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2 month old pup...crate training advice!

Posted : 6/13/2006 12:13:06 PM

Hello...Last night we just brought home our second dog, bela. She is a 2 month old shelter pup and last night was the first night she was away from her litter...EVER. We already had a crate from our other dog, who no longer needs it, and we had it open and full of puppy toys and blankets, as well as a blanket over it to make it 'den-like'. She went right in, in and out and eventually we decided to shut the door to get her used to it, as she would have to spend the night in it. She began crying, obvously, and we let her go for about 20 minutes. She would die down and start back up. We let her out, and then after she fell asleep for the night put her into it again and shut it. She slept for about 3 hours and then cried for about an hour and we let her out (took her outside to go) She accidently spent the rest of the night outside because I accidently fell asleep with her on the couch. I am just wondering how to crate train the right way, esp. during the night becuase i know she can't hold it all night long, and we've reduced the cage with the divider so she doesn't make it a potty as well. Any advice on how to get her to feel ok on her own when the cage is closed, esp. at night and when we have to go for a few hours?

Thanks!
Jill

jillybean9834

Posted : 6/13/2006 12:15:02 PM

correction: when i said that she accidently spent the night outside, i meant out of the crate, with me on the couch....not outside outside...!!

Melissa Mack

Posted : 6/13/2006 12:49:20 PM

Try wrapping an old clock that ticks in an old shirt and put in the crate with her or leaving a radio on for her. You can also put her crate facing the bed up high enough that she can see you if she wakes up.

inne

Posted : 6/13/2006 7:50:35 PM

When you let her out because she's crying you're teaching her to cry to be let out. There are some times that it's appropriate to cry to be let out, like if she has to go potty.   However, normally you should only let her out when she's quiet. Also, don't place her in the crate while she is sleeping; I wouldn't like to fall asleep in bed and wake up in the living room and have no idea how I got there.

To introduce the crate, place a treat in the crate to lure her in and praise her when she's inside.   Close the door and then open it again right away.    Increase the time the door is closed and leave the room.   You want to make the crate a fun, relaxing place to be and you want her to know you'll come back to get her but not when she tells you to get her (except for the bathroom).

Do you have the crate next to your bed?   This can help because puppies like to be close to you.   The first few nights I would stick my fingers in the crate sometimes when my puppy was whining, but I wouldn't talk to her.   This calmed her down immediately.   If she kept whining I took her outside to potty without saying anything; I gave her a small treat if she went potty and if she didn't we went right back inside and she went in her crate.   Most likely you'll be able to distinguish "let me out!" whining from "I need to pee!" crying pretty fast.