Crate/Potty Training Issues

[Tobi Brenner]

Cody is 9 weeks old and I have had him for 1.  I have had multiple adult dogs, but this is my first puppy. Forgive the length of this, but I have been a bit naive about a couple of things and am also learning as Cody is. 

I work from home and initially planned to only crate Cody at night and while I was out. I naively thought that I could manage him outside the crate during the day while I was home and working.  I was wrong.  It is too much and I cannot get anything done.  So on day 4 I started crating full time. I live in a condominium and I take him out every 2-3 hours.  My schedule is below and is basically repeated multiple times a day: 

Wake up
Outside to Potty
Back inside
Breakfast in crate (20-30min)
Back Outside to Potty
Walk/Play outside 20ish mins
Back inside and crate for next 2-3 hours

I initially didn't want to crate like this, but it is the only way I have been able to really get him on a schedule and get him going outside.  That part is going well. He doesn't have many accidents in his crate and we potty in the same spot each time. I was leaving him out of the crate for about 15mins after coming in for a walk before putting him back in, but two days in he started peeing immediately after coming in the house, I believe because he was mad at me... ;)  So I now do walk/play outside and put him in the crate immediately coming back in the house.  

I had been socializing him with the crate and if he is outside the crate he will go in and out voluntarily, especially because he now knows I treat him when he goes in there... :)  

So my questions...  He isn't really eating his food at this point. I think because he is upset/mad about being the crate. He eats treats fine, but not really much of his food, and as a result not really pooping. I think that is probably just an adjustment and he will eat when he gets hungry enough.  I don't leave the food in there.  I put it in and take it out at certain time and if he doesn't eat it, he waits until the next round. Am I wrong or should I be doing something different?  

Second, when he is in the crate when I am home, he will eventually settle down if I am still.  The minute I get up to go to the bathroom or the kitchen (where he can still see me) he starts screaming and crying like a crazed maniac. I actually think he might be a bit of a drama queen (king) as often times he will be chewing on a toy and still screeching at the top of his lungs. I completely ignore him and I try to never take him out of the crate to go out when he is screaming or crying. At night, I put a towel over the crate, but leave the front open so he can see out. When I go upstairs he freaks out. The first few nights, he howled and screamed most of the night, which I ignored, but of course didn't sleep at all. The last two nights I have been lying down on the couch where he can still see me with all the lights out until he seemingly falls asleep and then go upstairs. He does cry and scream for about 1/2 hour but then settles down and has slept for like 6-7 hours. I hope that continues 

So as I write this, I guess I recognize that I am making progress, but the screeching and screaming is such a challenge. I guess I want to know...  I am doing the right thing(s)?  Is there a way to calm him when in the crate that I am not already doing?  Is it separation anxiety or simply not wanting to be caged up?  Last but not least, how long does that typically last?  

Thanks for reading and I appreciate any insight any of you have.  I am glad to have found this site!  My Denver Doodle group pointed me to it!  

Tobi

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topic/showPrev...

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

Oh, I just want to snuggle her. So cute!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

The best practice I learned was taking Yarrow out to play, morning, afternoon and evening, so that when we came back into the house she would nap for a couple of hours. I found it exhausting but necessary so that I didn't have a very intelligent little body in the house who was bored and wanting my full attention. The puppy months are fleeting and it's your prime bonding time.

We adopted Yarrow's sister Shiloh 3 months ago. Having the two of them, I can clearly see how the quality puppy time Yarrow and I spent together has made her an expert on anticipating what I expect. You'll have to shuffle your schedule to accommodate time with Cody that will both enrich your relationship with each other and tire him out. Like I said, I was exhausted for the first 6 months (at least) Now, at 14 months, Yarrow's a dream, and helping her sister to understand the rhythm of the household. Enjoy. They grow up so fast and the time you invest now will pay off big time.