Crate training question

[Mgue]

Hi

I just got my 15-wk old cocker/lab cross last Wednesday. I've been trying to get him adjusted to his crate, but he's having a hard time.

When I put him in there before bed, he whines a bit but soon goes to sleep. In the morning, he'll whine and bang until I get up. Today I got up before him so there was no whining.

When I put him in there during the day, like when I can't watch him (he's being housetrained), then he whines, bangs around, bangs on the door, digs up his blankets in there, and even barks. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

When I put him in the crate, should I put him in & then just close the door and walk away? Or should I put him in, pet him and talk to him for a while until he relaxes, and then close the door, and then walk away? I'm not sure what I should be doing to help reduce his anxiety in the crate and make it not such a big deal to be in there.

Let me know what you think! Thanks!

[BenMax]

You are doing everything right thus far. He is not used to the crate and therefore is having anxiety. He will adjust. When you put him in the crate just praise him and walk away. Also, if it is a metal cage, putting something over it usually helps.

In the morning he is starting up probably because he needs to go outside - so that is a good sign. Establishing a routine is very important - same time every morning.

Others may also give you some good tips.

[water101]

Make sure the crate is the right size. When we put our pup in he gets a peanut butter filled Kong and a toy that he likes. He whines a little but soon settles down. Over time the whinning has almost stopped. We also leave the door open on his crate all day when he is not in it. He goes in and out all the time and uses it to store his toys. This allowed him to feel comfortable with his crate.

[mollywog]

is it a wire crate? Like Ben Max suggested, putting a blanket over top of it might help to ease some of the anxiety. Don't give up, just keep it positive!

[Mgue]

The crate is in the kitchen area - we don't want to put it in our bedroom because he is not allowed in the bedroom. We are keeping him away from carpets until he is house-trained. I can try putting in a t-shirt. The door is open all day, but he only sometimes goes in there to lay down. He usually sleeps by the couch where we are.

It's a plastic crate (petcargo) with a wire door. We cover it with a blanket sometimes but I'm not sure if he's less anxious being totally in the dark or if he is less anxious if he can still see us in & around the house…

The crate is a bit big for him right now, and he did soil it twice in the first couple days. But now we put a towel and his bed in it, and he loves his bed so much that I think that helps him keep from soiling it. He hasn't soiled it since we put his bed in there.

We have a Kong - do I just spoon regular peanut butter into it?

We do have to leave him alone for about 2 - 3 hours a day when our work schedules overlap. He's been left alone a couple times for 2 - 3 hours and he's done fine. I'm trying to crate him more even when I am home, and I give him treats but I'm worried about giving him too many treats (he's gained 6 lbs in 6 days since we got him, as I put in the Food forum).

I'll start feeding him his meals in his crate too…

I can't wait until my dog LOVES his crate!! It breaks my heart to put him in there!

[jessi76]

all dogs are different, mine prefers the wire crate, no blanket over it. he likes to see his surroundings. experiment to find your dog's preference.

it should be big enough for him to lay comfortably, stand, and turn around in. not big enough to soil one end, sleep on the other.

good idea to crate while you ARE home as well. alot of ppl forget that. I did it, when I cleaned the floors (to keep him off the wet floor) and so he learned the crate does not always mean we are leaving the house.

ETA: you can put PB in the kong, other good fillers are mild cheeses, yogurt, canned puppy foods, etc.. there are many KONG recipes and suggestions on this site.

[jessi76]

where is the crate? crating works best if it's in the same room as you, preferably next to your own bed. you can then reach it to put a finger close to the pup to reassure him it's ok. try putting a dirty t-shirt in w/ the pup - scent plays a powerful role, can be very reassuring to a new puppy.

Pups aren't born loving a crate. you need to SLOWLY build up time spent in a crate, and ALWAYS keep it positive. start by crating for a min or 2, work up to 10 min, work up to 30 min, then up to an hour or so. a pup should be crated for 1 hr equal to month old. 15 wks = 3mths = 3 hrs TOPS at one time. of course, you should work up to 3hr, not start off at 3 hrs.

to keep it positive, always praise, treat and even feed in the crate. I got my dog a water bottle (much like a very large one you'd see on a hamster cage) so he didn't spill his water while in the crate.

wait by his crate and when there is a split second break in the whining, let him out. he'll learn good calm behavior is the way to go.

if you keep it positive, short time periods, and as the other poster said, routine, he'll come to LOVE his crate. my dog happily runs into his whenever we say the command "kennel". in fact, I often find him and my cats in there snuggling!

[mona_b]

Originally Posted by jessi76

where is the crate? crating works best if it's in the same room as you, preferably next to your own bed. you can then reach it to put a finger close to the pup to reassure him it's ok. try putting a dirty t-shirt in w/ the pup - scent plays a powerful role, can be very reassuring to a new puppy.

Pups aren't born loving a crate. you need to SLOWLY build up time spent in a crate, and ALWAYS keep it positive. start by crating for a min or 2, work up to 10 min, work up to 30 min, then up to an hour or so. a pup should be crated for 1 hr equal to month old. 15 wks = 3mths = 3 hrs TOPS at one time. of course, you should work up to 3hr, not start off at 3 hrs.

to keep it positive, always praise, treat and even feed in the crate. I got my dog a water bottle (much like a very large one you'd see on a hamster cage) so he didn't spill his water while in the crate.

wait by his crate and when there is a split second break in the whining, let him out. he'll learn good calm behavior is the way to go.

if you keep it positive, short time periods, and as the other poster said, routine, he'll come to LOVE his crate. my dog happily runs into his whenever we say the command "kennel". in fact, I often find him and my cats in there snuggling!

In the 24+ years of owning dogs(not including when I was a child),I have never crated.And had lots of carpet....And my guys had free run at 5 1/2 months.But I do agree with this.The mistake some people make is not introducing the pup to it slowly.This pup is in a new enviroment and is sorta scared.But on the other hand,some people have the pup in the crate to much.When the pup is out,you need to learn the signs when he/she needs to go out...

it serves as a den, a dog's natural habitat.

See this is where I have to disagree.It's not a dogs "natural habitat".We have domesticated dogs.They don't know what a "den" is.Dogs go into labour,they are put in a whelping box,or a bed is set up.We are talking dogs not wolves.

Just a suggestion.How about feeding him a bit earlier.Say 8am?

Also,how about taking him in the car when your fiance drives you?This way he can start getting used to the car?

Sometimes keeping them away from carpets till housetrained can backfire.You can have him on carpets,but just keep a close eye on him.If you see him sniffing,then you know.My niece just adopted 2 pups,(7 weeks) and my nephew adopted the other sibbling.There is tons of carpeting,and the pups are all over the place on it....They keep a close eye on them.