Could a new crate cause this?

[Christina and Timber]

Me
Please help. My 5 month old pup was perfectly crate trained and happy in her crate from the day I brought her home at 8 weeks. I had to get a new crate because my friend needed her crate back for her cats...and this is night 4 of crying, barking, and tearing at the crate. It is almost IDENTICAL to the other one, but it is white. Same bedding, location, everything! I am sad for ill' Timber, and frustrated. I don't know what to do.


Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/#ixzz38e30DhDF

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Why don't you ask your friend if you could trade crates? I would try and get the old one back. Who knows....maybe it smells differently or something. Good luck!

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

I agree, I would maybe see if she can trade you the used one for your new one? 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

odd, I think.  Laurie's suggestion is all I can think of if all things about this crate are equal.  

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Did you move the location?  Is the crate with you in your room where you sleep?  Can your pup see and smell you at night?

Dogs want to be close to you!!

Other than that, Laurie has the best suggestion. Trade the new crate for  the old crate.

At five months, I was able to leave my pup out in my room with my bedroom door closed at night.  Only in the day when I was gone did I use one.  It was okay because I did not have a pup that chewed or would get into dangerous things but it was a very young age to leave out freely.

[Stella]

I would imagine that the new crate smells different and for some reason it is upsetting her. Did you wash her blankets in preparation for her new crate? This will add to the difference in smell. You may have to do some crate training with her to help her realize this new crate is just fine too.

[Christina and Timber]

Yes, I have asked my friend if we can swap for the original crate, so we will see how it goes...we swap tomorrow. Thank you for all of the advice. I did not change the bedding or wash it. Everything is the same. I even put my t-shirt in it. This is our last night to give this new crate a try. It would be great if she takes to it. She was so easy in her old one. I have been putting treats in this one, kong stuffed with peanut butter, lots of love and belly rubs in front of the crate, etc. So far, she will go in to get the treats, then brings them back out to enjoy them. She is too smart sometimes. ;-)

[Julie and Charlie]

About that age, maybe a month or two older, Charlie decided he was done with his crate- he chewed/pawed a hole in the canvas bottom. I decided not to argue with him. (We all know who is in charge at my house, lol) I just used a gate in front of the bedroom door or close it to keep him from getting into trouble. Now, I still use the gate to prevent him from getting up too early and harassing the garbage truck in the morning :)

[Christina and Timber]

Julie, thank you for sharing that, it is encouraging. I traded for the old crate, she cried/barked last night for about an hour total. I gave her rescue remedy and sent hubby down to sleep on the couch beside her crate. She went right to sleep. This is night 7...I have been creating many possitive associations with the crate...food, treats, pb kong, etc., and I will make a decision on Friday night about my next move. Most likely, if not okay by Friday, I am going to have to move her out of her crate and then try again to re-crate-train her when we return from a trip. Unfortunate timing. She will sleep in x-pen just fine, so I will just do that until we return. But I do want her to love her crate again simply because it will be a very nice way to keep her comfy and safe on trips, long car rides, etc. but we will see. All dogs are different. Wish us luck!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

You may have better luck with the crate if you move it up to your bedroom. That way she can see and feel your presence.

[Christina and Timber]

I agree Laurie that it may help her, but we are going out of town, and I think it would be best to do that upon our return. I will say, however, that she still sleeps comfortably in her x-pen downstairs alone. She has never needed to be in the same room as us, since she was 8 weeks old. The crate is what causes her to be unhappy. So last night I simply put her crate inside of the playpen and left the crate open. All in due time. I just want her to be comfortable. :-) I will give an update in a week or so! :-)

[Christina and Timber]

Hi guys! Here is the update...before I went out of town I got an x-pen so Timber couldn't jump over her playpen anymore, put crate in it and left it open at all times. I feed her all meals and treats in it. Got back from out of town and all is well. I chose to keep the crate open and available to her in the night, inside her x-pen, and she does go in it freely at night ( not sure how much, but some mornings I see her in it.) I will keep doing this, because this is all I need to let me know that, if I needed to crate her for an out-of-town, I can do so without worrying that she will have an aversion to the crate. :-)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Great.