Crate training

[Flowerofthefen]

So our first night wasn't a total failure. I thought/ was hoping could put pup in crate and retrieve pup in the morning!! O no!! We let her fall fast asleep outside crate but as soon as we popped her in and closed the door she was terrible. Climbing the sides, she pooed everywhere, making a right noise. We had to get her out to clean everything up. Did the same again, let her fall asleep but this time I made a bed next to her. She managed a few hours then started again so got her out, let her fall asleep and she has just woken up and been outside for a pee. I'm planning on doing the same for a few nights until she feels more secure. Our lab cried the first few nights of crate training which we ignored, but she didn't try and kill herself on the process. I hope I'm doing the right thing? Any tips? If it were up to me she would be in the bed!!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Unfortunately there is no easy answer it takes time, so just persevere if your crate training. Its all brand new for her?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Unfortunately there is no easy answer it takes time, so just persevere if your crate training. Its all brand new for her?

Thank you. My cunning plan is to sleep next to her for a few nights then gradually move further away. Hoping it's the right thing to do in our situation..

 

[SAujla]

Get a crate cover to make it feel more like a den if you haven't already. Be careful of leaving anything in there with her that isn't safe for a puppy

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thank you. My cunning plan is to sleep next to her for a few nights then gradually move further away. Hoping it's the right thing to do in our situation..

Yeah thats what I would do ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Thank

Get a crate cover to make it feel more like a den if you haven't already. Be careful of leaving anything in there with her that isn't safe for a puppy

Thank you. We've covered it over but left the front uncovered, would you cover that or leave it so she can see us?? Everything is well out of the way!!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Yeah thats what I would do ?

That's good then!! Its easy to give someone else advice but when it's your own it's very hard!!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would make the crate a place she wants to be in, put a few safe toys in there pop her in and give her a treat close the door and stay by the crate at first. Leave the door open when you are not crate training her during the day, so that she can find her toys in there.
I wouldn't let her wake up where she didn't fall asleep, that's too disorienting for a pup imo.
If your older dog is in the same room as the crate she shouldn't really need you to sleep with her as she will have company.

 

[DabDab]

I would make the crate a place she wants to be in, put a few safe toys in there pop her in and give her a treat close the door and stay by the crate at first. Leave the door open when you are not crate training her during the day, so that she can find her toys in there.
I wouldn't let her wake up where she didn't fall asleep, that's too disorienting for a pup imo.
If your older dog is in the same room as the crate she shouldn't really need you to sleep with her as she will have company.

This. Personally I wouldn't use the night time to crate train her. I would crate train her using toys and making it generally an inviting place during the day, and then gradually build up to shutting her in there. At night I would leave the crate open as an option in the hope she finds comfort there, but I wouldn't shut her in for the first time of a night, nor move her in there while she's asleep. If there is another dog there then she should be fine to just stay wherever they stay (presuming it has easy clean floors ?). She'll probably cry for you a bit to start off with, but she'll get used to it

 

[Carlosmum]

Mine would be popped into the crate anytime I needed a break or went out without the pup. Treat each time, close the door and don't interact until you let her out again. Maybe a hot water bottle for warmth. My lurcher is nearly 11 she still goes into her crate at night and anytime we dont want visitors bounced. But always with a treat.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Thanks again for the advice. Our other dog is not sure what to make of her at the minute. Will she be safe enough just to leave out downstairs over night? Floors are wooden with a thick rug one end so not bothered about the cleaning up. I used a hot water bottle last night and I'm sure it helped. I could try her out overnight and sleep in the next room so I can hear her?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Currently in crate , door open , fast asleep!!

 

[DabDab]

Currently in crate , door open , fast asleep!!

That's good, as long as she gets used and comfortable to sleeping in there then even if she whimpers a bit when you leave her she should be able to comfort herself without you needing to intervene.

 

[AmyMay]

Thanks again for the advice. Our other dog is not sure what to make of her at the minute. Will she be safe enough just to leave out downstairs over night? Floors are wooden with a thick rug one end so not bothered about the cleaning up. I used a hot water bottle last night and I'm sure it helped. I could try her out overnight and sleep in the next room so I can hear her?

Personally, no I wouldn’t leave out unattended overnight.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Personally, no I wouldn’t leave out unattended overnight.

No I wouldn't either, they can find all sorts of things to do that would never have occurred to you. If she is in the crate overnight, you should be able to leave the older dog in he same room safely. If she is happy in the crate with the door open now, I would pop her in a few times during the day today, for short periods and then leave her overnight with the older dog for company.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

W

Personally, no I wouldn’t leave out unattended overnight.

We've got too many puppy unfriendly things around so I'm worried about doing that

 

[Morwenna]

I would do some crate games with her during the day so she starts to associate it with good things. Mine was crated from the first night but she was used to sleeping in a puppy pen with her litter mates so it wasn’t a huge step for her. I still would rest my hand on the top of the crate until she settled so she knew I was there. She was worse if I put her in her crate during the day but if I sat on the floor next to her but not looking at her with my fingers resting on the bars so she knew I was there but wasn’t getting anything from me she’d settle and fall asleep.

