Crate training?
Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at
9:02 am
I just got a new puppy yesterday and have a question about crate training.. when you are home should you leave the puppy in the crate with the door crate closed at any time so she can get used to it? I need tips on crate training please, she is about two months old. so far she has been free and i have been playing with her but when she goes in the crate she starts crying frantically.. do i just wait until she stops or let her out.
Filed under: Puppy Training
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Try not use it for a punishment, but as a time for rest.
Or if you are doing something where you cannot keep an eye on her, for her own safety as well as your sanity
She’s going to cry, but after time, she will get used to it and come to know it as her little place. It’s tough when they cry, but you can’t let them out each time they cry. She’ll cry all the time then just to get her way. It takes a lot of patience, but it is well worth it, and your puppy will be happier in the longrun also.
I only use the crate as their "safe spot". When you are unable to supervise the puppy it should be locked in it’s crate, crying or not. Never use the crate as punishment because your puppy will not want to go in it when it is necessary.
Do not give into the crying. Turn your back and walk away. Be consistant w/this and your baby will settle in sooner than you think.
Lots of toys, pillows, blankets etc., really help alot.
I have crate trained all 3 of my small dogs. When I was training my Yorkie Annie she would cry. I took a shirt of my husbands that he had wore the day before and put that in there for the first night. The next day a bought a bear that played a heartbeat noise. I did that because she was missing her sisters. As far as how long you should leave the pet in the crate. I would take it out every couple of hours so she can potty. Make sure to give lots of praise.
I have crate-trained all 3 of my dogs with great success. I never put them in their crate when I was at home - only when I was away. Be sure and let her out at regular intervals (at her age that would be about every 2 hours or so). You have to ignore the crying as it will get better with time. Eventually, she will enjoy it.
Don’t let her out when she cries! The only thing that she’ll learn is that when she cries, you’ll open the door. It’s really hard to hear, I know…But don’t give in.
When she cries, don’t tell her NO - Tell her It’s OK and Good Girl. Always give her positive reinforcement so she associates the crate with being good, not as punishment.
When you’re home, mix it up. Leave her in the crate sometimes and let her run around sometimes, but leave the door open.
At 2 months, she’ll need to go potty every 3 hours or so…If she cries during the night, let her out to go potty, then put her right back in the crate so that she learns that nighttime is for sleeping.
And have patience…It might take a few weeks for her to get used to the crate. Before you know it, she’ll accept it as her "den" and go in by herself.
I don’t like crates to be used on any dogs, but people are going to do it regarless so I got this info from my vet.
When buying a crate for your puppy you want to be sure it is the right size, In order for it to become a home for your pet the create must be comfortable. It should be large enough to allow your pet to stretch out flat on his side , stand up, and turn around. It is preferable, though , to get a crate that would be to big rather than too small.
Location is key. You want to put the crate in a quiet area of the house where there is as little traffic and excitement as possible. Place a blanket or rug on the bottom of the crate, and provide a nylabone or hard rubber toy for your puppy to chew on.
To indruduce your puppy to his/her new crate start gradually. Encourage them to go into their house. Offer words of praise and encouragement. Leave them in the crate for 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes, eventually working up to half an hour of crate time.
Give your puppy a chance to relieve him/hserself before they are put in the crate. At night don’t give your puppy water after 7:00 or 8:00 pm or at least one hour before bedtime.
In just a few days your puppy should look forward to spending time in the crate and venture outside of it by choice/
It’s not all about crate time, allternate with time to play and time to go to the bathroom . Once your puppy is trained he/she can be put in the crate for one or two hours at a time throughout the day during nap time or when they are alone.
Gradually accustom your puppy to being in the create while you are in another room. Never use the crate a means of punishment. Then it will be useless as a training tool.
If you will be gone for a long period of time, put you puppy in an enclosed area with his crate door open. Leave a pile of newspapers as far away from the crate as you can, because naturally you puppy will want to relieve him/herself as far away as possible from where they sleep.
Make sure your puppy is happy and content when he/she is inside the crate. If they are firghtened, sit by the crate and reassure your puppy the best you can.
you get puppy adjusted by making that the best place in the house; the place where her toys are, comfy etc ; you leave the door open and let her choose it as the best place in the house;for her to choose to go in and out at will and lay down in there etc; if you make it a great place to go , you won’t have a problem and she will go in willingly for security; think of it in terms of yourself; you make the choice; if you were locked in a closet, wouldn’t you cry??
Good question! And congrats for not only adopting your pup for asking a great question that will help not only your dog but also yourself.
If your dog is resisting the crate, you’re right to want to put her in the crate for periods of time when you’re home together. Keep the crate in the room you’re in most of the time (ie: the living room) and close the door. IGNORE THE CRYING. When she’s quiet tell her good girl and give her a treat. Dogs are ruled by their tummies! Find a treat that she gets ONLY in the crate - we use dried liver treats.
Let her watch you coming and going - to the bathroom, outside to get the mail. Get her used to having you leave the room and come back. Anytime you leave the room and she’s quiet, drop a treat in her crate and praise praise praise. Anytime you leave the room and she’s crying - tell her better luck next time and no treat.
If she’s been quiet for a good spell, let her out and play, but repeat with the episodes of at home crating so she can get used to the fact that crate is a safe place and home.
My dog crates herself if there’s loud noises or if she’s had enough of the other dog. She’ll even open the door with her paw to get IN.
Remember, anytime the dog goes into the crate - use a command like CRATE or KENNEL, praise praise and give the crate only treat. Anytime the dog is quiet, praise praise and treat. She’ll learn in no time that the crate means good things.
Good luck! One last thing - never EVER give into the whining unless you’re sure the dog needs to potty. Otherwise the dog is training YOU.
http://www.leerburg.com is a website that really helped me out when I first got my dog(s). Ed has a firm hand, but his theories really work.
All the best!
Every puppy needs a proper, positive introduction to his crate. Sounds like you need to back up a step or 2 to get your puppy to associate positive things with his crate.
Leave the door open for now and toss food in the crate fairly often for your pup to go and get herself. If you have any food outside the crate for the pup, pick it up and use that.
The first few times that she has to go into the crate, and you have to shut the door, be sure that the pup is *tired*. This will cut down on the fussing.
Cover the crate if you need to cut down on the fussing. Do not reward the dog in any way for fussing in the crate. Do not ever let her out while she’s making noise - she must be quiet to be let out.
Dogs are notorious for ‘training’ their people. "Aha! If I make this noise loudly enough, and long enough, they will eventually let me out of here! Baroooo!" Ignore this and reward silence. Be crystal clear about this - you’ll be glad you were. It’s a great thing to have a dog race to her crate in anticipation of something wonderful, rather than having a dog who slinks in there and cries because she was never rewarded for being in there.
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001/crate.htm