Help Needed With Crate Training

[lolnmandz]

My partner and I have had our beautiful Dalmation whose now 13 weeks old for just over a week, she's called Poppy by the way!

I have to say I am shattered, you never realise how much hard work it is simply keeping an eye on your little treasure to stop her ruining your house!!

Anyway, I think we're doing really well, she has stopped doing her "business" in the house more or less. She goes outside for No.2, but does No.1 on newspaper by the back door, I am trying my best to encourage her to do both outside and if she does No1 outside she gets praised big time.

My problem is bed time and when we go out. When we first brought her home we tried putting her bed in the kitchen/diner and went to bed, she cried for an hour before we gave up and my partner ended up sleeping downstairs on the sofa - I know its was a bad move but we were upset and so was she!

We have invested in a crate but she just goes mental when we lock her in. She will eat her dinner in there and goes in for a drink (we leave her water bowl in there and leave door open so she can come and go as she pleases) but as soon as she's stopped eating/drinking and realises the doors closed the crying, whining, barking starts. At present she is sleeping in her bed at the side of our bed and she sleeps all night unless she needs to go potty, which she does on newspaper.

Obviously we would like her to sleep downstairs in her crate, and go in her crate when we go out, but she just cries and cries and cries and cries. The only time at the moment she goes in her crate and we make her stay in is when we have dinner (because she just won't leave us alone when we are eating) and we have to listen to her cry all through our dinner, I wouldn't mind but she can see us so she knows we've not left her. She also goes in if we HAVE to go out, but goes mental again.

I love her to bits and we possibly fussed her too much in the first few days and now are paying the price, but we're trying to be a bit harder with her, but she's as soft as they come and just wants one of us to be with her all the time. PLEASE HELP!!!

[smehta1]

Welcome lolnmandz and poppy! I would suggest you introduce her to the crate gradually - shes not going to stay downstairs in her crate unless she is first comfortable with her crate and treats it like a den. One good way to introduce the crate in my experience has been at night. When we got our 8 week old pup- we put her in the crate with a very soft bedding and a snuggly toy and kept it next to the bed. When she cried - I'd lean over and put my fingers for her to smell and lick and she would stop crying and settle down (of course one has to be mindful of a cry meaning "i need to go potty" vs a cry meaning "i want to get out"). Within 2 days - she only cried when she needed to go. Shes 16 weeks now and the crate is still in the bedroom but at the door not at the bed- you'll need to move it a foot or so away every week till poppy gets settled. Now our pup is used to it enough to go in by herself.
While crating during the day - I had similar problems of my baby crying in the crate...the best advice I got on this forum was 'ignore it'. Dont make eye contact and dont talk to her - she will settle down. Most importantly..dont overcrate, else poppy will think its a punishment to be crated and not like it.

[Moo]

What you have is extreme separation anxiety. There are a few threads devoted completely to crates in here that you may want to look into... They have alot of good tips on warming up to the crate and correcting separation anxiety.

Here is a link to one.
http://www.prodoggroomingsupplies.co...ead.php?t=2107

As for the newspaper, try taking the newspaper and putting it on the lawn, she what she does.

[SouthPaw]

Smehtal's plan sounds reasonable. Poppy is doing very well in her housebreaking so you have much to be proud of. You do need to be able to contain her to a safe area when you go out however. Don't over do it at first. Leave her with a new, special chew toy and go out to lunch. I think once you have gone, she will settle down to "business" and quiet down. Do you have a tape recorder? Check it out. I'd keep that special treat only for crate times.
I just got a new pup yesterday so you are way ahead of me. This fella wasn't crate trained so I'll be reading this thread myself. Once Poppy is crate trained you will be glad you went through all the grief.

[Dax]

The best advice I can give is buckle up and just do it. Some whining & crying is expected. Ignore it. Put her in during the day (with a toy) and vaccum or something. When she whines or cries – close the door and leave. Only let her out when she is calm & quiet.

It sounds cruel but it’s not. The sooner she realizes whining doesn’t work the better off you’ll be. It’s easier to be tough now and reap the rewards vs suffering for longer.

You can move her crate (or get a second one) so that at nite she sleeps in your room, if that is where you want her to sleep later. Don’t start anything now hoping she’ll grow out of it. They grow into things not out.

It’s also best to get into routine quickly. IE last pee at 11 pm up at 5:30am (pee outside) food at 6:30, etc. Make the crate a safe place. Put in a toy or treat. And don’t feel bad about it. Dogs are incredibly sensitive and know when you feel bad and they will take advantage.

It might take a few sleepless nites but a few is better than a few months worth. If you choose to let her out in the middle of the nite – set a timer for the first few nites. I know Ken will disapprove but I never got up in the middle of the nite. If Ariel couldn’t hold it – she peed in her crate. It was cleaned up in the am.


See additional information under CRATE TRAINING/SEPARATION ANXIETY under Training Forum.

[Lessica Jake]

Another thing to remember is that she's now learned that crying gets her out of the crate. Buckle down on her and don't let her out until she's quiet for at least a solid 30 seconds. 30 seconds to begin with and then work your way up to 5 minutes. She has to learn that she will only get out if she's quiet.

[Ken Nielsen]

Right, never let them out while they are crying. That only gets them to become even more of the Alpha and encourages them to become even more of a problem.

[lolnmandz]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I will be trying your suggestions tonight when I get home from work (Poppy is at home with my partner at present driving her mad!!)

I am worrying that we are confusing her;
*sleeping in her bed in our bedroom at night
*bringing her bed downstairs during day and putting in living room when we are there
*then putting it in crate when we go out

Are we best to:
*leave her bed upstairs and put other bedding in crate and nothing in living room
*put crate in living room with bed in it and leave it there and make her sleep there at night
*leave crate where it is in kitchen/diner put her bed in it and thats where she goes.

I am so sorry to keep putting long postings on but I want to do the best for Poppy, she only wants to do whats right and I think she's confused!!!!

[Dax]

It's fine to have two crates. These little guys are a lot smarter than they appear. The advantage of having a crate in your bedroom is that she will sleep in your room as an adult.

She might show you she likes the bed crate more than the other one. The "day" crate will still keep her and your possessions safe while she matures a little.

PS - now you know why they call it housebreaking. Nothing breaks a house like a puppy. HEE HEE.

Just remember - chin up - tough it out - it does get better.

[smehta1]

I agree with Dax - they are little smarties. 2 crates might work - 1 crate moved between rooms might work too (I use the latter). When crating during the day -make sure the room in which the crate is kept is cool and well ventilated. My pup preferred it to not be too bright so we draw the curtains...watch for ur pups preferences. She'll let you know - dont worry!