I dont know what to do???

[Shawn-NJC]

I just got an 8 week old puppy 3 days ago. 3 days isnt enough to crate train for the new pup. He already goes in there freely to retrieve toys and treats, and occasionally sleeps in there, but the second I close the door he starts to pout and whine really bad. He jumps all over the place, even when I put a treat in there for him, he ignores it and continues to cry. Tomorrow I have to work and the rest of the week, I have someone comming to walk, feed, and play with him during the day, but its only for 2 hours. Does anyone know what I can do to calm him in the crate while Im gone, I feel sooooo bad, but he cant roam the house by himself. The crate is one with metal wire, so he can see all around him. Help!!!

 

[Mama_Zookeeper]

Getting up at least 1 hour early to play & exercise your pup will insure he is tired when he gets crated. Hopefully he will sleep most of his alone time away. Also you can put one of your dirty/used t-shirts for your pup to sniff while in his crate, this should comfort him. All new pups fuss, but once it is quiet for a while he should get the hint you are not there and settle down.

Good Luck! Dora

 

[Shawn-NJC]

Thanks for the advise! I planned on getting up early to tire him out a bit. He sleeps about 70-80 percent of the day, so thats good. Another question, I have an adjustable crate, being that I have to work, should I leave the whole crate open to him and slowly adjust it to the size of him (by making it smaller and smaller, until just the right size)?, just so he doesnt feel sooo confined right away? Im sure he'll go to the bathroom in there being a new young puppy, but I dont want him to think by having a small area thats its ok to be one with his feces and pee by laying in it. He's been really good so far about going outside in his designated spot, only 4 accidents in the house so far. Thanks for everyones help.

 

[MeganMK]

No, you definitely want to minimize the space he has in there. He should have only enough room to stand up and turn around. By doing this, it will encourage him to NOT go to the bathroom, because he won't want to lay in it. I'm not saying he still won't have accidents, he will. But if you leave him with the whole crate, he will go to the bathroom at one end, and lay at the other. We found with our puppy too, that putting a towel or blanket in there encouraged him to go to the bathroom on it, then shove it in a corner. When he didn't have anything in there, he wouldn't go to the bathroom as much.

Good luck with your new pup! I know listening to the crying is heartbreaking, but they adjust pretty quickly. It will help greatly that you have somebody coming by to play with him. You might find that it's helpful to come home at lunch and let him out to play too.

 

[Valantar]

Congratulations on your new puppy! Samson made awful noises the first week in the crate. He now runs back to the crate before I am even ready to leave for work. I only had a few days also before I went back to work. We would put him in the crate while we were there and increase the time he was in the crate. Don't open the door while your puppy is crying or carrying on or he will think that is what it takes to get out!!

We used the divider and adjusted the size as he grew. Definately don't give him the whole crate until he is potty trained.

Good luck! I'm sure your puppy will adjust in no time at all!

 

[Tatertot]

On the other hand, if you are going to be gone allll day long, you should give him some space. You cant expect him to hold it longer than reasonable and it wouldnt be very nice to force him to sit in it when you know he cant hold it anyway.

Im not sure how many hours you will be gone though, so cant say if you should give the extra room or not. But I think if I remember right, puppies can hold 1 hour for each month plus 1. So 3 month old can hold for 4 hours. But accidents happen

 

[Shawn-NJC]

Thanks for the responses!! Today I left him in the crate, crying as I left the room, he was sleeping when I got home, but made a mess of his accidents, so I had to wash him and the crate down. Im not going back to work till next week, so Ill have some time to keep extending his time in there, starting with 1 hour from the time he stops whining, then so on and so on, the whole time me not being in the room. I do have someone comming for 2 hours a day when I go back to work. It breaks my heart to hear him cry, but like everyone said he'll just get used to me being gone and being in the crate. Thanks againhttp://www.boxerworld.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif
Smile

 

[KonaKoffe]

Kona used to cry, bark and fuss when we put her in the crate. We had no choice so we just ignored her and left for work. Eventually, she got used to the routine and stopped the fussing. Tough Love!

 

[Theo]

I could describe my dog just as you describe yours: very nice, very few accidents, doesn't mind the crate but can't sleep in it. He is 10 weeks old and I've had him for 4 days. I've had to listen to his heartbreaking screams and cries for the first 3 nights but as I write to you... he has been and is still silent. Doesn't seem to take very long for him to get addapted. Try to stay with him for 5 mins after you put him in his crate to calm him down, give him his favorite toys, and a t-shirt...
Good luck to you, hopefully he'll get used to his crate soon!!!

 

[fayebay1969]

Buddy is 4 months old now. He doesn't carry on about being crated but he does still pout. When I start putting shoes on or my BF changes into his uniform...the pouting starts. He'll even get back in the bed and act like he's sleeping. He's such a baby!!!