 

[SAujla]

Feed her in the crate, make a positive association. I agree with others and that you don't want to give her the run of the downstairs just yet. Maybe get a kong and let her work on it in the crate, then she should be sleepy and want to rest anyway. I usually liked one hour awake and two hours asleep when I had a puppy. Pick up water around 7-8 so more chance of empty bladder overnight.

If you do give her a kong witbutter pate or peanut butter in then be sure to subtract from her daily allowance. A fat puppy will be a fat adult.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Thanks again all. I popped her in crate about 20 mins ago with a knog and a few puppy chewy things. She has screamed the house down but has just literally crashed out!! I must remain strong!!! She had visitors this afternoon so hopefully that will wear her out!!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Personally, no I wouldn’t leave out unattended overnight.

Not with another dog around.

I’ve just removed my crates, dogs are 14 months and unfortunately, they decided to try to tear up the fabric toy box at 8am so the OH didn’t get his much needed lie in.I was sparky in the spare room! It’s a shame, because they haven’t used their crates for 2 weeks, but we had a very quiet day yesterday.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Thanks again all. I popped her in crate about 20 mins ago with a knog and a few puppy chewy things. She has screamed the house down but has just literally crashed out!! I must remain strong!!! She had visitors this afternoon so hopefully that will wear her out!!

Take her everywhere you can, even a 15 minute car drive used to wear out Bear.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Not with another dog around.

I’ve just removed my crates, dogs are 14 months and unfortunately, they decided to try to tear up the fabric toy box at 8am so the OH didn’t get his much needed lie in.I was sparky in the spare room! It’s a shame, because they haven’t used their crates for 2 weeks, but we had a very quiet day yesterday.

Our fox red was crared fir around a year. She was an horrendous chewer and it was mire for her safety than anything. It took a few weeks but in the end she would take herself off a go and lay in it. Once she stopped chewing we took the crate away. Those first few nights were sleepless, not knowing what we would find in the morbut she was great!

 

[Morwenna]

One thing I was taught in our puppy class was that whatever she gets in the crate in the way of food / treats has to come from the crate and not you. So put whatever it is on the floor rather than handing it to her. Dropping treats / bits of their kibble allowance through the ceiling bars is also a fun game for them.

 

[Teaselmeg]

She needs company at least for the first few weeks. Letting a puppy cry it out and leave to self sooth can create attachment and training issues going forward. I would have the crate in your bedroom for a few weeks, then slowly move it out of the bedroom to where you want her to sleep. Have a look at Susan Garrett's crate games on Youtube to make the crate a nice place to be.

Also remember that puppies cannot control their bladders at a young age, so will need to go out in the night.

 

[palo1]

I definitely wouldn't leave out unsupervised with another dog at night!! I suggest lots of lovely positive moments and short stays in the crate during the day; a special toy or treat that is only given in the crate and try to just get up in the night once or twice to re-settle/take for a pee etc. Routines build confidence

 

[CorvusCorax]

As mentioned, we have to train them to like it, they won't automatically know what it's for. She's just been removed from everything and everyone she has ever known to a complete new environment.

Again, you will probably also need to stay with her at night, beside it and eventually start to leave once she is asleep. It takes a few weeks generally, days if you're lucky. The ones who get it from day one are few and far between and have sometimes had some prep before leaving.

Mine are all crated overnight in flight boxes, ranging in age from two to 12. I live in a rental property and they like to put inappropriate things in their gob so it is for their safety as much as my convenience. The two year old took about 14 days to settle as she was from a large litter and I slept in the hall, as mentioned, I got up every few hours overnight as it's unusual for a very young puppy to be able to hold it overnight. I can barely manage it myself these days.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I definitely wouldn't leave out unsupervised with another dog at night!! I suggest lots of lovely positive moments and short stays in the crate during the day; a special toy or treat that is only given in the crate and try to just get up in the night once or twice to re-settle/take for a pee etc. Routines build confidence

I popped her in crate today. We had a 20 min melt then then settled. I went to bring in horses and popped to the shop. She was settled for a good hour before went. I couldn't hear any crying when I came back and she was quiet whilst I put bit of shopping away so I let her out calmly, no fuss, took her out for a peewhich she did, so lots of praise.

 

[palo1]

I popped her in crate today. We had a 20 min melt then then settled. I went to bring in horses and popped to the shop. She was settled for a good hour before went. I couldn't hear any crying when I came back and she was quiet whilst I put bit of shopping away so I let her out calmly, no fuss, took her out for a peewhich she did, so lots of praise.

Sounds good to me! Just lots of lovely positive stuff related to the crate and being prepared to get up to let out a few times in the night to start with will be short term pain, long term gain and a safe, happy pup. I bet you are thrilled with Pip already?!!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Our fox red was crared fir around a year. She was an horrendous chewer and it was mire for her safety than anything. It took a few weeks but in the end she would take herself off a go and lay in it. Once she stopped chewing we took the crate away. Those first few nights were sleepless, not knowing what we would find in the morbut she was great!

I have two (as always) so they encourage each other. The big dog, 12, just looks horrified. ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Take her everywhere you can, even a 15 minute car drive used to wear out Bear.

We will make sure we take her all over with us, thank you.