Puppy Crate Help Please?
Discussion
Hi there. We've just got a beautiful Golden Retriever puppy. He'll be 10 weeks on Saturday and we've had him since Monday. So far everything appears to have been going fine, he settled into his crate immediately and has been dry all night since Monday. However for the last 2 nights he's begun whining and barking occasionally during the night. The only thing that stops him is to go into the room with him and sit with him for a couple of minutes.
I wait until he's quiet before going in, I think he hears me in the hallway. He stops whining until I appear and he usually drops off to sleep within a couple of minutes.
Since this appears to be a new thing I don't want to encourage him, but he's still a baby and I don't want to leave him unnecessarily if he's genuinely scared or unhappy.
Aside from this he's been an absolute angel and we love him to bits.
I wait until he's quiet before going in, I think he hears me in the hallway. He stops whining until I appear and he usually drops off to sleep within a couple of minutes.
Since this appears to be a new thing I don't want to encourage him, but he's still a baby and I don't want to leave him unnecessarily if he's genuinely scared or unhappy.
Aside from this he's been an absolute angel and we love him to bits.
As said you'll need to ignore him or he'll see whining as a way of gaining your attention.
I'm saying that however ... we got a crate for our pup but she just went frantic when locked in it which wasn't pleasant to watch. In the end we just left the cage door open so she'd sleep in it but was able to wander about when she felt like it. Total waste of time having a cage for us really lol.
We were very lucky as she was house trained by 10 weeks though.
I'm saying that however ... we got a crate for our pup but she just went frantic when locked in it which wasn't pleasant to watch. In the end we just left the cage door open so she'd sleep in it but was able to wander about when she felt like it. Total waste of time having a cage for us really lol.
We were very lucky as she was house trained by 10 weeks though.
All relevant points above.
You could put the crate at the end of your bed so he knows you are there - but before you know it he'll be in the bed with you.
Wonder where we went wrong ? But it was only when he was too tall for the (giant breed) cage and he could see his elder sibling already enjoyed the privilege. Thank heavens for king size beds - also saves on overnight heating.
You could put the crate at the end of your bed so he knows you are there - but before you know it he'll be in the bed with you.
Wonder where we went wrong ? But it was only when he was too tall for the (giant breed) cage and he could see his elder sibling already enjoyed the privilege. Thank heavens for king size beds - also saves on overnight heating.
Have you tried putting a shirt/jumper that smells of you in with him, a ticking alarm clock (mimics the mother's heartbeat) and/or a hot water bottle fot 'the warmth of the pack'?
Aside from that, if the rule is that pupster sleeps in a seperate room then it'll just have to lump. As hard as it is, you going in when he cries just encourages the crying.
Aside from that, if the rule is that pupster sleeps in a seperate room then it'll just have to lump. As hard as it is, you going in when he cries just encourages the crying.
Thanks all. I spent a lot of time yesterday trying to work out if I'd changed anything between the first 3 nights when he was quiet all night and the latter 2 when he didn't. The only things I could think of were 1, that he'd had his first lot of vaccines from the vet on Thursday morning and 2, the weather was much clearer and there was a big full moon shining into his bed.
Couldn't do much about the first one but I curtained off his bed with a blanket last night. Result? He slept quietly all night again. Could just be coincidence of course.
Couldn't do much about the first one but I curtained off his bed with a blanket last night. Result? He slept quietly all night again. Could just be coincidence of course.
Jasandjules said:
No, that sounds like something that would upset a puppy. Hopefully that's the answer.
We put a blanket over the top of the crate that goes down the back and both sides after reading that it creates a "den" environment for the dog. After sticking my head in their once to put his toys in I can testify that it looked liked the cosiest place I've ever seen.It's a dog's life.
Both our Goldens were crate trained as pups...we found that covering the crate as you've done helped as did playing a radio quietly in the background overnight....Classic FM can be your friend 
Our eldest GR seemed to find his bed in the crate a bit warm so we put a large ceramin floor tile in there with him as well, if he wanted to lay on something cooler he could.
Do you leave the crate door open during the day when you're around so he can go in and out at will, that way he can get used to it being his quiet place and doesn't see it as somewhere 'he's put' before he's 'left alone'
Any pics of him?
Our eldest GR seemed to find his bed in the crate a bit warm so we put a large ceramin floor tile in there with him as well, if he wanted to lay on something cooler he could.
Do you leave the crate door open during the day when you're around so he can go in and out at will, that way he can get used to it being his quiet place and doesn't see it as somewhere 'he's put' before he's 'left alone'
Any pics of him?
I did have a blanket over three sides of the crate, but had left the front open, it seemed best, but I've now taken to dropping the blanket right over all four sides. Definitely seems to have helped.
Yes we left the crate door open and he toddles in and out as he pleases during the day, although he's now discovered the sofa so thats his preferred haunt during most of the day.
Can't manage photos very well with a phone, just moved here and BT haven't connected me yet. He did really well again last night, whined and barked to get outside for the toilet and straight back into his crate and to sleep.
Yes we left the crate door open and he toddles in and out as he pleases during the day, although he's now discovered the sofa so thats his preferred haunt during most of the day.
Can't manage photos very well with a phone, just moved here and BT haven't connected me yet. He did really well again last night, whined and barked to get outside for the toilet and straight back into his crate and to sleep.
We are also in the misdt of this with a 12 week old Beagle, He is happy enough to stay in there but if he thinks there is no one about he will holler for about 10 mins and then settle back down.
Sounds like you have it all under control, and we are sticking with the crate training because i believe it is a good way of giving him a part of the house that is his and his alone.
I just wish he would go in it of his own accord during the day.
Sounds like you have it all under control, and we are sticking with the crate training because i believe it is a good way of giving him a part of the house that is his and his alone.
I just wish he would go in it of his own accord during the day.
GordonL said:
Yes we left the crate door open and he toddles in and out as he pleases during the day, although he's now discovered the sofa so thats his preferred haunt during most of the day.
He did really well again last night, whined and barked to get outside for the toilet and straight back into his crate and to sleep.
Good, he's not upset at the crate (as they shouldn't be if used correctly, my understanding is that it makes them feel safe and secure) so as long as it's not used as a punishment area he'll carry on with that.He did really well again last night, whined and barked to get outside for the toilet and straight back into his crate and to sleep.
As a few have correctly pointed out already, don't return once you've closed the crate and gone to bed. I favour covering crates up by the way. When a pup falls asleep in the day I place them in the crate, settle them down a bit then close door cover up and walk away.
I also stop access to water after about 8 to reduce the need to wee and it encourages a quiet night.
Good luck.
Nick.
I also stop access to water after about 8 to reduce the need to wee and it encourages a quiet night.
Good luck.
Nick.
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