Puppy Tip: How to avoid crate barking?

[TrishB]

After many ups and downs and a year an and half wait - I may be picking up my puppy this weekend! :D Sadly, things did not work out with my original breeder (problems with the bitch that are being looked into). Luckily - I now consider them very close friends and I'm sure I've got a friend for life. :D

However through some searching and networking (networking ROCKS!), I may have found my dream puppy! :D :D :D

Here's the question:

Do any of you have any 'Puppy Tips' to avoid barking while in the crate? I plan on playing with him, walking and training with him regularly. So I'd like to think that he'll be too tuckered out to yap. ;)

But we have such a wealth of knowledge here of puppy raisers - it can't hurt to ask! ;) Do you have any tips?

I'm SO excited - wish me luck! :D :) ;)

[LynnS]

Hi Trish

As someone who just went through this I will tell you my experience. We brought Bella home when she was 8 weeks old (she is now 15 weeks old). The first night with us was also her firs night away from her littermates. We put her in the crate and she was beside herself. Whinig, yipping, crying making all kinds of interesting noises! We took her out of the crate and slept with her on the living room floor. She setlled down immediately. Night 2 we put a ticking clock in the crate with her. She whimpered for about 10 minutes and fell asleep - she woke us up when she needed to go potty (2-3x that night). Next night no crying and within 5 days she only woke us up once a night. Now she puts herself in the crate when she wants to sleep (Door stays open except when we sleep or go out). Maybe we are lucky but Bella loves her crate. She rides in a crate in the car as well.Hope this helps!

[Muckdogs]

Trish, unfortuantely, it is just "one of those things" that will pass with time and consistency. I for one, think that young pups can easily train the owners if you continually run to the crate and let them out every time they begin to bark, yap or whine. Of course, this is notwithstanding the usual frequent need for breaks, exercise and feeding or watering. Good Luck. the puppy years are a bittersweet experience.

[TrishB]

Thanks to both of you! I've been recommending the 'loud ticking clock or low playing radio' for years to new owners. I guess in my excitement, I had forgotten it! ;)

I'll do everything that I can by this little guy - I can't wait!!! :D

[Mattweiser]

if possible put the crate in your bedroom...

that has helped me...

[matt4800]

I also kept her crate in our bedroom. But if she started barking I would toss a can of pennies in her direction (don't let the pup see you throw). It would startle her, she stopped barking, and then I would praise her. It worked very well in or out of the crate.

It also works for a "jumping-up on people" dog. After a while if they even hear that noise they stop jumping or barking and eventually they become conditioned.

Good Luck,

Matt

[Sue]

Another thing that has helped us is to take a heavy-duty hot water bottle, fill it with very warm water, wrap it in a soft towel or blanket and put it in the crate with the pup. It gives them something warm to snuggle up to the first night or two. We've never had a problem with them biting into it or anything, but we only use it for a day or two. They really settle in very quickly.

[JoJo]

I also would recommand that you get a towel from the breeder that has "mommies' scent on it and put it in the crate with the pup. That seems to help calm them down. But I agree, if you start running over everytime the pup whines, that pup will have your number in no time and he has done a fantastic job in training you! Patience, and ear plugs are in order! :D

JoJo

[Bruce Lanthier]

I use two crates. One is small, enough room to sleep and maneuver. The other is the "final" crate, the one they'll call "home".

Small crate - At bedtime I would put the pup in the small crate and let it sleep next to my bed. When it would whine, whimper, I just stick my fingers in the crate door and it can smell and maybe lick. This has never failed to quiet the pup. After two hours of sleep I can hear the pup moving around. Potty time. I pick up the crate by the handle and walk outside. Open the crate door, pup walks out, pees, and I steer it back into the crate. Back inside for another two hour nap ;) .

Large wire crate - This is in the living room where we hang out mostly. The pup stays in here when we can't watch it. That way it is part of the family but can't get into "trouble". Whenever anyone takes the pup out of the crate, outside first thing, and then the pup can hang out and play.

Using this method my pup Betti (9 months now) had 3 accidents, total. She was very reliable after 6 months.

[IRIE'S MAMA]

Irie never barked in the crate, but she whined a lot and would rattle the metal door with her paws. Just like a baby though, we ignored her and it would stop. Now when she tries to wake us uo in the morning, we tell her to lay down and moments later we hear a thud :) We too used the clock and it worked wonders. We made the mistake of buying the big crate first and wondered why she peed in it duh! We borrowed a smaller one from a friend and the peeing stopped.

[Judi W]

Don't assume the pup will be hollering in the crate. Many breeders (and we wish all) give their pups the experience before they leave home, crating them at night with the crates all next to each other for a week or so before they leave. Even if there are not enough crates for all, they can be rotated through using just two or three crates. If you breeder has not thought of this, you might suggest it. Can start out with two in a crate, then singly.

[Rottnlove]

TrishB,

Wow! How EXCITING! Your long wait is almost officially over!!!! I have to congratulate you and I wish you the best! :D

As always, JudiW has excellent advice! I think the breeder should at least introduce crates to the pups so when they go to their new homes they won't be so freaked out by the whole idea of being in a crate. Very good suggestion, JudiW! :)

I remember a long time ago when I had my tiny little Pomeranian, how she whined and cried for the first several nights. I decided to just make the bathroom her den. She did pretty good with it. I know that when the time comes to get my puppy, I'll do the 2 crates thing. I thought that was an excellent idea as well. I also heard that bringing home the mothers scent wasn't a great idea, as it just makes the puppy miss the mother all the more, and you want the puppy to forget about the mother and bond with you. JMO.

Keep us posted! I'm excited for you! :D

Lisa

[Leader]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Blaze has been home for 16 days now. :D

She has almost stopped barking or whining in her crate except to wake me up cause she's gotta go;) or because she was REALLY HAVING FUN ;) when I put her in there for a minute of peace and quiet, to lick my wounds, :(because I'm not gonna be there to watch over her (i.e. taking a shower, getting dressed ......) or just so that I don't get irritated with her:(


Same with the kennel when I put her in there in the morning when I leave for work (54square feet big). No tears just when I come home and she CAN'T WAIT FOR ME TO COME AND LET HER OUT:D She's so cute.

Anyhow....you just have to let 'em cry...don't spoit them rotten:( :o ;) :p

[rottnkidd]

The first night we had our girl in the crate, she didn't make a single whimper. I kept getting up during the night thinking there was something wrong with her! I left a radio on in the kennel
room, softly tuned to a cool jazz station. We started that at 8 wks of age. She's now 2, and although she doesn't 'have to' be kenneled, she'll occasionally slip in there, still falling asleep to the
cool jazz. I also think the less fuss that is made at 'bedtime' or
for a 'timeout', the better for the pup. I used to tell her 'kennel up, get your cookie!", then quietly close the door and walk away.
It's the same principle to avoiding separation anxiety. If you
'stop' interacting with the dog at least 20-30 min prior to leaving
the house, and don't make a big fuss when you've returned; I
think it's alot less stress on the dog. Too many people go into these long and lengthy goodbyes and hellos, and I think the dog
starts 'anticipating' something is going to 'happen'. JMO
kathy