More questions on crate training

[mmbrinkman]

Hey everyone.

My husband and I have decided to crate train our new little pup. The pup is doing well with the potty training but I don't think he likes his crate at all! He hates to go in his crate when he is suppose to. He cries and cries until he is so exhausted he falls asleep. My husband found that by sitting by the crate the dog would settle down faster but i am not sure that is a positive reinforcment for the dog. We feed him in his crate, we try to say "good boy" when he is quite in the crate (which is not often), we leave treats in his crate to coax him in, and we leave the crate open when he is playing around the house. I am just wondering how long it takes for the dogs to take to their crates. Is there somthing else I should be doing so he is happier?
Also he HATES to be in his crate at night. He wakes up about every hour and whines until my husband gets up. Husband will take the dog outside bring him back in put him in his crate and sit by it, wait till dog calms down then come to bed. An hour later it is the same thing. At about 2:00 a.m. husband gives up and brings the puppy to bed!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!! My husband says he CAN'T ignore the dog, but I know that we are suppose to. I need help. If anyone can ease my worries about crate training that would be fabulous. I also have a question about leashes but I am going to read some of the other posts to see if I can answer my own questions with previous coments. If not, I will be posting about a leash question. Thanks all!!!!!!
~Exhausted but happy new momma

 

[Little Turk]

This is my first boxer dog and I'm having similar problems as you are. Biggest thing would be not to take him out when he whines. I put Turk in his crate at night and keep telling him "good night" over and over. Even getting him in the crate is a battle.

I wouldn't recommend taking him out when he whines, esp not bringing him to bed. I would think that only tells the dog he has to scream his head off in order to go out. My pup used to scream for 20-30 min solid and then give up and go sleep. Over the past few nights he seems to be getting a little better with how long he screams before he passes out.

I've also had a problem with waking up at 5am to take him out to pee and having him calm down to go back to sleep. Once he pees in the morning he's ready to play and go bonkers. What I did this morning was after I put him back in I waited for about 15 minutes of him screaming, let him out, promptly put him on a leash, picked him up and walked out to the yard and stood there holding he leash so he had a short tether, the whole time not saying a word. After he sat down in the yard, showing that he didn't have to go potty I brought him back in and immediately put him back in his crate. He screamed again for another 15 minutes and I repeated the same thing. After about an hour later and 4-5 times off this it seemed to click with him that "Hey....all this barking stuff is only getting me a potty break, no playing or anything :( " and the final time he was put back in the crate he just laid down and went to sleep.

 

[whosierbabe]

Yeah crate training is tricky. I grew up with dogs and we started them in crates from the start. All I can say is that you have to ignore them when they whine. It's like kids throwing tantrums- all you can do is ignore them and they'll eventually get the message.

My pup wasn't crate trained immediately and I got him when he was nearly 1 year old. Let's just say that he's not exactly fond of it either. : P I've had him for 6 weeks now and he's getting used to it. He only protests every once in a while, so it's getting better with time. Hang in there everyone! It does get better.

 

[mmbrinkman]

Thanks for your response!! I am glad I am not the only person out there having this issue!! I love my new baby but he is driving me just a little nuts!! Thanks for your advice I will try to implement those things you said. Let me know how things go for you. I am about 3 days into this whole parenting thing!! GOOD LUCK TO YOU!! Uh oh sounds likes someone needs a potty break!!

 

[mmbrinkman]

Things are going good here today. We put him in his crate last night and he stayed there ALL NIGHT!! We took him to the bathroom once and that was it! YAY!!!!! It is so hard to ignore the crying but it is so worth it. I got a great night sleep and I feel refreshed!! Ready to take on a new day. Thank you all for your advice. I will keep you posted on how he continues to take to his crate.!!

 

[kimberk]

We are going on 2 wks now with our little puppy and he is now getting quite used to the crate. Although the 1st week was pretty tough on both of us. But because this is our 2nd boxer I already knew that this was how I wanted to go about training him. The first few nights Ozzy screamed, yipped and barked, trying to get us to come get him. And as hard as it was to do, we left him alone, because I did not want to teach him that if he barks or cries enough, we will run to his side. We did set the alarm very early to take him out for a potty break. But it is paying off..... just yesterday I was playing with him, looked away, and he disappeared on me....I found him curled up in his Kennel sleeping. Evidently, he decided it was nap time. So just keep at it!

 

[boxrloveer]

We crate trained Zeus too. Like the others ignore the whining and don't take him out. What helped us was putting a blanket over one side of it, so he couldn't see us walking around, he would then quiet down and go to sleep. Wake up in the morning, go potty and go back to sleep till like 8:00AM.

 

[graciesmomtw]

When we first got Gracie May we were not sure about crate training, but after the first night we went and got her crate. It was the best decision that we could have made. Just knowing that she is safe and not able to get into trouble makes for a better night sleep.

At first, she wasn't sure about the crate, but now she goes in and takes her naps during the day and even goes in on her own to sleep for the night around 10:00. All we have to do is shut the door and she sleeps for the night. Sometimes she has accidents in the crate, usually around 3 in the morning so we have to work on stopping that. Usually we get up and take her outside and then strait back in the crate.

With time and patience they will learn that the crate is a safe and comfortable place to be.