Dog Community

Crate training question

Posted : 6/1/2006 9:34:09 AM

Ben will happily go into his crate to sleep, and seems to like his little nest in there. When he wakes up, be it during the day or night, I take him out to do his business, and if at night, put him back in with a minimum of fuss so he will go back to sleep.

Here's my question - I read everywhere that he needs to learn to be in the crate anytime I can't supervise him (like when I am taking a shower, mopping the floors etc etc). But the thing is, he doesn't yet like being in there when he is awake, even if he can see me. I make sure he is "empty" before putting him in there, and stay within sight and talk to him, but he still whines like crazy. If I absolutely know that he doesn't need to potty, how long do I leave him to cry? I don't let him out while he is still whining, but I do go and calm him down from outside the crate before opening the door. Should I just be leaving him in there and hoping that the whining will get better? He looks at me with such sad eyes when I leave him in there when he's awake, and truth be told it does make me feel guilty. I assume that since he will sleep happily in there he doesn't have bad associations with his crate, and he doesn't whine when he wakes up, but I do generally get to him quite quickly so that I can take him outside.

Do I just wait it out? Am I expecting too much too soon? Ben has been with me for 8 days and we've had the crate for 5. I make a lot of time to play with him and socialise him, but frankly, we do need to eventually get to the point where I can leave him on his own in there for a few minutes to shower or whatever.

Thanks for any advice anyone can share.

Kate

probe1957

Posted : 6/1/2006 9:57:58 AM

Kate,

Ben is a puppy, I assume, and you can't trust him to roam the house while you take a shower or whatever?

If he is whining in the crate, I would ignore it. Put him in there with a Kong stuffed with peanut butter or something yummy like that. You haven't had him very long. It will get better. Trying to reassure him when he is whining only reinforces the undesirable behavior. I would stop that.

Firestorm

Posted : 6/1/2006 10:51:22 AM

Do you have a metal crate or a plastic one? Sometimes dogs have a tougher time with the platic ones since they are dark. I know my dog did not like the plastic crate that came with him but loves his wire crate.

Melissa Mack

Posted : 6/1/2006 12:38:24 PM

How old is Ben?

Benedict

Posted : 6/1/2006 12:48:07 PM

Ben is 7 weeks, 3 days. And the crate is metal. I don't want him in all the time of course but at such a young age I can't leave him unsupervised.

Kate

Melissa Mack

Posted : 6/1/2006 12:54:42 PM

Yeah...he is way too young to expect too much right now. Sounds like you got him whe he was 6 weeks old which is too young for him to leave his mom and siblings according to a lot of poeple. You need to just wait it out. Let him whine. One thing I did was turn a radio on for my pup and it seemed to sooth her. If he's in the crate then he's safe...nothing is going to happen to him...go take your shower or do whatever you need to do. If you have a big crate you need to partition it off so that he only has enough room to lay down....that way he will learn not to potty in his crate because dogs to not like to soil where they lay.

Benedict

Posted : 6/1/2006 3:12:59 PM

The decision to take him home so young was a complicated one involving myself, my breeder and my vet. He's with me now and that is what is important. I do leave the radio or tv on for him and his crate is partitioned off. As soon as I let him out I take him outside to potty. I just read stories of dogs, even very young pups, taking to their crates right away, and was wondering how to make it a little easier for him. Thanks for the advice, everyone.

Kate

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 6/1/2006 4:06:14 PM

since it is a wire crate, i might try putting a towel or blanket or something like that over the top/sides of the crate. that helped our puppy. you could also try putting an old shirt or something like that of yours in with him.

Benedict

Posted : 6/1/2006 5:28:53 PM

Good idea, cyclefiend, thanks. There is a blanket over it but I have a soft old sweatshirt he can have. I don't wear it anymore, but think I will tomorrow to get it smelling like me as much as possible.

Thanks!

Kate