Need Help! Puppy and Crate training!

[dangler]

Hi Guys!

I got a new puppy 10 days ago from a friend of mine. My problem with him is the crate! They gave me a blanket that was in with his mom and a toy that was in with all the puppies. I got him a travel crate and have rolled blankets along the sides to make it smaller. I have in it his blanket and toy plus a rubber chicken he loves to play with.
Everytime he goes in it he screams, squeals, digs, sounds like he is banging himself off the sides and many times he soaks himself. His face, neck and paws. I take him out every couple hours to pee, but he screams the whole time in it! My vet said to ignore him, but last night I would say no everytime he started. He did quiet and actually slept for 5 hours. I am not sure if I should just give up or keep going. I would like him to be in a crate while we are at work, I even tried putting a kong in there this afternoon with him. When I got home he was soaked and the kong was still full of peanut butter untouched.
Please Help!!!

 

[D&DDisney]

Its very stressfull for a puppy at first. But if you can make it through the first few weeks, he'll be fine. Ours cried in there most nights for about 3 weeks or so. She also wet herself a lot and chewed or destroyed a few toys along the way. Eventually she got used to it and it helped cut down on training time. Plus she found it a place of comfort after getting used to it. I swear by crate training.

So just keep washing the blankets and press forward. Good luck!

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

We crate trained our Westie and this is where she always sleeps. First thing to remember is your puppy must like going into the crate. This took some time for us. This is how we did it.

First, we made sure the crate was the right size. The crate should be just large enough to allow your puppy to stand. Most puppies will not wet or soil their crate if it is the proper size. Next, introduce the crate...even if you've been using it for several nights. Get on the floor with the puppy and the crate and open the crate door. Put a small treat (break up larger treats if necessary) in the crate and allow the puppy to go in the crate to get it. He will most likely come right back out...it's okay, our Westie did the same thing. Repeat several times. Then, while the puppy is in the crate, close the door. If he has learned the sit and down commands, have him lay down. Feed a couple treats through the door and then open it. Keep repeating this until the puppy has been in the crate for a bit. Then, eventually have the puppy get in the crate and you move further and further away. Then, go into another room. Keep working up distance.

There is plenty of GOOD advice on the internet on how to crate train.

All we have to do at night, is say, "Abbie, go to bed" and she RUNS to her crate. We don't hear from her until morning (she is now 1 1/2 years old).

Yes, it takes time and patience. I only tell you about how good our dog is doing to encourage you.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You are in charge not the puppy. Remember that everytime you feel sorry for him. I used to think of them as "toddlers" having a tantrum or later when they are older "bratty teens".

Training begins NOW and you need to establish that you are the alpha and not the puppy.

Can you walk the puppy on a leash outside? I highly recommend getting puppy out there, training him to heel on a leash and then mid walk you do a simple sit, stay, down session.

Obviously it will be simple at first and pup will struggle with things but they learn fast what you want, trust me.

 

[WDSearcher]

I totally agree with the "make it fun" concept. We try really hard to NEVER use the word "no" when it comes to the crate. If you want the puppy to want to be in the crate, he can never ever see it as a punishment. So stop telling him "no" when he starts to cry. If he starts thinking that the "no" is related to the crate, then you're sunk.

Remember that this little guy is alone for the first time in his life. He was with his mother and his siblings and now he has neither. He's scared and he's lonesome. It will take him some time to understand that he is safe and loved with you. I know ten days seems like forever, but it's really not, compared to how long he was with his mother and brothers and sisters. Be patient just a little longer and it will pay off.

You might also want to stop trying new thing after new thing. He's got his blanket, his toy and his favorite rubber chicken. Leave it at that. Forget trying the Kong right now or other things. It honestly won't get him where you want him any faster. It will, however, confuse him as to what you want.

 

[D&DDisney]

I will second what IbeAbitGOOFY said about putting treats in the crate. I forgot that we did this too. Everytime she came back in from going outside we would run to the crate and put the treat inside. Eventually she too would sit down and eat the treat or run to the crate w/o a prompt.

 

[dangler]

Thanks for the replies and the advice! You guys are awesome

 

[kacaju]

try covering the crate with a blanket at night. My dd helps out our breeder with training her show puppies. 2 out of the 4 pups we have had I had to cover the crate at night so they would stop barking.

 

[catgirl]

Our puppy screamed for 2 weeks! It would last all night long, I didn't think we would make it through her adjustment period. I started using ear plugs, closing the bedroom door, put the cage in the lower level (not basement) and slept with the tv on trying to drown out the screams. Finally, when I decided I had to give in due to the lack of sleep, she finally slept through the night. I was so glad I toughed it out. It is so worth it! Hang in there.