Puppy hates crate

[riaxray]

HI all. *yawn* it is 2:30 am and I am reading some info on crate training. Boy this is harder than I thought. We got Dora on Friday and have not had a full night sleep since. She does not like her crate or to be alone at all !!! I am trying to be strong and persistant. She will go in there only if she is first asleep. If she is awake she will cry forever ! I just got her to fall asleep, hopefully I can get some zzzz's now. How long does all this last? She is 8 weeks old. Is there sleep in my future?

Thanks,

Ria

 

[CaptainJack]

Be patient.. there is sleep in your future, I promise. Me, I'm up at 4:30 cause Jak hacked up a wad of toy stuffing ... i wasn't quick enough tonight .. i was on the phone and couldn't get to him in time when he pulled apart his Postal Plaything which is now in doggie toy heaven. But, as for the crate training.. be persistant, it will pay off when you have a dog that can be crated. I can't offer any ideas beyond my post earlier in this thread because I didn't have any problems with Jak taking to his crate. Not sure if it's because I had a very small puppy size crate that for the first few nights i put on my bed right next to then gradually moved it to the floor, or if he's just one of those dogs that doesn't mind the crate. Well, good luck... off to try and catch my own zzz's

 

[lillys7]

We had the same problem and I'm probably jinxing myself but lately he's been good about it. I just put his favorite treats in and pretend like I'm not leaving and he walks right in. Then I praise him and slowly close the door. He's fine after that no crying or anything. Only took 3 months to get there!!!

 

[debers34]

Hang in there!

Ria,

I feel your pain. I brought Fondue home at 9 weeks and the crate appeared to be her enemy...and mine! For two weeks we battled the "I hate this crate" mode. And then, she took to it. Now, when she gets really tired, she goes in to her crate by her own free will. She also lays in there when I am on the computer (if she is not at my feet). One thing that helped a lot was a puppy mate toy that I got at PetSmart. You microwave it and put it in the crate with them. Fondue would hold it in her mouth and "mother" it and it seemed to calm her immensely. My best encouragement is to hang in there. Everyone told me that it would take about two weeks (which seems like eternity when your baby is unhappy) and they were right. It was as if she was marking the days off the calendar and at the magical 2 weeks she was fine.

Deb

 

[paula carter]

just keep trying

Bruce didn't really like his crate when we firstgot him but at night time he just sleeps on the floor in our room in his bed but if his cage is open in the day then he just goes and has a sleep in there at 11 months it's like he feels safe in there. Good Luck

 

[riaxray]

Dora is doing better

HI everyone. Dora is liking her crate better and sleeping much much better. We are having a rough time with house training. I take her out and wait but she never goes, when we come inside as soon as I turn my back she goes on the kitchen floor. I feel so bad for her because she has no idea why that makes me sad. When she does that I say to her "not happy Dora" and she looks at me with those big puppy eyes. I wish I could make her understand.
I also have her crate blocked off with a storage bin, she climbs up on top of the bin and poos. I am trying to figure out a way to block that off better. Silly pup! And one more thing , when do they get used to their leash?

Thanx,
Ria

 

[gmacleod]

Riaxray - I've split your questions off into a separate thread. You're more likely to get useful responses that way than when it's tacked onto someone else's thread.

Anyway, good to hear Dora's doing better with her crate. She's about 10 weeks old now?

As for the potty training, it does take time, vigilence and patience. As I'm sure you realise, baby puppies don't come with any inbuilt notion that they should potty outdoors - and you have to figure that up until coming home with you, she's been able to potty anywhere and anytime she feels the need, with her mother or breeder to clean it up. So the notion of going outdoors only, and when you take her is completely foreign. It does take a little time for them to catch on That is greatly assisted by you keeping an eagle eye on her at any time she's not in her crate. You need to be able to spot her as she's about to go, whisk her outside and praise her madly when she potties there. It's all about creating positive associations in her mind and minimising the chances for her to go inside until the penny drops. Do a search on potty training, and you'll find loads of information that can give you some very helpful hints.

If she's trying to poop in her crate, you probably need to take her out more frequently. At her age, she'll need to urinate every half hour to an hour, and deficate up to five or six times a day.

As for the leash, you can start training her to walk round the house and yard on that now. That could also be helpful with taking her out to potty, especially if she's easily distracted from the 'task at hand' The best way to teach a puppy to walk on a leash is by encouragement (never by pulling). Put the leash on her, then encourage her to follow you - just by voice, with treats or a toy. LOL - peanut butter on a spoon held just in front of her nose is always a good ploy. Good luck, let us know how she gets on.