curious about the crate

amp9364 · 03-25-2008, 07:24 AM

For those of you who crate trained puppies-how long did it take for them to get used to it and actually sleep at night? Last night was night # 3 for us and he is pretty quiet if we are laying right next to the crate, but he still won't really relax, he just moves around a lot. If we leave the room, he cries and barks. I don't want to sleep on the living room floor next to the crate forever! I would love to hear your experiences. Also, we were going to put his crate in our bedroom but we have a pretty large steep flight of stairs that he cannot go up and down, thats why it has to be in the living room. Thanks! Ann

JenTN · 03-25-2008, 08:20 AM

Bo is 14 weeks, and we have had him for 2 weeks. I slept on the couch for the first 5 nights or so, now he sleeps in the living room in his crate by himself. He usually barks for a bit (anywhere from 5-10 minutes).

I vary our routine to get him used to different situations. Sometimes I will stay in the living room til he falls asleep, other times I don't. I also crate him during the day when he naps. He will go in there on his own to take a nap sometimes. He has a pretty indestructable bed in there and never tries to chew it, and he is much happier with his bed in there ($20 at Sam's Club). I crate him if I have to leave the room (to do laundry, etc) and vary it by walking by and talking to him as I do my stuff or completely ignoring him.

I keep chewies that he can't destroy in there with him as well.

I try to make his betime before the family's, so we don't get frustrated by barking that will wake the kids.

Hope that helps a little!

Kyllobernese · 03-25-2008, 09:55 AM

Another thing you can try is put a blanket over the crate to make it darker and more cosy at night and he won't be as concerned when you are coming and going.

Sugar Daddy Otis · 03-25-2008, 10:06 AM

I had to sleep in front of the crate for about 5 days with Otis, each night I got further and further away from it- and he got used to it. I also put a stuffed animal in there so he would feel comfier as if he was with his littetmates and it helped.
I've known some people to have 2 crates- one up and one downstairs so that the pup didn't have to go up/down to go into the crate.

Chindo_Gae_Cerberus · 03-25-2008, 10:16 AM

amp9364:

Well it is different for each dog, I'd roughly say 1 week - 6 months+. But it is not definite.

Are you crate training this dog WHILE you are home during the day as well? Not just when it's time for bed.

Feed him every meal in his crate.
Give all chew toys in his crate.
Give all treats/rewards in his crate.
Associate the command "crate" (going into his crate) with a reward.
Cover the crate with a towel or blanket (some dogs like this, some don't).
Give him a bed inside the crate (some like this, some don't).

As he's already staying quiet in the crate WHEN you are in the room, you can start training further by telling him to go in the crate, reward, and then just barely step out of his site for about 30 seconds.
If he's quiet for the fully 30 seconds come back and let him out of his crate (do NOT reward or act excited about your return.)

Do this over and over and over every day.

As long as your dog stays quiet, slowly extend that 30 seconds to 1 minute... 2 minutes... what have you.

Don't set your dog up for failure.
If your dog pasts the 30 second test, do not immediately jump to a 5 minute test.
Baby steps forwards (and backwards if needed).

TooneyDogs · 03-25-2008, 10:30 AM

We've always crated in our bedroom...close enough to touch them/reassure them/hear them. All of our pups have slept through the night (6-6 1/2 hour schedule) for the most part from 8 weeks on.
The introduction of the crate takes a few days but, that's not the real issue for puppies....it's the social isolation (leaving the room...left all alone...vulnerable). Building the pups trust and confidence is the main training concern.

briteday · 03-25-2008, 12:11 PM

Our dogs ride home the first time in a crate and they sleep from the first night on in a crate. It's just a part of life at our house.

I've not had a whiner with a lot of endurance. All of mine settle down within 5 minutes or so. Generally the crate is kept in a bedroom until they have settled into the household in general. Sometimes they stay in the bedroom, but if they are noisy sleepers they join the crew out in the family room...with the door closed.

Also, be sure your pup is good and tired before putting them to bed in the crate. A tired dog is more likely to sleep.

wvasko · 03-25-2008, 02:13 PM

Having read many crate/breaking posts on forum I know I am in a minority, In fact I may be the only one who crate breaks their dogs in a different room. Our bedroom is for our sleep and I find that the pup not being distracted by our presence do fine. Not suggesting anybody rush out and do this with their new pups, everybody's got to do what they think works for them.

amp9364 · 03-25-2008, 06:32 PM

Thanks everyone! Yes we are crating him for short periods while we are home and leaving for short periods. It seems like he does pretty well except at night, I guess we will just have to let him cry/bark it out. Hopefully it doesnt last too long!

triaxle32590 · 03-25-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amp9364

For those of you who crate trained puppies-how long did it take for them to get used to it and actually sleep at night? Last night was night # 3 for us and he is pretty quiet if we are laying right next to the crate, but he still won't really relax, he just moves around a lot. If we leave the room, he cries and barks. I don't want to sleep on the living room floor next to the crate forever! I would love to hear your experiences. Also, we were going to put his crate in our bedroom but we have a pretty large steep flight of stairs that he cannot go up and down, thats why it has to be in the living room. Thanks! Ann

I am sleeping on my couch and have been for the last 5 weeks... My puppy is sleeping through the night now..... But in the beginning I had to stay with him and wake up at night to take him out to go potty....I would take him out at 7 pm 11 pm 2 am then he would sleep till around 6 am....My back is killing me but I am going to see this through.... He did have a few accidents in the crate but he now gives a little wimper if he needs to go..Now he goes potty at 7pm and 9 pm and then sleeps till around 6 or 7 am and some times I have to wake his lazy butt up to go out.....The person I got him from had him use to the crate so we didn't have any problems with him going in to it....The crate is a great thing and it is well worth the time you put in to it...If he starts to whine don't take him out let him wimper he will settle down after a while ... Just say to your self " he's been fed and he has gone potty and he is not hurt so he is fine.. Let him wimper I promise he will settle... Also try to cover the crate with a blanket and leave the front of the crate uncovered so he can see out at bed time and also tell him night night...My puppy knows when I say night night and cover his crate its time to settle and go to sleep.... I hope this helps ... And good luck with the new puppy...

