Need advice on issue w/crate training

[boxerluver04]

Hello! I am a new boxer mom and have a question about crate training. We brought Leyla home a couple of weeks ago and absolutely love her to death!!! She is 10 weeks old. We are facing issues with putting her in a crate when we are gone and I am a little confused on what the best way is to handle this. I am a full time student and my husband works a 12 hour shift 4 days a week. When we are both gone Leyla is at home from 7am to 5pm. I have a large crate and for the first few days we put her in there with a few of her toys and food and water. She would cry when I left which I thought was normal for a puppy who is getting adjusted to new things. However, I felt so guilty that I went out and bought a baby gate and put it up so that she can stay in the kitchen when we are gone. This way she has a little more room. But, when I came home today she had knocked the gate over and made a mess of the house. I just don't know what the best way is to handle this. I want her to be as happy as possible when we are gone but I can't have her messing things up when we are gone. I know that is a long time for her to be alone but until I graduate we must deal with it and handle it the best way possible. ANY advice would be appreciated!!!

 

[Gypszy60]

crating

Please do not feel guilty about crating her. That is the safest place for her to be. The crying will stop-When I crate my boy I give him a kong-fill it with some peanut butter and a few pieces of cheese and it will occupy her for a long time trying to get the goodies out of the kong. You can get them at any pet store. I dont put any other toys in because I am afraid he will choke if he tears something up and I dont put food in there either. She will get used to the crate and you will have peace of mind knowing she is safe.

good luck with your baby

 

[Grimmja]

i would also advise to use a partition in your crate, you said it was large right? they should only have enough room to turn around and lie down. any more and they will likely use 1 half for bathroom and other half to sleep in. the idea is they don't usually soil their den. but at this age, you can only expect them to hold it 1 hour for every month, then plus 1 hour, so 3 hours for your 2 month old pup, right? i'm guessing you'll get advice from others about coming home to break up the time, or hiring a pet sitter, and i agree. that's just a very long time to leave a puppy that young--for now at least. it won't be long until you can build up to that amount of time. good luck, my advice is to set clear rules about the crate from day 1...it's a safe place and fun place to be, and there is absolutley NO attention if they are crying, and certainly no lettin gout until quiet. we didn't do this well and we are now battling with a separation anxiety issue that is a real bugger to get rid of. hindsight is always so clear...good luck~!

 

[Gypszy60]

crating

Another thought-sometimes if you put a blanket over the top of the crate -for some reason my boy felt more secure if it was a little darker. She will learn to like it after a while and it is much safer than chewing on wires or getting into things that can hurt her or make her very sick so stick with it and you will see how quick she adjusts.

 

[Oscar's Mom]

I agree with the other posters. The kong is a great idea and keeps their mind off of the fact that you are leaving (at least for a little while).

When we first started crating Oscar I too felt guilty about it but it really is the safest place for them to be. The crying will stop and your pup will get used to staying in the crate while you are gone.

Myra

 

[gmacleod]

Crate training your puppy is always a good idea. You never know in the future whether she may need to be crated - overnight at the vet, for travelling or whatever. In those situations, if she's used to and happy in a crate, it can really reduce the stress of those situations. Crating can also be a great tool for potty training puppies, relying on their preference not to soil their bed to encourage them to let you know when they need out. But that does rely on you being able to give the pup regular and frequent potty breaks.

You've said that you have to leave your puppy alone from 7-5 during the week. Is there anyone who can come to let her out for a potty break? Hire a dog walker, or look into doggy daycare? Obviously there's no way a 10 week old puppy can go all day without a potty stop - in fact she'll be close to a year old before she can hold on that long.

Unless you can find some means of giving her the potty breaks she needs during the day, then I would not be inclined to crate her. She's GOT to go - no choice. So crating her without potty breaks would simply teach her to go potty in her crate - and the poor pup will then have to sit in it. If this is the situation, then I think you have the best idea in leaving her in a puppy-proofed room with a puppy-pad or some newspaper to potty on.

As you've already found out, baby gates can be knocked over. You can get the sort that screw into the wall, but many pups soon figure out how to climb over. Have you considered somewhere like the bathroom (if you can puppy-proof it) where you can shut the door?

 

[boxbud]

I crate mine. I had my mom come over and let him out once a day until he could hold it all day. At 8 months he could go 10 hours just fine.
I use a stuffed Kong and they are great.
Some area have some pet sitters that can come and let them out for you once a day.
Also you could try doggie day care on some days.
I had kept my first boxer in the laundry room until one day I can home and he had ripped off the wallpaper, dug a hole in the drywall, and pulled insulation out of the wall. Then I went and bought a crate. I learned a very expensive lesson. Now I know to crate my boxers.
Good luck. Whining and crying will stop. Toby did all of that too. Now I tell him "kennel" and put his Kong in there. He goes in most of the time. Once in a while I get a piece of string cheese if he is reluctant- then he goes running in there.

 

[MikeAM]

Give it some time

My boxer girl is only 9weeks old. When I first started crating her she would cry and whine non-stop(at least it felt like it. Now at night and during the day when I crate her she goes in with no problem and hardly any whining!

I would puppy proof the bathroom for her and put some newspaper or training pads down. I'm a new pup owner myself so I can understand what you are going through. Good luck!

Mike