Frustrated about crate training....
I'm at the point of frustration with our crate training.  Our precious Frothy is at home since last Sat. She is very good about going potty outside. Just a few accidents. But crate training her.... Every single time we are putting her to crate she is crying... jumping, chewind on the metal rods... it's already 8 nights in a row (3-4 times/per night).. Plus twice daily we are putting her to crate in the middle of the day to sleep. Also... She is getting her food in the crate. She is getting her treats in the crate. But then crying, crying, crying... after locking the door. So far we are firm. In 5 min after loud and heartbreaking whining and crying, Frothy settles down and falls asleep, obviously unhappy. I feel like I'm stony hearted pitiless unfeeling and monstrous dog owner in the whole universe.  |
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| I have a new puppy too, and in fact just posted a thread in here, too... Five mins is very good! and well done on being firm. I wouldn't say she's neccessarily unhappy, she can't be that unhappy if she's settling down. If I didn't sit with my boy at night until he fell asleep he'd bark for hours and hours. i guess they just don't want to go to bed, who wants to sleep when there's play to engage in?!... It's like kids I suppose. They never want to go to bed! Sounds to me that you're doing good, I'd persevere and hopefully she'll start settling sooner and stop breaking your heart! |
| New puppy here as well, and I feel your pain! But if your puppy is settling after a few minutes then you are doing great! When the crying gets to me, I remind myself that I am crate training to keep her safe when we are not there to watch her, but it is tough to hear those sad sounds! |
| You're not alone. Not by a long shot. But to your credit, it sounds like you're doing everything right. Stick with no matter how much you think it hurts your heart. Look at the video I posted after we got our Caitlyn. See, we've all been there and feel your pain. http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=34156 I just played this while both Sheepies were snoozing and they both jumped up and wanted to know who was making that racket! Vance |
| Stick with it! Being able to be safely in a crate and relax is way too valuable skill to give up on. At our house they get fed in the crate, randomly get treats in the crate, and all day the crate door is left open. Because we have other dogs, I do pick up the "in the crate only" special toys and they get them back when crated. At night or when we leave and it's crate time, they get in and get their special (and safe) items, and we walk away. No fanfare, no sneaking, no sitting by them. Only let them out when they are quiet - as letting them out when they bark is something you never want to do - smart pups - they learn quick if they bark and you let them out.....  Of course this is different from the bark "I need to go potty"...and that may take a bit for you to figure out the difference. Good luck....we are in the same process here too! |
fuzzy wrote: I feel like I'm stony hearted pitiless unfeeling and monstrous dog owner in the whole universe. I must be a really cold hearted bitch then because I feel nothing whatsoever except hurry up and get with the program already   You're doing all the right things, just leave the room and ignore. And try to never let a screaming puppy out IF you can help it (hard when pottying may be on the line, I know) because that just reinforces that screaming/crying etc WORKS    and they keep doing it longer...This too shall pass. Ear plugs may be in order for the more persistent ones. For you, I mean Kristine |
| Sounds like separation anxiety which would be best to break now. Keep it up and I'm sure it will get better. I got lucky with Kenny... |
Eggbert wrote: Sounds like separation anxiety which would be best to break now. Keep it up and I'm sure it will get better. I got lucky with Kenny... At this little age, it's not a true separation anxiety. It's just a puppy trying to communicate that they want out! It's a learning curve. If you let them out when they bark...they will keep doing it. If you come sit by them when they bark...they will keep doing it.... |
| George cries in the night any amount from 1-5 times. I get up every time (unless it's less than about twenty minutes until waking up time) Just don't make it a fun experience when you take them out in the night. Walk in dully, open the crate uneventfully, nothing exciting whatsoever. No talking. If we're outside and there's no sign within about a minute of any imminent toileting I take him straight back inside and put him back to bed. He'll bark for less than a minute then go back to bed. Hoping this will stop him crying for anything other than toileting, seeing that he gets nothing fun whatsoever out of it! I do sometimes think that he panics when he's in the crate that we'll forget about him and never come back unless he reminds us he's there!! |
