New puppy - crate training/barking all night

[boxerluvr]

HELP!! My husband and I brought home our first "baby" on Friday, Aug. 24th, and we have a few questions that we hope all of you will have some input on . . . our "Jade", who is nine weeks old today, seems to be traumatized by us leaving her in the crate at night, or for any length of time. Mind you, she has only been with us for four days, but she cries, howls and barks so loudly and with such fear in her barks, that I am really feeling guilty.

We live in an apartment complex so keeping her crated at night with this loud howling is quite an issue for us - we don't want our neighbors to complain. Not to mention that she may sleep for 20 minutes or so and then begin again. We hadn't had more than two hours sleep or so until last night, when we allowed her to sleep with us so that we could get a halfway decent night's sleep. My concern, though, is that if we allow her to sleep with us, crating her during the day will be even more traumatizing for her. I took a few days off of work but go back on Friday, so she will be crated for at least four or five hours then, until my husband or I come home for lunch.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions? I don't want her to cry all night long and keep us (and the neighbors) up all night, but I want her to get used to her crate, too. Not to mention that, although I would love to have her sleep with us, eventually she is going to get a LOT bigger . . . nightime is one of the few times hubby and I see each other. Although Jade is, by all accounts, our "child", mommy and daddy like time alone every now and again, so we want her to be used to (and really enjoy) her crate.

Sorry this ended up being so long, but I am *stressed*!! I just want our baby to be happy, and she just sounds so hurt/scared when we put her in the crate, that I feel like I am in some way or another, pushing her away from me. Does anyone out there have a success story that, perhaps, I could try? Thanks! =)

 

[boxerluvr]

P.S.

In case my "regular" email address shows up, I am at my home email address for the next few days, mtjscaccia@columbus.rr.com.

Thanks! =)

 

[JazznChase]

Sorry not much help here-BOTH of mine sleep in my bed...I couldnt resist when they were 8 weeks old..I dont know how you do it!

 

[Boxer Crazy]

When I brought Keisha home and when Travis was first starting to be crate trained , as opposed to being in a pen with his littermates, I placed their small crate on a trunk beside my bed. When they cried I was right there to let them out to go potty. If I knew they didn't need to go out I put my hand in the crate to comfort them (and didn't even have to get out of bed!) until they went back to sleep. I remember falling asleep with my hand in the crate many times. This really worked well for us. I always gave them a little treat each time they went into the crate, except during a middle of the night potty trip. I think when they are so young and recently separated from mom and littermates they are just lonely in a crate by themselves. Just having someone close by seems to comfort them so much. If you don't already have your pup beside your bed you might want to try that. I don't have any other suggestions, but I'm sure some of the others can give you some excellent advice.
Congratulations on your new puppy and good luck with the crate training.

 

[CJ's mom]

I'm not going to be of any help either, just wanted to let you know mine howls all night in the crate too....
And yes, we have HUGE crating issues/problems (day and night). Our pup was fine in the crate originally, our mistake was to let him sleep in the bed with us, now he can't be crated at any time... So if you find a way to keep him crated my suggestion is to keep doing it... good luck... I never found a way to keep mine quiet AFTER he slept in our bed...even though he was fine before...

 

[Monte21]

we put Phoebe in bed

Phoebe didnt like her crate at first either. She would cry and wine and bark and we got no sleep, so we gave in and put her in bed with us, but she HAD to go in her crate during the day while we were gone. She pawed at the door, chewed on the plastic, etc. She was about 10 weeks old then, now she is 18 weeks and she will go in her *box* when we ask her to. She still sleeps with us sometimes unless she is being restless, then its crate time, we have to sleep. And she doesnt mind her crate anymore so its no big deal. If you can tolerate her on the bed you might put her up there so at least you can get some sleep until she is used to her crate during the day. She has never voluntarily gone in her crate yet to nap (like i've heard some people say they will). Good luck.

 

[hrb]

Do you have a blanket or anything from the breeders house? When we got Jackson we had a REAL stinky blanket that had been at the breeders house for 3 weeks. We put the blanket in the kennel and he was fine. Of course we did wait to take him for a walk until right before bed so he was good and tired. He would wake up every couple of hours to go outside but he would go right back to bed (provided you didn't turn on any lights when taking him outside), half of the time I don't even think he was awake when he was outside peeing. We also have his crate right beside the bed and he has only ever made a fuss once or twice in the 2 months we have had him. One time he was carrying on and I rapped on the top of the crate and told him enough and he laid down and went to sleep. Do you have the crate partially blocked off? If you have a full size crate you may want to try that.

I hope one of these works for you.

GOOD LUCK

Heather

 

[leenasmom]

I kept Leena's crate next to my bed until I got Mason. She kept me up all night for a few days, but after that she was okay with it. I just had to keep my hand in her crate for her to lay on.

 

[karan]

We brought Hanna, now 5 months old, home when she was just seven weeks. We had her crate blocked in half with a fitted piece of cut plywood. Also had a diaper that had been with her littermates for a couple of weeks. Still she cried off and on all night long the first several days. We had the crate in our bedroom with us but finally moved it into another room and just left a night light on and an alarm clock ticking. We would take her out every couple of hours at first, but we'd just pick her up, carry her out and then bring her back in the crate. Barely talked to her or comforted her during the night. Well, we did one night, but that seemed to make it worse than ever. After we moved her, it was strictly business. I'd hear her cry and bounce around the crate for what seemed like an eternity, but I held strong about not letting her in our bed. After 4 or 5 days, the crying got less and less. After 7 days, it stopped all together and she's good now about going to her crate when we tell her "night night". I sympathize with you. It's tough to hear them cry when you just want to cuddle with them, but I'd recommend sticking it out a few more nights if you can. Living in an apartment makes it tough, too. Wish I could help more. One tip the trainer told us. When you come home after the dogs been in the crate, ignore her for 5 or so minutes before you let her out, and don't make a big deal about leaving. Just put her in 5-10 minutes before you leave and say a quick goodby when you go. Then they won't associate so much excitement with your comings and goings and it will help prevent all the jumping etc. when you return home. I'm sorry this is so long. Best of luck with your new baby. Let us know how it's going in a few days.

karan

mom to Hanna, 5 month old Brindle, natural ears, docked tail

 

[YourFriendDeb]

We totally lucked out with Legend. We put him in the crate the first night and he cried and howled but only for about 10 minutes. Every night after that....not a peep out of him. I didn't want to start bringing him to bed with us for fear he'd NEVER go into his crate....so we don't even let him in our bedroom (its the cats refuge too)

A friend of mine said she put a big stuffed animal in her puppies crate the first few nights...and that comforted the pup....gave him something to snuggle up against.

I'm afraid I'm not much help either....good luck to you!