Crying in crate

[CJnNW]

We have a 8 week old boxer that is fine sleeping/ napping in her crate. When she is awake during the day she cries and barks even when we are home. We have been crate training for a week now and some days are ok but others are not. Wondering how long should we expect her to be upset in her crate when she is awake. She doesn't really like treats or the kong yet. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.

 

[dharmadoodle]

I would let her walk about with you while you are at home, & then just put her down for naps every so often. She probably wants to be near you, & you have more chance of potty training her if she's out of the crate.

 

[joe442]

I have the same problem with crying and yapping in the crate. I even have an exercise pen I put around the crate and extended the confined area, which takes up about half the kitchen, when we are home and he still cries and wants constant attention. He will be 10 weeks old this Sunday.

 

[ehayes21]

Awh...yes, these are FUN times. Every baby is different in adjusting, Rowdy took forever to get used to his crate. But they are babies!! Patience and Consistency are my two words of advice. You have to ignore the cries, even if it tears your heart out, but they eventually adjust and quiet down. Rowdy wouldn't even touch his treats or Kong until he was comfortable with being in his crate. I have to second what dharmadoodle said, you should definitely let him follow you around when you are home. I attached Rowdy to me with a 6ft leash when I was home...makes catching the accidents ALOT quicker! Also gets them used to the leash! Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[My Samson]

I know it's tough...but patience is the key. When we first got Samson, he would cry for a good 15 minutes in his crate until he would tire himself out. The only suggestion I can think of is to try not to fawn over her when she is crying.

 

[Lou.ise]

I am having the same problem with 11 week old Lola I only want her to go in the crate when I am not home (which is not often approx 3hrs through out the week) but even though she has been toilet training all day she poos in her crate within 3 minutes of being in there I take her out clean her and crate then in she goes and does it all over again and the cycle continues.............
I do know that the breeder worked and left the pups in a crate in their own dirt until she came home!!! Trying to train Lola now is a nightmare!!
she thinks it is normal.
I have taken the crate into my bedroom even though she sleeps in a bed next to mine during the night and is fine (she never messes in my room) and I thought it my settle her. She sleeps on a bed downsairs during the day and we are working really hard with the toileting.
Determination and patience is what I keep telling myself!!!!!

 

[csullivan]

Hogan stills cries in his crate and he is 14 wks today. During the night he does okay, but we had to move the crate next to our bed to get any rest at night. We tried the basement, then the spare room and our last attempt was our bedroom, which has worked a lot better. He likes the closeness. As for during the day, he hates the crate. When he sees that we are getting ready to go, he runs from us and makes every attempt to escape, and as we leave we hear him crying. I think its going to take time. We have even tried his kong, but he is not a fan at this point.

 

[ehayes21]

I am having the same problem with 11 week old Lola I only want her to go in the crate when I am not home (which is not often approx 3hrs through out the week) but even though she has been toilet training all day she poos in her crate within 3 minutes of being in there I take her out clean her and crate then in she goes and does it all over again and the cycle continues.............
I do know that the breeder worked and left the pups in a crate in their own dirt until she came home!!! Trying to train Lola now is a nightmare!!
she thinks it is normal.
I have taken the crate into my bedroom even though she sleeps in a bed next to mine during the night and is fine (she never messes in my room) and I thought it my settle her. She sleeps on a bed downsairs during the day and we are working really hard with the toileting.
Determination and patience is what I keep telling myself!!!!!

What strikes me is the fact that she is going IMMEDIATELY when you put her in the crate. She may have a little separation anxiety going on. Is there a room that you can block off and puppy proof for when you leave? Like your kitchen? Depending on the size of her crate you could even leave it in the room you have blocked off and make it all cozy, leave the door open and lay some puppy pads or newspaper outside of it for her to go potty in. That way she doesn't have to sit in her mess and would more than likely go and snooze in her crate.
Just some thoughts.

 

[CJnNW]

Thanks for all the replys. She is doing better and now there times I can't get her to come out of her crate.
We do keep her at night in our room and during the day we move the crate to the living/kitchen area so she can go in and out- that has worked better too. It still tears my heart out to hear her cry when she realizes that we are gone.

 

[ehayes21]

I am glad to hear she is doing better. It does tear your heart out to hear them yelp like that. Rowdy was AWFUL, it literally sounded like he was in severe pain, like he was being strangled, his cries were so bad. I felt so awful, I expected Animal Control to drop by...but he finally got it!
Enjoy your baby, she's a cutie!!!!