Crate Training Issues

LuigisMomma · 01-12-2007, 07:18 PM

Hello,
I have a Dachshund mix who we've had since December 19th. Since Day One, my boyfriend insisted he sleep at night in a crate or kennel. We got him one the day we got him and placed a bone inside and a towel for comfort, even though they say they'll potty on something soft. He absolutely hates it. We place him in there at night and were told to place a box or something to make it small enough for him as he is smaller right now and he'd get comfy. We've done every suggestion I have been told and I'm getting almost nowhere. Every time the door is shut, he starts yelping and crying. I was told he'd do it for a few days and then he'd stop, but it's been almost a month and he still does it. This isn't just for 5 minutes either. Sometimes it's only 15 mins and other times it can be well over a half hour. I take him outside to potty before I put him in there, he's been fed and played with and usually he's really sleepy when we do put him in there. I don't know what else to do. He just seems like he hates to be alone. It's hard to get him to even sleep without being next to someone directly and touching someone. He did take to a dog bed in our living room, but I need to get him to be okay with a crate at night and when we are gone. It kills me and I cannot sleep with him crying like that. Any suggestions on what else to do? This isn't my first pet, but it's the first pet I've ever had to crate train. Thanks

Moey · 01-12-2007, 07:34 PM

What do you do when he cries? Do you get up and attend to him or do you ignore it?

LuigisMomma · 01-12-2007, 07:38 PM

Everyone tells me to ignore him. If I know he doesn't actually need to potty or anything, I make myself ignore it. If I got attend to him, he'll just think he can cry and get what he wants, which is to be let out, right?

Moey · 01-12-2007, 07:42 PM

Once they go to sleep, the next time they wake up and cry you can see if they have to go potty. If not then place them back into the cage.

If it's a new pup than they went from sleeping with the litter to sleeping alone. It's a hard transition.

I am currently going through cage training with my doxie I got last week. Everyday is an improvement.

Try feeding him at the cage with the door open to get him used to the cage and to associate something positive with it.

LuigisMomma · 01-12-2007, 07:50 PM

I'll try to do more of that with him. He's just so hard to hear! Haha, but I'm good about not letting it get to me so bad I just go rescue him at night. Everyone tells me to wait it out, but it just seems like after 3 weeks, it'd be getting better and it doesn't seem to be. Thanks for your help!

DogAdvocat · 01-12-2007, 08:20 PM

Have you tried leaving a sound source on? They used to recommend a ticking clock to replicate the mother's heart beat. But talk radio or CNN on tv is good. As Moey said, he's used to being with his litter, and now he feels all alone. The voices may soothe him.

By the way, how old is he?

LuigisMomma · 01-14-2007, 08:09 PM

I was thinking about trying a sound or something. I've had him since December 19th and he was born on Oct. 14th, so he's basically 3 months old...

babydolwv · 01-15-2007, 12:29 AM

im not sure if this will help, but my pup whined the first time i put her in the crate and i hated it as we had gotten her from the pound...i felt as she had been locked up enough, but when i finally decided to do it what i did was put an old shirt that i had worn around the house in the crate with her so she had my smell as well as being able to see i was right in the same room with her.... i also put 1 of her chew toys in there with her to give her something to do while in there..... hope that helps some....

drfong · 01-15-2007, 12:43 AM

How big is the dog and crate. You are right not to reinforce the dog for crying by letting it out. Never let the dog out while its whining. Wait until it's quite and then let it out. If the crate is portable put it next to your bed and you can reach down and put your finger in there and it should calm it down. It worked with both of mine. Now I can put the crate anywhere and they don't mind at all. Get a good food bowl that clamps to the crate and always feed it in there. Teach the dog to self crate by giving the crate command and treating when the dog goes in. I suggest a clicker to mark when the dog goes in. Both mine now both automaticly go into the crates as soon as they see me get the food. It really is possible, good luck