| Gracie is having a tougher time with the crate than Mady did (Mady was perfect, 15 min of whimpering the first night, then perfect ever since...we're learning Mady really is the perfect dog ). Gracie however, whimpers and squeaks and paws at the bars for a long time when we put her in. I must be an even colder person, not only do I not feel sorry for her, I find it adorable. Persistence is key, you have to be stubborn! And if your puppy is settling in after just 5 minutes, everything's going well. |
| Oh, Guys, Thank you so much for support...... 5 minutes of settling now seems to be a dream  (((Last night I had 3 hours of sleep with interruptions. My parents on the second floor are on the verge of heart attack, mu husband was sent to sleep on the second floor as well, I asked him, not that he ran away, he is working usually long hours and has very demanding job. Please, tell me, that Frothy will get it, eh?  How long would it take?!!!!! Month? Two? 6? I do not ming to wake up and go outside to take my fluffy baby for potty breaks. But hearing her whining and be unhappy for thous hours in between.... ouch.  |
Eggbert wrote: Sounds like separation anxiety which would be best to break now. Keep it up and I'm sure it will get better. I got lucky with Kenny... We put crate next to bed and I'm putting my hand on the wire. So... it doesn't look like separation anxiety. Now I afraid she will hate me for locking her down. |
KaylesK wrote: George cries in the night any amount from 1-5 times. I get up every time (unless it's less than about twenty minutes until waking up time) Just don't make it a fun experience when you take them out in the night. Walk in dully, open the crate uneventfully, nothing exciting whatsoever. No talking. If we're outside and there's no sign within about a minute of any imminent toileting I take him straight back inside and put him back to bed. He'll bark for less than a minute then go back to bed. Hoping this will stop him crying for anything other than toileting, seeing that he gets nothing fun whatsoever out of it! I do sometimes think that he panics when he's in the crate that we'll forget about him and never come back unless he reminds us he's there!! Kayleigh, for how long George is at home? I naively assumed that in 1 week they should get used to this. It was Frothy's 9th night at home. |
| I can tell you both of my dogs took the crate within a few short days. But I had the crates ( and still do) in my bedroom with me. They actually seek the crates out now and climb in when they are afraid or need a nap. Don't worry. Your puppy will get it soon and I bet will love her crate too! |
| Benson was fantastic in the crate for her first 5 nights. We all went to bed at the same time, I did overnight potty duty, and her crate was on my side of the bed. Night 6 I had to go to bed very early. Hubby stayed up - she whined because she was alone with him. He put her in the crate and slept on my side of the bed - she whined because I was supposed to be there, not HIM. He took her out overnight - and every time he brought her in, she fussed and cried and dug at the floor for at least 20 minutes before quieting down. She had settled quickly into a routine, and then we disrupted it for her. Whatever routine you want in the long run is what you need to establish now. Dawn is right: If you let them out when they bark...they will keep doing it. If you come sit by them when they bark...they will keep doing it.... Be strong, persevere, and this too shall (eventually) pass.  |
| Thank you! Oh, that's an idea, put some "crate dedicated" toys in crate for the night. I'll try it tonight! Here are couple images of my Night Terrorist:   |
fuzzy wrote: Kayleigh, for how long George is at home? I naively assumed that in 1 week they should get used to this. It was Frothy's 9th night at home. Today is his 22nd day with us. So three weeks. Last night I left him just as he settled down, didn't wait for him to fall asleep, and there was a few quiet whines but no barking |
| Crate training just requires patience but it is so worth it! When I first got Bella she would whine and cry in the crate but if I stayed firm she would finally settle..Now..it's HER place. I don't crate her in the house anymore but she will go there if she wants some special quiet time on her own. It's great for agility....when I have to crate her while I'm doing other things, all I have to do is tell to go in and she's happy to do it and stays quiet. Make the crate a great place...feed her in it, give her treats in it...You will be so greatefull! I just use a soft crate now for traveling and agility shows and she just settles in for a nice nap. |