JenTN · 03-25-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvasko

Having read many crate/breaking posts on forum I know I am in a minority, In fact I may be the only one who crate breaks their dogs in a different room. Our bedroom is for our sleep and I find that the pup not being distracted by our presence do fine. Not suggesting anybody rush out and do this with their new pups, everybody's got to do what they think works for them.

I agree with you on this point! For us, it works best this way. I slept in the living room with him the first few nights because of the transition, but now he is in the crate in our living room alone. I get up and down so many times at night, I would probably disturb him and I don't like the idea of having a crate in my small bedroom anyway. I do leave the TV on for Bo.

RonE · 03-25-2008, 09:33 PM

Molly was the first puppy I had in 40 years, but she was fine in the crate (in the hallway outside our bedroom) from day one.

I think it helped having a big, maternal Plott hound sleeping right in front of the crate where they could see each other.

sheltiemom · 03-26-2008, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvasko

Having read many crate/breaking posts on forum I know I am in a minority, In fact I may be the only one who crate breaks their dogs in a different room. Our bedroom is for our sleep and I find that the pup not being distracted by our presence do fine. Not suggesting anybody rush out and do this with their new pups, everybody's got to do what they think works for them.

I had/have all of mine in a seperate room too. I'm a very light sleeper, so I started them out crated downstairs in the living room, while our bedroom is upstairs. I let them cry it out and it hasn't taken any more than three days, though the first night with one of my dogs was awful, like three solid hours of screaming in the crate. Maybe you shouldn't take advise from me though, lol, because all my dogs dislike their crates and none will go in on their own to "den" like I keep hearing. They will go in on command, but not just to chill.

Love's_Sophie · 03-26-2008, 12:41 AM

When I get a new puppy, I make sure they have alot of varied crate time during the day, as they learn quicker then, that their crate is their safe haven. I will just randomly put the pup in the crate, with treats, and stuffed kong, and other chewy toys and leave him there for a while...might only be a 1\2 hour, or it might be an hour... At night, because I am a light sleeper I will have them in a separate room, till they learn that crate time at night means quiet\bed time. They won't come into the bedroom until they can be trusted outside of it, because I don't have room in my bedroom for a crate.

I cover the kennel with a towel, as well, as I am up and about sometimes at night; I will take puppy out to potty at least once (depending on his age...sometimes it will be more), during the night. I don't make a fuss over the pup when i put him in the crate at night either; I give him a hug and set him in his crate, and tell him g'night.

doggone6 · 03-26-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvasko

Having read many crate/breaking posts on forum I know I am in a minority, In fact I may be the only one who crate breaks their dogs in a different room. Our bedroom is for our sleep and I find that the pup not being distracted by our presence do fine. Not suggesting anybody rush out and do this with their new pups, everybody's got to do what they think works for them.

You are not alone. First night in the house, they go into the crate at bedtime (NOT in the bedroom) and they don't come out until morning. I've never had one keep up the whining more than a couple of days...and if I ever have one, they'll just have to keep whining until they figure out that they aren't getting out until I get up!

wvasko · 03-26-2008, 09:17 AM

I am surprised to find out that many others also use different rooms for crating. I see nothing wrong with crates in the bedroom, I just find if I get a good nights sleep I can deal with my daytime problems better. Such as a new puppy etc.

amp9364 · 03-26-2008, 09:25 AM

I slept on the couch last night instead of right next to the crate and he did pretty well, only whined for a few minutes in the beginning of the night, then a little bit after each trip outside but he slept in between. I think we are going to try both sleeping upstairs tonight, I know he will cry and bark but hopefully it won't last too long. I still took him out every 2 hrs last night, hopefully soon we can go to at least every 3. I just know he has to pee A LOT during the day so I figure he has to go a couple times at night too. Anyways, thanks for the advice, I love hearing about others experiences.

kerplunk105 · 03-26-2008, 10:41 AM

My puppy is just about 15 weeks. I got her Friday. She has been sleeping through the nights just fine, (thank god!). From about midnight to 8am or so. Her breeder had her crated though before I got her, so she is totally used to it now. She is put in there during the day when we are home as well as when we are not home. She doesnt seem to mind going in there at all. Its located in my bedroom with a towel over the top to give it some privacy, (its the black wire type).

JenTN · 03-26-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amp9364

I slept on the couch last night instead of right next to the crate and he did pretty well, only whined for a few minutes in the beginning of the night, then a little bit after each trip outside but he slept in between. I think we are going to try both sleeping upstairs tonight, I know he will cry and bark but hopefully it won't last too long. I still took him out every 2 hrs last night, hopefully soon we can go to at least every 3. I just know he has to pee A LOT during the day so I figure he has to go a couple times at night too. Anyways, thanks for the advice, I love hearing about others experiences.

Just to let you know, sometimes it feels like Bo is barking/whining for an eternity and i feel so sorry for him. So, tonight I wrote down the exact time he started (when I put him in for bed). It felt like it had to be AT LEAST a half hour, forty-five minutes. In actuality, it was under fifteen minutes.