren't in the best mental or emotional state. We knew there would be lack of sleep, but just wondering how everyone feels we should move forward from here. Should we move the crate as far from our bedroom as possible and let him cry/howl/whine, or slowly move away from the crate, back into our nice cumfy bed with the crate door locked. He really is happy sleeping in there, with or without us around, just as long as he isn't locked in. Thanks in advance for all the support!!!

 

[mrcllusb]

I know when we crate trained our boxer Chase he threw a fit at first,but if you give in to their hollering and noise making that is what they will do to get out if you let them out everytime.We would only let him out once he settled down and we would praise him for doing so.Start off with short periods of time and with training get a lil longer as time goes on and you should start t see results.

 

[DiverDiva]

You could also try closing the door for 1 second, and give him a treat before he can howl, then open the door. You have to be fast, at least in the beginning. Do it enough times so that he runs into the crate for the treat. Work up to two seconds of quiet, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 1 minute, and so on. He has to be quiet in the crate with the door closed to get his prize, and you have to be fast enough enough and smart enough to reward him before he makes noise. Then try putting him in the crate, give him a kong with some goodies in it that will take a long time to eat, and close the door. Crate with closed door = nummies!

 

[boxerchickie]

when we first got kilo she slept with us...until I got tired of getting up and letting her out to go to the potty. then the crate training starting working. Now she sleeps in the bed with us or on her bed beside me. She never pottys in the house though.

 

[Polarbug]

Well just an update. We are on night two and so far so good. I guess some of the positive reinforcement we did last week helped. Although it was unconventional, we were able to both sleep in our bed, with him in another room, last night. He cried for about 20-30 mins first. Then at 12 when I took him out it was 15 maybe, then at 3am it was maybe 5mins. When my wife left for work this morning, I don't even know if he cried. He wasn't crying when we got up to let him out, and yes he won't come out until he stops. He barely cried 5 mins tonight when my wife put him in. When I got home from work, he didn't even seem to stir. I figure I will get him up once tonight to go potty tonight. Thank you for the replies, and I guess I jumped the gun in asking since he seems to be doing great. I hope he doesn't regress, but he did still nap in there on his own free will today, so he isn't scared of the crate.