| The only advice i could give (if its any good) is to only put dog in crate for 5 minutes at a time then leave the room, if quiet when return reward. Then slowly expand the time in crate, then dog gets used to being left :/ Hope this helps sam x |
| how old is your puppy? it may say, but I didn't go back to read he seems SMALL!  I can't remember Cambridge ever being that small! He's getting too big for meto pick up now! |
BlooBoo wrote: The only advice i could give (if its any good) is to only put dog in crate for 5 minutes at a time then leave the room, if quiet when return reward. Then slowly expand the time in crate, then dog gets used to being left :/ Hope this helps sam x Great advice for the daytime! But for the night not much use, I afraid. But I will practice it in daytime. Actually, I am doing it, when she is eating or getting her boiled beef rib. ruforgvn wrote: how old is your puppy? it may say, but I didn't go back to read he seems SMALL! I can't remember Cambridge ever being that small! He's getting too big for meto pick up now! She is 9 weeks and 3 days today. To be exact Frothy seems to be very petit compared to the sheepie I had. At 8 weeks she weighed 12lb. But she is one of two smallest in the litter. |
KaylesK wrote: Today is his 22nd day with us. So three weeks. Last night I left him just as he settled down, didn't wait for him to fall asleep, and there was a few quiet whines but no barking Oh, congrats. Huge progress!! Keep it up. For me last night was not too bad. 1 hour of whining, howling, jumping and barking, but then...... 3.5 hours of the nonstop sleep Also, other night trip to potty was fast and calm, few whines. And it wasn't me |
| Bellalover, I strong believer that crating will be very helpful later on, that really gives me strength |
| Hi, We had to stay by Mao the fist few nights in his crate to get him crate trained but also because he needed potty breaks. After a few weeks he would cry and whine for about 5 minutes in his crate and finally go to sleep but would wake up around 6 or so sometime sooner so that was a problem. Our solution was to put the crate in our bedroom next to our bed. We also purchased a second crate that we keep downstairs for when we go out during the day and need to crate him. Maybe not the ideal one but it works great for us and Mao. Since he started sleeping in the crate next to us, there has been no crying or whining and even if he wakes up earlier than me, he will stay calm. when I go to the bathroom that does not bother him or even wake him up sometimes, and when I need to get up really early occasionally for work he will stay in his crate and go back to sleep after I leave since my wife is still sleeping in the bed. Our routine is now stable and it gives us a lot of flexibility since we can leave early or move at night without fearing to wake up the beast.....not to mention that he now sleeps late next to us on the weekends. Good luck Thierry |
Thierry..... What an amazingly cute puppy you have! I'm in love  |
ruforgvn wrote: Thierry..... What an amazingly cute puppy you have! I'm in love Thank you!!!! Oh, yes, she is the cutest thing in the whole world ter4646 wrote: Hi, We had to stay by Mao the fist few nights in his crate to get him crate trained but also because he needed potty breaks. After a few weeks he would cry and whine for about 5 minutes in his crate and finally go to sleep but would wake up around 6 or so sometime sooner so that was a problem. Our solution was to put the crate in our bedroom next to our bed. We also purchased a second crate that we keep downstairs for when we go out during the day and need to crate him. Maybe not the ideal one but it works great for us and Mao. Since he started sleeping in the crate next to us, there has been no crying or whining and even if he wakes up earlier than me, he will stay calm. when I go to the bathroom that does not bother him or even wake him up sometimes, and when I need to get up really early occasionally for work he will stay in his crate and go back to sleep after I leave since my wife is still sleeping in the bed. Our routine is now stable and it gives us a lot of flexibility since we can leave early or move at night without fearing to wake up the beast.....not to mention that he now sleeps late next to us on the weekends. Good luck Thierry Thank you. We do have crate on the side of the bed and it seems to get better (knocking the wood) I hope, that in couple weeks this issue will be resolved. |
| Reporting progress: In 2 weeks home we are down to 1 overnight trip outside. Whining and crying is here every second night, not for long time.  |
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