put puppy in crate even while home?

[ps_etc]

Hi there! I'm new to bw and we have had our little girl, Heidi, for about a week now. She's 8 weeks old now and doing pretty well with her crate training. I've been ignoring the whining and only taking her out of the crate when she's quiet and last night it only took her 5 minutes to quiet down to sleep for each of her 4 hour stretches. I'm home all day, should I also put her into the crate at various times throughout the day (like for an hour) or just let her rest on her pillow out of sight of the crate (she's in the kitchen with me). So far she's been really good about resting in the crate with the door open and I have been closing the door to give me some time. Just trying to figure out if I can move the crate out of the way for most of the day. Obviously she goes in when I need to go run errands, etc. I just want to continue on the right training path.

 

[lexintitus]

I'm a little confused. If your babe doesn't mind the crate, even resting in it during the day, why feel the need to move it? If there's some reason why you have to move it, I would still bring it out a couple of times during the day, just so your babe won't start associating crate with you leaving=anxiety or unwanted behaviors. Hope everything goes well.

 

[Jan]

I believe that it is still a good ideas to put them in the crate when you are home. For at least a while anyway. It helps to prevent separation anxiety and stress when they are in their crate. You don't want them to associate being in their crate with you leaving. And speaking of separation anxiety, it is always a good idea to make you comings and goings a non-event, ie. don't make a big fuss over Heidi, before you go and when you come back.

Good luck with Heidi!

 

[MyGirlHeidi]

Congrats on you new puppy, Heidi! We have a Heidi too! Sounds like you are on the right path to having a well adjusted little girl. Best of luck !

 

[neraknna]

crating when home

I crate my 12 week old when I am home also. I put her in when I take a shower or cook diner, just so she knows that being in the crate does not always mean I have to be gone. She never whines anymore when in the crate, unless she has to go!

 

[ps_etc]

Thx everybody! I'll continue with the crate even while I'm home. At night, when will her bladder go longer than 4 hours?

 

[Jan]

It all depends on the dog. You could put you alarm on for 4 hours and gradually extend it until she is going all night. When she knows that you are going to take her out, she will try and hold it until you do.

With Markus I just decided that I wasn't getting up in the middle of the might to take him out as I lived in a second floor apartment. Fortunately he co-operated. I didn't realized that most dogs didn't sleep through the night.

 

[neraknna]

Both of my dog were sleeping through th night within 2 or 3 nights after bringing them home. I will take Meadow, 12 weeks old, out the last thing before i go to sleep, somewere between 10 and 11. She will usually wake me up sometime between 6 and 7 am. I also restrict her water at night.

 

[KAI'S MOM]

Regarding the crating durring the day I also put my 4 month old in his crate when I clean or need to go out durring the day. As for the nightly washroom breaks we brought Kai home at 8 weeks and also within 2 days or so he was sleeping through the night. We take him out last thing at night before going to bed (about 10:00) and he sleeps all the way through 'till 6 weekdays (that's when we get up) or even as late as 7:00 or 8:00 on the weekends.
I think from what I read that our pup is a rarity in this case. Maybe it helps that he sleeps in a crate in our bedroom at night to feel totally secure? Not sure but whatever it is nights are no problem! So far so good.

 

[mancin]

I think it's a great idea to put the puppy in the crate during the day when you are home. As Jan mentioned, that way she won't relate her crate to you leaving. When I started putting Tyson in the crate when I was home, it made a HUGE difference. I started out putting him in while I was in sight, then I'd try and leave the room for a couple minutes, then I'd leave for a little longer, etc. I tend to put him in there now when I have to clean, as he attacks my broom, vaccuum, mop.... must think they are evil.