Puppy Squeal Driving Me Batty

GoingNuts · 09-02-2007, 11:23 PM

My husband and I recently adoped a male beagle puppy for my 12 year old stepdaughter and this dog is making me nuts.
Although I'm not a dog person, I'm doing okay with him except for a problem we're having with crate training:
When we first got him three weeks ago, my stepdaughter (and also my husband) let him sleep loose/in the bedrooms. I am adamant that he needs to be in a crate unless we're watching him, walking, etc.
The problem is that he screams when he's in his crate. It's a terribly high-pitched, shrill, obnoxious sound that I can hear ALL OVER THE HOUSE.
I'm worried because we're moving into a duplex in two weeks, and I'm concerned about his screaming upsetting our new neighbors. What can I do? We'll be putting his crate onto the 3rd floor with my stepdaughter, but my husband and her can both sleep through the squealing, so I'm worried that she won't let him out/won't be able to shut him up and the neighbors will complain.
Will he outgrow this? Any chance, that if I do my best to ignore the noise when he's in there for the next two weeks, he'll get used to it and stop?
He's driving me crazy, and I know he'll drive the neighbors even more nuts!
HELP!

BoxMeIn21 · 09-02-2007, 11:29 PM

I would just ignore it - providing all his needs are met - his screaming is probably just protest to be seperated from his family.
Where is his crate? You might try putting it in the bedroom with your daughter or yourselves. This way he won't feel so alone, but he'll still be confined. Good luck, I know how hard it is to listen to, he'll get used to it.

GoingNuts · 09-02-2007, 11:35 PM

Unfortunately, his crate is already in my stepdaugter's room. I don't know HOW she sleeps through it...she and my husband are both extremely heavy sleepers. I'm not worried as much about my OWN sanity as I am about our new neighbors. Does anyone know how long it takes for them to outgrow that awful squeal?

BoxMeIn21 · 09-03-2007, 12:00 AM

It really depends on the dog - some take longer than others to get acclimated to their crate. Unfortunately there is no quick fix, other than earplugs.

Curbside Prophet · 09-03-2007, 12:11 AM

I've found that the best way to smooth over neighbors is through their stomachs. So make sure you know where you pack all your best cookie recipes.

You may have stated it in another post, and I apologize for being too lazy to look, but how old is the pup?

GoingNuts · 09-03-2007, 12:14 AM

He's 10-11 weeks old.

Curbside Prophet · 09-03-2007, 12:25 AM

http://www.hssv.org/docs/behavior/dog_crate_training.pdf

sparkybeagle · 09-03-2007, 08:43 PM

Our beagle pup will "squeal" from time to time, generally not for too long though. He will do it if he's confined to the kitchen and can't get to us, but not in his crate. We crate him when we leave the house and at night, he was not crated prior to us bringing him home at 10 weeks.

I make sure that when we leave him during the day I leave a stuffed kong or stuffed hollow bone. It settles him down and will curl up and sleep most of the time were gone (I've snuck back and listened for him). He really loves his crate, I keep the door pulled open with a small bungee cord so the door won't swing and scare him-throughout the day he'll go in and nap. I think it has helped with him in it at bed time. I move it right next to my son's bed at night, for the first few weeks with one of his dirty t-shirts.

A huge help with our pup has been lot & lots of excerscise, an evening walk works wonders. We don't even walk for that long, we are still working on proper leash walking, he is beat when we get home and will generally go to bed around 8:30. I let him have one more drink after the walk then take up water for the night.

-The puppy may be squealng beacuse he's afraid- a t-shirt with your daughters smell may help, some say a ticking clock or background noise helps(we have a small fishtank with a pump that hums).
-He may have to go potty, 10 weeks is really young to make it through the night, my son is only 5 so I had a monitor set up to hear Sparky if he cried to go out at night, I'd take him out & put him right back in.- He sleeps well through the night now at 16 weeks (knock on wood).
-If he's cryng just to cry It will probably just take some time, I wouldn't run right over every time he does it, give him a treat when He's quiet in the crate.

Another thing is that alot beagles love to howl, they can be pretty vocal. We try not to encourage it, but we know it is somthing we will probably have to deal with. We lve in a rural area so howling/barking are not really a nuscience here, but we are starting obedience training to keep these issues in check. We never know when we'll move and it won't be quite so acceptable.

I know that if someone brought me cookies I would be way more likely to turn a deaf ear! Perhaps you should talk to your neigbors and tell them you are working on it before anyone gets upset. I think if people know you're aware of it are being sensitive to the fact it may be disturbing them, they'll be more tolerant.

I don't know if I've been any help to you, we have had some trying moments with our beagle too. But in the end it will be so worth it, he'll be a great companion to your daughter.

-Tricia

Spiritguardian3 · 09-04-2007, 07:53 AM

I have to say, you got a beagle... Why did you get a beagle? lol They are very vocal dogs, looooove to howl/make noise for seemingly no reason and sometimes don't even realise they are doing so. I am not a beagle fan, I think they're adorable but I don't like barking/howling/noise etc. I was just curious if you did your beagle research before you got one or just got one because they're cute...

You can try putting a sheet over the crate (helped my crying puppy), getting a tick-tock clock and wrapping it something so he can hear it but not eat it.

Have you thought of an xpen? You can go on craigslist in your area and might find it a lot cheaper than online. XPens are great for dogs who flip out in their crates, as long as its big enough that he can't knock it over.

Ella'sMom · 09-04-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingNuts

My husband and I recently adoped a male beagle puppy for my 12 year old stepdaughter and this dog is making me nuts.
Although I'm not a dog person, I'm doing okay with him except for a problem we're having with crate training:
When we first got him three weeks ago, my stepdaughter (and also my husband) let him sleep loose/in the bedrooms. I am adamant that he needs to be in a crate unless we're watching him, walking, etc.
The problem is that he screams when he's in his crate. It's a terribly high-pitched, shrill, obnoxious sound that I can hear ALL OVER THE HOUSE.
I'm worried because we're moving into a duplex in two weeks, and I'm concerned about his screaming upsetting our new neighbors. What can I do? We'll be putting his crate onto the 3rd floor with my stepdaughter, but my husband and her can both sleep through the squealing, so I'm worried that she won't let him out/won't be able to shut him up and the neighbors will complain.
Will he outgrow this? Any chance, that if I do my best to ignore the noise when he's in there for the next two weeks, he'll get used to it and stop?
He's driving me crazy, and I know he'll drive the neighbors even more nuts!
HELP!

Ella can squeal like that too. The first few nights were almost unbearable - she didn't even sound like a dog. Amazing how loud a 5 lb. puppy can be! Eventually she stopped. If you go to him he will learn very fast that when he makes that noise he will get a reaction.
Good luck - and yes I agree with you - the puppy needs to be crated at that age.