Crating at almost 9 weeks

[Sarah Kuiper]

Hello from Roomba and his sleepy mommy! 

I need advice for when I have to leave this cutie alone during the day and with crate training. I'm not sure how to start so I guess I'll just explain what's be going on and you guys can give me some advice on what I should or shouldn't be doing! :) 

We took home Roomba 4 nights ago. He's an standard f1b and almost 9 weeks old. The first 3 nights we had the kennel up in our bedroom for crating. He woke up about 3 times each night. We went potty, (he has yet to have a night time accident) then went back up to the kennel right away. I found if I lied next to the kennel for about 10 minutes he would fall asleep and then I snuck back into bed. During the day we carried the kennel downstairs to the family room where we intend to keep the crate full time.

Yesterday was the first time that I had to leave the house. I'm a tutor so I only had to be gone for 1.5 hours, would come home and take him to his vet appointment, be with him for 3 hours, then I had to leave again for another 1.5 for work.  He HATES being more than 5 feet from us, so it was hard. The kennel was downstairs with toys, and a bed. He is used to going in the kennel for meals and treats during the day.

As soon as I left his sight he started crying and barking, and when I came home I still heard him crying and barking before I came in the house. It was obvious he didn't sleep because as soon as I let him out (and we went potty) he napped outside the kennel for almost 3 hours! He really wore himself out but it BROKE MY HEART because as soon as he woke up it was time for me to leave him again :-( !! Should I have tried to keep him awake? Same thing with the 2nd time I had to leave it was clear he cried the whole time and he slept as soon as I got home.

Then last night. We kept the crate downstairs because I knew that I could still hear him if he got up. I lied down next to the kennel for a few minutes and he was out so I went upstairs to bed. At 12 we got up for potty and again he did fine going back to sleep once I laid next to the kennel for a few and snuck away. Back up at 5 (starting to get light out) we went potty, but he would NOT let me leave his side without crying! I tried to sneak away 4 or 5 times but he always noticed and started crying again. He would sleep fine if I was there so I slept on the couch for an hour or so but I really want to teach him to be alone. After pottying one more time I thought maybe he could cry himself to sleep so I went upstairs to bed and he just kept on crying for over an hour until I got up for the day. Oh, and NOW that I'm downstairs he's sleeping!

I feel so bad for him because he is so young and I know he just doesn't want to be alone :( . Any advice? Should I not be laying next to the kennel ? Do I let him cry if I'm sure he doesn't need to potty? and should I be keeping him awake (if possible) if I know I'm leaving soon? Or is there any other way to make him more comfortable being alone for an hour or so?

sorry I wrote a book.                                                                                                                           

[SoSa]

First, your puppy is sooooooooooo cute!!!!

My advice would be to let him cry. If you go to him every time he cries when in the crate, he'll learn that, that's what he needs to do to get out and get attention. It'll take a few days to get used to his new home, so he will cry when in the crate. You'll just need a thick skin and patience to let him cry it out. Ace was the same way, but we stood strong and he got used to bring crated and us leaving our house. He is now comfortable with our routine.

I wouldn't keep him awake. Puppies sleep all of the time, so in my opinion, it's not unusual that he would sleep for hours after coming out of the crate.

As for laying down next to the kennel, you may not want to do that just because you want him to get used to and be comfortable with being in the crate alone, because there are times when he needs to be by himself.

Give him treats when he's in the crate, so that he associates the crate with good stuff. Maybe try leaving him in the crate with a kong filled with treats.

:-)

[Sarah Kuiper]

He's too cute for his own good huh! What would you suggest for when he starts crying at night as far as potty breaks? If I get him up to go out as soon as I hear him is that teaching him that he can make me come to him right away?

