Dog Community

HELP - New Dog - Issues!

K K

Posted : 9/20/2006 10:13:30 PM

I have some problems with a new dog and I was wondering if you guys could help me out.

My wife and I took in an abandoned dog that a friend of ours found. We've had her for about 10 days now. We've both done a little research and we think we have been following some good practices.

The dog is a 9 pund mixed breed. We think it is a whippet/chihuahua/terrier mix.
The vet estimates she is at least 1 1/2 years old, but no older than 3 years. We have no idea what her history was before she was found.
The majority of the time she is a quiet, good natured dog. However, when it comes time to go to bed and

ut her in the crate, then we have issues.

We put her in her crate shortly before we go to bed, usually around 10:30pm. Although we don't have to force her to go in, she begins to bark and yelp loudly after we close the door to the room where she is in. It goes on for about 1 hour or even more. We do not go back in the room, hoping that she will finally quiet down.
Eventually she does.

Then, usually around 5am she begins to bark again. We usually get up at 7am so this has not been fun.

When we do let her out she usually goes to the restroom. However, today we discovered that she has urinated in the crate at some point. In addition, she went once again in the crate today when we left her for a couple of hours.

We are looking for help. Although it has been less than 2 weeks, it doesn't seem like anything is working to calm her down at night. We've tried a radio, white noise and even a heartbeat bear made for babies. Nothing calms her down.

My wife and I are home at various times during the day but there are many times when we will have to leave the dog alone for hours without supervision. Eventually we want to get a doggie door, but if she can't get into a routine now, it seems pointless to install it.

We felt like we were doing a good thing taking in this dog. However, if we aren't the right fit for her, we might have to find her another home.

Cazzy

Posted : 9/20/2006 10:56:25 PM

Maybe she has never been crate trained and is not use to being confined...Have you tried keeping her in the bedroom at night with you..I wouldn't give up yet..Bless your hearts for taking this dog in....Hope someone will come along and give you some direction..I dont crate my dogs so I've never have this issue.. Good luck!

Shohin

Posted : 9/21/2006 8:08:36 AM

I'd say you guys are doing great . . . being a relatively new dog owner myself, I can sympatize with your concerns.

We crate trained Winston, our now 3 month old Vizsla pup. For the first several nights, he whined and yelped (I've been told that its actually a "song" unique to Vizsla's. Anyone that owns or knows a Vizsla knows exactly the sounds I'm talking about). However, he eventually got it and calmed down. Now at night, he doesnt even make a sound until I wake him up in the a.m. around 7:30 (He goes to bed between 10:30 and 11:00). No accidents either . . . .

Now here's where I feel the difference is between my pup and your dog . . . your dog is MUCH older than mine. Just as an analgoy, if you conceptualize the old adage that a dog ages 7 times as fast as humans, then that places your dog around 11, 12 years old. Imagine taking a 12 year old child, placing them into a new home, in a land where thay can't speak the language, and on top of that they get locked in their room at night. Yeah . . . they're going to be stressed. I think what you are experiencing with your pup is normal.

As for possible suggestions to help with the whining as well as the getting up at 5:00 . . . my only suggestion is EXERCISE!!! I make sure my pup is flat out exhausted when he goes to bed . . . . he climbs right in his kennel and won't get out until I wake him. I feel that this practice is good for both of us . . . it lets me sleep soundly, but my growing pup is getting plenty of daily exercise.

Don't worry and don't give up! It will get easier as both of you adjust to your new lives together.

K K

Posted : 9/21/2006 9:03:20 AM

Shohin, thanks for your suggestion. I guess I forgot to add this information.

We have excercised her!! Everday in the past week we've walked her, ran her and let our neighbor's kids play with her. The other night she couldn't even keep her eyes open she was so tired.

But she still didn't want to go in the crate! And she screamed for over an hour! I expected some but an hour seemed excessive since she was so worn out.

We are thinking that she may have some history in her past that causes this and we may not be the best home for her. She may need free range and other dogs around.

melindar

Posted : 9/21/2006 12:29:35 PM

My suggestion is do a google search for crate training, there are some really good sites out there. When we 1st got our puppy the foster family said he was crate trained, but whenever I would put him in there he would cry & whine like crazy. You mainly just need to make it a good thing when they are in their crate. Extra yummy treats are good!

As for the peeing in the crate, did you take her out and use the potty right before you put her in the crate? If not, this might be a good practice to get into. As for the 5am cries, could she be crying to let you know she needs to "go"?

Eric Mies

Posted : 9/21/2006 12:48:02 PM

Thought I would share our experience when we started crate training our little one - OMG did she howl, bark and everything else in between. She would scream like a banshee for 2 hours straight every night, go to sleep for a little while, and wake up and do it again. It was horrible, we felt so bad. Eventually we tried putting the crate in the corner of our bedroom - not even a peep. I realize this is not the prime situation if you don't want her in your room though....

My buddies golden did the same thing, he and his wife were a wreck for about 2 weeks. Eventually, by sticking to there guns, they won and the dog used to go in her crate to sleep on her own free will - she sleeps in a dog bed on the floor but for the 1st year to 18 months she was in the crate.

K K

Posted : 9/21/2006 10:22:04 PM

Having the dog in our room is probably not our option. Although it may be a temporary fix it is not something we want long term.

We've tried giving her treats when we put her in the crate. Although it seemed to work at first, she now hates going in the crate!!
She even tore up some papers and a shopping bag today.

Is there anything that can keep her happy? The separation anxiety is really what seems to get to her.

erin thom

Posted : 9/22/2006 11:32:13 AM

Honestly, I would make it an option...temporarily until the little one understands that its ok to be in there. Bella used to cry, bark, whine like crazy when in her crate at night, so we finally put it next to the bed on my side where I could reach down and put my hand on the crate. She was comforted by my presence and would settle in very quickly and fall asleep. If she whimpered even a little, I would just put my hand down there and she would be fine and I could go back to sleep. Within very little time, she got over it and we were able to move the crate out of the bedroom and she no longer cries. She is now 7 mos old and has been inthe crate at night with no crying for MONTHS. She just goes in, chews on her toys or goes to sleep. Try it! It doesnt have to be permanent...but it may help her see that you are still there...not to mention you will hear her if she has to go potty...but make sure you take her out right before her bedtime. And dont give water after 7 or 8 at night. That will help too if she has accidents. Remember THIS IS ALL NEW to her.

mudpuppy

Posted : 9/22/2006 12:54:41 PM

why exactly do you feel you have to crate her?

K K

Posted : 9/30/2006 9:12:43 AM

We feel we have to crate her to teach her not to tear up the house. Plus, every dog association website I've seen suggests it.

Somenews: We put her in the crate at night in our bedroom. Every night we've slowly moved her further towards the door. Last night she was 3 feet outside the door and she did wonderful.

Thanks for your help everyone.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 9/30/2006 11:09:36 AM

It's possible that her previous owners kept her in a crate for excessively long periods, or maybe they used the crate as a punishment.

Joyce