Please help first time puppy & Rott owner questions

[sinkorswim]

Smokey is a 13 week old neutered Rott,, that we luv to death but I need some questions answered.. Smokey came to live with us Saturday, being adopted from the pound. He had 2 brothers and 3 sisters. He was checked out by our vet and is completely healthy. Smokey is being crate trained..

Me , my wife & our son who is going to be 5. We live in the country on 3 acres.. We both work and Justin attends school.

1. Smokey hates his crate. I have tried treats,, playing with him around it. But when we put him in it he goes nuts, yelping and barking.. Sleeping with ear plugs is a must and someteimes doesn't help. I know it hasn't even been a week but I am getting goofy..

2. Smokey is in his crate durring the day and at night,, which resides in the corner of our kitchen. He has a sheet over the crate, toys, rug and a radio.

3. We have signed up for puppy kindergarden starting on the 2cnd of January..

Any help you can add to my situation of "sleeplessness" is appreciated..

[Judi W]

If he was with his littermates until you sprung him from the pound, he is not at all accustomed to being by himself. Have you tried having the crate beside the bed so he does not feel isolated? My pups always sleep beside the bed at least for the beginning.

[jas'smom]

Ditto with what Judy said. With all my pups they always slept in their crates beside my bed at night so they could see and hear me. I also helps with those nighttime potties!

[sinkorswim]

ok,,, now I am confused. Everyone I have talked to at the pet store and other "dog" owners who crate say. Do not interact with them while they are in the crate or put them in the bedroom.

Besides with the amount of furniture my wife has in our bed room there is no way a crate is going to fit in our bedroom..

[jas'smom]

I think in the beginning while he is still so young having him in your room with you is very helpful. You can always move him to another area when he is a bit older and more comfortable. As to the space requirements, cant help you there I have the same trouble with my room. I managed to substitute crates for furnature

Also, I would make sure he is getting activity in the afternoons and evenings so he is sleepy with bedtime comes around.

[majicka]

don't give up!! I've been through this with 2 dogs..and needless to say I failed night crating 101 twice....but I haven't failed day crating!

I would try and talk your wife into re-arranging the bedroom temporarily to accomidate the crate. He might still cry and carry on at night, eventually he will settle down. Ignore his cries and whines and he should get used to it.

You can also try getting a kong and stuffing it (peanut butter, plain yogurt or kong stuffing works) and freezing it. I layer mine, a layer of stuffing, some kibble, stuffing, kibble etc. It will give him something to look forward to before bedtime and keep him quiet for a bit. Happy would lick the kong until he fell asleep.

Exhaust him right before bedtime..a walk, a round of tug or hide and seek, whatever his favorite game is! A tired puppy is a good puppy!

[Bruce Lanthier]

I always use a small crate for pups to sleep in. I put it by the bed and if they whine I put my finger in the wire gate. They usually sniff and then settle down. It also makes it easy for the pee breaks in the middle of the night. I just pick up the crate by the handle and take it out side, open the door and the pup comes out does her business and goes right back in. Carry crate and pup back in the house and back to bed.

[Judi W]

If you consider that you have taken what is pretty much a baby who is used to being surrounded and comforted by its family and plunked it down in total isolation, it should not be surprising that the little guy is crying in distress and protest.

Crate beside the bed is free bonding time. No place else smells so much like you. That smell and your presence impresses comfort and security and you don't have to do a thing but be there.

Keeping the pup in the kitchen by itself hasn't been working too well so this is just a suggestion

[Bruce Lanthier]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Crate beside the bed is free bonding time. No place else smells so much like you. That smell and your presence impresses comfort and security and you don't have to do a thing but be there.

Excellent point! Also being the first and last person that the pup sees everyday adds to the bond.

[SonnyRott]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lanthier

I always use a small crate for pups to sleep in. I put it by the bed and if they whine I put my finger in the wire gate. They usually sniff and then settle down. It also makes it easy for the pee breaks in the middle of the night. I just pick up the crate by the handle and take it out side, open the door and the pup comes out does her business and goes right back in. Carry crate and pup back in the house and back to bed.

This is exactly what I did....finger in the crate. But no talking to the pup. He soon learned that night time was quiet time.

And having the pup physically close made for no accidents in the crate and successful crate training.

I'm not sure if this helped or not, but I rubbed a lambs wool, stuffed toy on his mom and littermates BEFORE I brought him home. This stayed with him in his crate and he snuggled with it many nights.

[2rotties2luv]

When my pups were new, I took out a nightstand and replaced it temporarily with the crate. Once the pups were comfortable with the crate, I moved it downstairs to the kitchen and put a tee shirt I had slept in on top of the crate where he could smell it. I hesitate to put it in the crate as pups may chew them up.

[brunie's mom]

You have been given some good advice.
Try feeding him all of his meals in the crate....they associate good things with the crate if every meal time happens there.

Honestly...things will get better.

Also make sure the little guy is getting enough exercise before going into the crate for the day or the night. Is it possible to get someone to let him out during the day and feed and play with him? Seems like this pup is spending an awful lot of hours crated.

Gina

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by 2rotties2luv

When my pups were new, I took out a nightstand and replaced it temporarily with the crate. .

Yes- a small piece of plywood across the top with a throw makes a wonderful table. And I think it can't be emphasized enough how much a tired puppy is a good puppy.

A frozen marrow bone is also a good thing - only give it to your puppy when he is in the crate so that the impression of the crate being a special place in reinforced.

[lucky82c]

Mia was the same way the first couple of days I had her. I moved her into my bedroom and covered her crate with an old blanket from my bed that we usually slept on top of. I've only had her for about two weeks and she doesn't cry at all when she goes in there. She gets all her meals in her crate and her favorite chew toy, she only gets at night when its time for bed. She runs in there when she sees it. I had to move my dresser to fit the crate in, but at least now we all get to sleep

[JJsRiley]

we put the crate in our bedroom for BOTH our rotties..I also got one of those "mommy bears" that plays the sound of a heart beat and set it beside the crate and gave a stuffed teaddy bear in with them so that they had a cuddle buddy to sleep with...after a few nights they learned to settle down.
Good Luck..I thought I was going INSANE as well..but tough love WILL work..just be patient...a lot of newborn babies don't sleep thru-out the night when they first come home..he'll settle down.
my 2 were 2yrs and 10 days apart..I thought to myself when we brought Osiris home (the youngest one)...why did I do this again??? I JUST got Isis broke from the crate and my room back..and no whinning...hahaha...Oh well I said..he's TOOOOO cute.

Good Luck...be patient..he'll get use to things.

JJsRiley