Night 2: advice on crate and preventing seperation anxiety

[marleymoss]

Hi,

We bought our 8 week old puppy home yesterday and last night was rough. I expected it to be rough, but worried that I am doing more harm than good. Last night I put him in his crate and he yelled with no let up for 2 hours. Then he went quiet for a few seconds but started again. I went into the living room when he was quiet to take him out for a toilet break, but he already poo'd. Anyway, I thought this time I would lie on the sofa telling him sssshh with my hand at the crate to keep him calm, which he settled easier. I am guessing I will do the same but bring upto bed this time in his crate.

The kids go back to school in 2 weeks and I return in 2.5 weeks to work. He will be left 2-3 times a week from 8-4:00 with a dog walker coming in. I have tried today to get him used to his crate but he hates it and screams. We stand outside the room but he won't quiet down if he does its seconds so I let him out on this quiet break. I also worry that he doesn't recognise quiet that gets him out. I need him to be used to his own company for end of school holidays. He loves constant attention and sleeps on our laps. I feed him his dinner in his crate and he may walk in there and quickly jumps out in case I close the door. I have tried the treats but I don't think he gets it.

I am having difficulty dividing his crate. It's 36" crate.

Allowing him on the sofa does this cause problems with pecking order. He adores the kids, but shakes when my husband goes near him.

Any advice would be great i don't want to do this wrong, but the articles I read doesn't seem to work I.e leave in crate for a few mins and come back in a few mins when quiet. Perhaps its too early but I have also read start straight away so he doesn't get confused.

Thanks love to hear your views.

 

[prittiegirl]

Crating overnight at the beginning was torture in our house for the first week because I wanted my girl to be independent from the start and had her in the living room. She screamed nightly. Best move I made was after said week of torture... I moved her kennel in beside my side of the bed. She wimpered twice the first night and I shushed her and she went to sleep.

We have been incredibly fortunate to have never had issues since.

I kept her in our room for a few months... Much longer than I had ever planned on, but I felt like I needed to wait until she seemed ready to be out on her own...

Also, the leaving the crate thing did NOT work for me. I had to "break the rules" and what I did was get her to into the crate and then sit in front of it with my back to her (not always with the door shut) - no sound other than shushing a wimper, wait for her to settle down completely (lying down AND being calm) and then let her back out. Repeat! Then repeat and delay the time before she gets out, then repeat and go quickly grab a book or something and come right back then grab a couple of things and come back, etc.

I know it's really hard. I hope you have better luck tonight.

Also, if she is afraid of her kennel (getting in on her own kinda stuff) you can work up to getting her into it by taking the lid and door off. If this is an issue, write back and I'll let you know what I did. My method is just my own made up thing, but was successful for us.

As far as your husband goes, that's one that will probably come around as they bond... Kinnon is scared when certain men come at her wanting to pet her head and face. She is better if they ignore her and she can just get used to them being around. Treats are also a good idea. Your husband could give your pup a treat without any expectation for social interaction. Repeat this so that he can be associated with something great and then you can work up to the social side of things!

 

[Demismom]

Here's what we're doing

I couldn't sleep, nobody could, so what we did was put the crate in the bathroom and leave the door open, but lock her in the bathroom at night with a puppy pad to piddle on. I'd say 99% of the time she piddles on the pad if she does go at all. As for the crating, she'll cry now, but not like the 2 hours she did at first, maybe 30 minutes at most AND in the mornings when I'm taking a shower, I'll find her sleeping in her crate!!!!! I'm so happy she feels comfortable enough to do that.