We just got a new boxer puppy named Briggs. He's 8 weeks old, and we are trying to crate train. He crys and barks uncontrolably. We are not sure how long to just let him "cry it out". I don't want to harm him, but I know he needs to learn its ok to be in the crate. We both work, but I do come home during lunch everyday. Today he's in the kitchen with a baby gate blocking the door. The neighbor girl went over to check on him for me and said he was still barking and crying loudly. What can we do. We did not have any trouble with our last boxer, but Briggs is turning out to be quite differant.
Crate Training
- Thread starter aroberts
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We have a similar situation with jobs. We got our Emma at 11 wks and she hated the crate. At first she would bark the whole time we were gone. She finally almost lost her voice because of all the barking. She still barks up a storm when we put her in the crate. We have had her since June 17th and we are still hoping that she will grow accustomed to the crate.
I hope your Briggs gets used to the crate. In our situation, getting her on Saturday and then going to work all day Monday and coming home at lunch time, we didn't have a lot of time to get her used to the crate before she HAD to be in it. This is probably why she hates it so much. She is getting better about the crate, but just very slow going.
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Lori
Emma - black-masked brindle girl, 04-03-00
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Lori
Emma - black-masked brindle girl, 04-03-00
They should eventually get used to it. From talking to different people, I would say 2-4 weeks is the time frame when they start getting used to the cage. This was the case with Maggie. She really doesn't cry in there anymore, but she doesn't have to spend much time in it, and at 3 1/2 months, has made here way into our bed. WHat can I say, who doesn't love cuddling with a puppy.
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Maggie - flashy fawn, born 4/2000, natural ears, part human.
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Maggie - flashy fawn, born 4/2000, natural ears, part human.
B
brindlemom
Guest
Yeah when we got Striker at 8 weeks we thought we'd keep him in the crate at night, and when we're gone. Well we put him in the crate the first night, and he cried and cried. So finally we figured we'd all get more rest if he slept in the bed with us. Well, he's still sleeping in the bed.
During the day when we went to work, (only a few hours) he would be in his crate. Our neighbors informed us that he cried A LOT for the first week or so. I really wanted to stay home from work, I felt so bad leaving him. But he is used to it now, and will just go to sleep. His X-Large crate is big enough for his bed, and lots of toys, so he's not cramped for room.
Everyone told me he would get used to it, and grow to love it. That is the truth.
Good Luck.
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Cindy
Striker's Mom
7 month old Christmas baby, born 12/25/99. Brindle with white "socks", chest, blaze. Cute as can be!!!
During the day when we went to work, (only a few hours) he would be in his crate. Our neighbors informed us that he cried A LOT for the first week or so. I really wanted to stay home from work, I felt so bad leaving him. But he is used to it now, and will just go to sleep. His X-Large crate is big enough for his bed, and lots of toys, so he's not cramped for room.
Everyone told me he would get used to it, and grow to love it. That is the truth.
Good Luck.
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Cindy
Striker's Mom
7 month old Christmas baby, born 12/25/99. Brindle with white "socks", chest, blaze. Cute as can be!!!
I realize everybody can't do this, but I hated to leave the puppies when I went to work for 2 hours, so what I did was leave them with my parents, just for their first month or so. I felt they needed to have constant human contact. Samson (1year) loved his crate from the start, I would babygate him in our room at night and give him a choice of our bed, his crate, or his doggie bed, never had a problem. Athena (6 months) totally different puppy, she hated the crate and she had to sleep in there because she gets into everything. After about a week or so of crying all night, I finally just put Samson near her and she never cried again, now when they both see me getting my shoes on for work they both march right over to their crates ready for their 2 hour nap while I am away. It does get better, I think every dog is different.
Thanks for all your comments. Its nice to know Briggs is a normal Boxer puppy. We had one of his older brothers, (he was hit by a car the week of his 1st birthday) he was totally differant, the first night he cryed 10 min. and we never heard another peep. He loved his crate, and went right in. Thanks again for all the encourageing words and ideas.
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aroberts
Mom of Briggs 8 weeks, flashy brindle boy!
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aroberts
Mom of Briggs 8 weeks, flashy brindle boy!
Linda
Boxer Insane
It took Bailey over a month to get used to her crate. I was persistent and consistent and kept putting her in for longer periods each time.
She finally stopped whining and barking, but she would drool horribly. It took several weeks for her to get over that.
Another tip is to make sure that coming out of the crate is not a big deal. When you get home, quietly open the door and let him out. Make it a non-event. And only open the crate if he's quiet, if only for a few seconds. You don't want him to learn that barking and whining will result in the door opening.
Good luck! I think crate training was one of the hardest part of puppyhood for us.
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Linda
Remy -DOB 6/2/92; white male w/brindle patches;
Bailey - DOB 10/16/99; flashy brindle female
Shannon - 1992?-12/7/99 Flashy fawn; We miss her!
She finally stopped whining and barking, but she would drool horribly. It took several weeks for her to get over that.
Another tip is to make sure that coming out of the crate is not a big deal. When you get home, quietly open the door and let him out. Make it a non-event. And only open the crate if he's quiet, if only for a few seconds. You don't want him to learn that barking and whining will result in the door opening.
Good luck! I think crate training was one of the hardest part of puppyhood for us.
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Linda
Remy -DOB 6/2/92; white male w/brindle patches;
Bailey - DOB 10/16/99; flashy brindle female
Shannon - 1992?-12/7/99 Flashy fawn; We miss her!
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