Crate Problems for My New Puppy

[TeddyBear]

Does anyone have advice for me regarding my 9 week old Rottie and his dislike of the crate when I am not in the room with him. During the day when I am home he walks in and out of it so he does not fear it. He just does not like to be in it if he can not see me. Please help!! I have had a few very long nights.

[myst]

could you put the crate in your room? then he would be close to hear and smell you.

[alexav]

He's not "fearing his crate", he is complaining loudly at being left alone.
If you cater to him, and "rescue" him when he cries, you will have months, maybe years, of sleepless nights.
When you KNOW he doesn't have to potty, it's not mealtime, and he's had plenty of play time, IGNORE his little tantrums and they will become fewer and less intense. If screaming works for him even one time in 20, he'll keep it up.

My pup was the WORST crate screamer I have ever encountered. It took quite a while for her to realize that she can count on me to let her out before she needs to. I made it a point, no matter the time of day or night, to let her out while she was quiet, and preferably asleep.

She's so quiet now, sometimes I think it was all just a bad dream!

[CJsMommy]

In addition to the tips above, we put a light sheet or towel covering the crate, it helped a lot for us.

[rottnkidd]

At 'bedtime', I used to tune the radio to an easy listening station, like soft jazz, and I kept the volume at a low level. This was very soothing and relaxing for our pup. We also kept the crate covered (to create a den-like atomsphere); leaving only the closed crate door unobstructed. I also left a 15 watt lamp on during the night.
For us this method was very effective. She only cried the 1st night for
a few minutes, and then settled into the soothing music and soft light.
Now at 5.5 yrs her snoring keeps us awake!
kathy

[Odus]

My Odus is 13 weeks old and at first slept in a box next to my bed when he was 6 - 10 weeks old. The box got too small so we got a crate. At first he was not happy at all, he would howl and bark trying to get out. What I do is hide some treats in the crate, add some toys and I also have a towel in there for him to lie on. I drop a few treats in before I leave so he is preoccuppied and not watching me walk out of the door. This seems to work because he has learned to go into his crate without fuss and I have listened outside my front door for crying and there isn't any. He is also starting to use the crate as his nap place when he wants "alone" time.

[Tugboat's Mom]

At 2months, Tug was a crate HOWLER, and we were sure he''d wake the entire neighborhood! We also began covering the crate with a thin towel and tuning the radio at a low volume. He relaxed, and were finally able to as well.

[TeddyBear]

Thanks for all the responses. He has a blanket over the crate and quiet music playing next to him. He is in my room but his crate is so big it is in front of my bed so he can not see me over the footboard. He was a little better last night than the previous nights. Also why is it bad for a puppy to sleep with you? I enjoy having my furrbabies (big and small) in bed with me at night. My Rottie that passed away slept every night with me for 9 years yet everyone says do not put him in bed with you. Any ideas on that?

[moondog]

Whether sleeping on the bed creates problems or not depends on 1) the dog's character, and 2) the relationship between you and the dog.

My Luna slept on the bed from the day I brought her home at 7-1/2 weeks until the day she died. Never gave me a moment's grief. On the other hand, my puppy Chili, has slept in a crate next to my bed from the day she came to me at 8 weeks. I have a sneaking suspicion that Chili would be getting into all kinds of mischief if not crated at this age, she's quite the rascal. Someday, when she earns the privilege and if she wants to, I'll let her sleep on the bed, too. She's very comfortable in her crate, though, and might just prefer it to sleeping on the bed...we'll see.

That said, I think every dog should be crated trained and the best time to do that is when they are puppies. There are times when a dog does need to be crated (at the vet's, at an obedience trial or dog show, in a motel while on vacation, for example) and it's to their benefit to be acclimated to crating beforehand.

[pupmama]

Kona is fine for napping in her crate and we sometimes crate her during dinner or other short periods of time during the day so she will be used to it. She does well with it and I usually give her a treat when I put her in--telling her "crate, Kona". Only once has she has gone into her crate on her own and taken a nap and I was so thrilled that she did that. She sleeps in her crate all night long and knows it is night time. I tell her "good night Kona, sleep" and always praise her for going into her crate and settling in. So far, so good. :)

[gnwhite]

Sorry some how I double posted.

[gnwhite]

[quote= level. This was very soothing and relaxing for our pup. We also kept the crate covered (to create a den-like atomsphere); leaving only the closed crate door unobstructed. I also left a 15 watt lamp on during the night.
For us this method was very effective. She only cried the 1st night for
a few minutes, and then settled into the soothing music and soft light.
Now at 5.5 yrs her snoring keeps us awake!
kathy[/QUOTE]


Glad to hear,
that I am not the only one using soft easy listening music for our puppy. It does work wonders.

~Norma