Dog Forum: need help crate training

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Topic: need help crate training

carriecrowe
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Member # 472

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posted March 04, 2004 02:57 PM

I have a 6 wk old pup and i am wanting to crate train her because she too is trying to chew up my walls in the bathroom (just like the other 2 did). The thing i am using as a crate is 2 laundry baskets. It is cheap, but i know it will work for my pups size. I tried it last night. She did fine for the first 3 hrs, then started whining and crying and it about drove me nuts. I am needing to train her because often i have things going on that i have to leave her unattended and like many of you say crate training is one of the safest things for her. I want to particullary train her for overnight since she is getting towhere she wants to chew everything in the bathroom up. Can you help me? i need to know what to do or how i can keep her from whining all night long. I know they say break her in slowly, but how long is to long to keep her in the "crate"?

thank you for any help

Posts: 118 | From: Batesville,Ar | Registered: Dec 2003

Amberlii
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Member # 609

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posted March 04, 2004 10:32 PM

Carrie ~

Your pup is so young. She is whining because she wants her mom. She'll soon move out of that stage though. You'll have to cope with the whine another week or so probably. For now, I would purchase a regular crate with a comfortable bed she can snuggle in. Because she is so young be prepared to clean up messes. I'd say around 9-12 weeks of age they start to get the "going outside" part! Plus, she will need frequent outside visits. But you are doing the right thing. Crates are wonderful for when you have to be gone. That way you know they are safe! We have a Great Dane puppy that is 9 mths old & I just leave the door open now when I'm here & he goes in on his own! He loves his Den & I started crating him as soon as we brought him home at 3 months of age. Good luck to you & be patient. Enjoy that puppy stage as it doesn't last long! I can't believe Vader is already 9 months! [Smile]

Bow Wow Beds

[ March 04, 2004, 10:33 PM: Message edited by: Amberlii ]

Posts: 91 | From: KY | Registered: Feb 2004

carriecrowe
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Member # 472

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posted March 05, 2004 09:25 AM

I know my home made crate isnt the best, but i assure you it is good enough. It is big enough for her to stand on her hind legs and get up and actually walk around in. i do put lots of blankets and sheets in there for her to be well bedded down. I heard the pup should only be able to stand up and turn around (not walk around) so in that sence, the "crate" is fine. Right now that is the best i can do since money is short. I need to start training her before she gets into something poisonus.. she is already tearing the wall paper off (which is no big deal since we are going to redo it anyways) i just dont want her to do that when we put up the new stuff. I also know to expect messes, i have had 2 other pups the same age so i know what to expect, but we are going to try to train her to be a house dog instead of an outside dog. Wouldnt it be better to start training them early for stuff like crates?

Posts: 118 | From: Batesville,Ar | Registered: Dec 2003

berahid
Junior Member
Member # 697

posted March 05, 2004 09:26 AM

try getting a clock that ticks and putting it in a sock or a stuffed animal. It will make her feel like someone is in the crate with her, and she will cudle with it. Or turn on a radio by the crate. We did this with both of our puppies and it worked well. A lot of the time I just gave in a and let them sleep with me, but when i didnt, they did fine with the radio. HAVE PATIENTS. There will be more whining. My dog is now 2, and whines when he wants something. They are like children, they whine till they get their way.

Posts: 15 | From: ma | Registered: Feb 2004

carriecrowe
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Member # 472

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posted March 05, 2004 11:43 AM

patience is something i need to get... i have a 1 1/2 yr old, a 2 1/2 yr old little girls that can be VERY frusterating alot of the time. Plus i have 2 big dogs i am working on training (which is going very well) and now precious. she is doing better in her behavior since i have really tied down on her and not let her get away with anything. She knows the word NO very well [Big Grin]

. She had a nipping problem and i think i have that pretty well under control right now. She still jumps on people (me and the kids) i am working on that too, my main concern is the crate training. I never thought of putting a clock in there, I will either try that or a stuffed animal the kids dont play with and that im not fond of. We will see how that works..

1 more question........

how long is to long to keep her in the crate for beginners? and if she starts whining, should i wait till she stops whining before i let her out? and last but not least, would covering the crate with like a light sheet or blanket help any or will that make it worse?

thank you for all the advise, please keep it coming.

carrie

Posts: 118 | From: Batesville,Ar | Registered: Dec 2003

carriecrowe
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Member # 472

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posted March 11, 2004 08:19 AM

bump.... can anyone please answer my questions in my last post(before this one of course)

Posts: 118 | From: Batesville,Ar | Registered: Dec 2003

GretaJack
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Member # 419

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posted March 11, 2004 08:44 AM

Since Precious is still so young she can probably only be crated for a couple hours at a time before she needs to be let out to potty. This is during the day. The crying is so normal. Your best bet to get her to stop crying when she's crated is to simply ignore her. Scolding her or shushing her is simply rewarding her for her behavior. She is crying because she is alone. When you react to her whining in anyway you are paying attention to her and that is what she wants. She just won. And don't let her out when she cries because she will learn that crying gets her our of the crate. If she is quiet, even just for a couple seconds, then let her out. I think that the hardest thing to do is to ignore a crying puppy. If you feel bad then it just drives you nuts. My 8 month old still cries when I crate him. But usually is quiet within a minute or so. He just wants to remind me that he is crabby about not being able to do what he wants to do. He likes his crate but only wants to be in it when he says it's nap time.

Posts: 195 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Dec 2003

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