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

He is SO new having just left his family, and still learning that he can rely on you and learning your family routines, so I'm sure it is tough. For now at night, I'd teach him that he can rely on you to be his person/pack leader. Keep the crate near your bed (within touch distance) and you can sleep in your bed. He should sleep through soon if you make outings all business, quiet and not fun/exciting. Also, NEVER ever open the crate on a whining pup. Make sure you wait til he is quiet, even for a few seconds, or he will learn that whining = letting me out! With regards to leaving, he probably is picking up on your apprehension - so I'd try to project confidence and security for him. When you have to leave, don't fuss over him. Make a routine of maybe some music and treats/safe chew activity to leave him with, and just go - don't talk or look back. Same upon reuniting. No eye contact or talking - just un crate him and bring him out to quietly do his business and calmly praise when he does. He will eventually pick up on your signals and learn what is reinforced and what isn't. I know you must feel terribly for him, but if you project strength and confidence, he will pick up on that. He is looking to you as leader, so it is a great opportunity to channel calm assertiveness! :) enjoy him! Best,

[Sarah Kuiper]

Great points! I need to make sure potty time at night is NOT play time! 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Oh, I feel your pain! It's hard to hear a crying baby! I did the same thing the first several nights we had Winnie- I laid down near her kennel. I was even more of a sucker, though- I actually sang to her! :-) 

 I agree that he needs to learn to feel comfortable by himself in his crate. But, at the same time, he is still just a baby. And, pack animals like to sleep with (or near) their pack. Is it possible that you could have 2 crates- one downstairs in the family room, and one in your bedroom? Or, at least move the crate back up to your bedroom at night? I think it is really comforting to know that you are near by at night. When Winnie was really young, if she cried at night (and I knew it wasn't to potty), dangling my fingers in the crate and telling her "your fine" really helped a lot.

Leaving the house is another story- having stuff to occupy him (like SoSa said) can be really helpful. And, not making a big deal of your going and coming home (like Cindy said) is a really good habit to get in to. Also, you might want to look in to the Adaptil collar. It is a collar that releases phermones- a "scent" that dogs can detect that mimics that of a nursing mother dog. Our vet recommended it, and we noticed a huge difference the first day that  that Winnie wore it. She slept through the night and was calmer during the night. We used it 24/7 for the first month that we had her, and got another one the second month. I highly recommend it!

[Sarah Kuiper]

singing may or may not have happened in this case too ;) I do want to bring him back up at night but the crate is HUGE (has a divider) so the hubby has to be the one to move it. We also kinda agreed before bringing the puppy home that downstairs would be his territory and upstairs would be ours. It makes sense because upstairs is ALL carpet, and downstairs has none. Also I don't want him to get hurt on the stairs and we would have a safe place to put non-puppy friendly things. 

If I do get a 2nd crate for a while will it be super hard to transition him back downstairs in a few weeks or to train him to stay downstairs? I just don't want to make things more confusing if we do hope to have him downstairs long term. 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

If the intention is to just keep him downstairs (which sounds great- no carpet!), I would just keep him and the crate down there. He might cry a little more initially, but he'll get used to it. Pretty soon he will see there is no point in crying because he'll realize that you are just in another part of the house. And, when you do leave the house, he'll realize that you WILL be coming back, even if it is in a few hours. It's all so new to him, and it's normal for him to be frantic. He'll get the swing of your routine.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Hi Sarah! I don't think it will be too hard to get him to stay downstairs and eventually sleep there, if that's where you want him. Since you've had him less than a week, it makes sense now to teach him he is safe, you're someone he looks to follow, and closely supervise him (tethered?) so he knows what is allowed and not allowed everywhere in (I think) your WHOLE house. If he learns your whole house as extension of his crate (territory) and has learning opportunities there, then less chances he will sneak a pee or be naughty in a remote corner ;) Just supervise like a hawk and have Nature's Miracle on hand for those unexpected slip-ups here and there. Teach him the rules (eh-eh to interest in the garbage cans, chewing furniture, etc. but rewards for calm behavior, chewing on appropriate toys, etc.) Eventually you can phase out the tether and just gate off your upstairs once he has learned house rules. Our mudroom downstairs has a very positive association for Rip (we enter/exit there, a cozy throw rug is there, our shoes, his food, etc. - very comforting for him) so he sleeps there when we leave and now sometimes at night. This is a dog who was crated in our bedroom until one year old! Now he has free reign - very well behaved. So I think yes, they adapt and you will have what you want, it is just super new and give him time to learn what's what. (They are so quick at learning IF this: THEN that!) also def check out DOggy Dan online. I learned SO much helpful advice from him and from great DKers ;) sorry I drone on, lol, just trying to be helpful!
I remember scooping him out from the crate and carrying him down stairs, running him out to potty first thing in am when he was so new. He was scared to go down on his own for a while. So cute!