New puppy hates the crate!!!!

[Eva]

Got the new puppy this morning.  Tested the crate a few times through out the day and it's been a nightmare!  Now it's been the longest test, 45 min in the crate in the bedroom where he can see me and he's been barking non-stop the entire time and very loudly too!!!  I have a nice fluffy teddy bear in there but he just wants out of the crate.  What do I do???!!!!  Do I let him sleep with me the first night?  I don't want to since he's only 8 wks old.  I don't think I can take much more of this barking though :(

[Minga & Malu & Costa]

You're going to have to put up with it the first few nights. Usually night one is the worst, with significant improvements in the following few days. Malu quit crying altogether I think by night 4 or 5 if I remember correctly. Don't take him out for crying if you don't want him to learn that crying means he can come out of the crate!!

[Minga & Malu & Costa]

Oh and I would go where he can't see you while he is in the crate. No attention or talking to him while he is crying in there.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have been sending home my dog's 8-week-old pups with new families all week --they have all had some crying at night and it has been improving each night. I agree about not taking him out of the crate if he is crying--maybe go someplace where you can't hear him and he will tire himself out..eventually. Make sure he gets plenty of activity during the day and even right before bedtime--maybe he just has too much energy left at the end of the day!
I know some people have said to put him in your room with you and put your hand in the crate--I can't tell you if that is a good idea...but if you really can't take it or if he doesn't improve you might want to try it!

[Eva]

I caved.  I took him out of the crate!  DH says he is scared and needs to be comforted.  It must be a rough first day for the little fella!!  It's a little heart breaking to see him like this!  My first labradoodle is doing amazing with him.  I thought for sure that would bring comfort to the puppy but not at all.  This is a rescue puppy from TN so I don't even know the pups story.  I feel bad that I have to go to work in the morning and the little guy will be all alone.. 

[Jennifer and Jack]

I totally agree, taking him out is like taking a bunch of steps backwards, They are smart little buggers, now the next time you put him in he is going to cry harder to get out.. Stay strong!!!!!  Take that baby potty, play with him a bunch, potty him again and put him to bed.. He needs to know you are boss...

[Bonnie and Kona]

I found something on line about putting the crate on the bed... thought it was here in Puppy Madness. It worked great. Little crate on big bed. Gradually he moved to the floor finally a big crate in a different room. Eventually when he is trustworthy, he'll end up uncrated and back on the bed. At six months it feels like it will be a long time before that's going to happen. :o) love that pup though

[Jaime and Barley Barker]

Hi there!

 

I think this is extremely normal. When Barley would bark, I used to play a CD of harp music in the room with his crate. It might sound odd, but my trainer told me that harp music is very calming to dogs. It made him quiet down a lot sooner. I also covered his crate on three sides with a blanket or sheet so he couldn't see me very well, and so he felt like he was in a safe cozy den. I also made sure he had both a soft plush toy to cuddle up with and a hard toy to chew to help him feel less bored or lonely.

[shelly]

One thing we did was lay the clothes we wore that day right outside the crate on the floor so she could smell us all night.  She too slept in her crate in my son's room... maybe that may help some - GOOD LUCK!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I had to put Knox's crate right up next to my bed for the first few nights. He just needed to be as close as he possibly could be -- and after a year, he still likes it that way!! Ha! It's so difficult to hear them cry, but you just have to endure it for a couple of nights and then it should be over. I have heard that something that makes a noise -- an alarm clock or noise machine -- really helps! Good luck!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

The other thing is, is there anyone who can stay with him during the day. He can not be home alone all day in a crate and then expected to sleep in a crate at night especially as a puppy. Is there a local day care for dogs that you can bring him to once he is up to date on his shots, Puppies are curious and full of energy, They need a lot of play time and a lot of rest time too..

 

When Jack was too little to go to daycare, I had someone stay with him for the first week, then I had someone let him out three times a day. Then at 14 weeks he went to day care, It never had the chance to potty in the house, or destroy anything, Do you have a neighbor that will take care of the puppy, That will help bring some security to him

 

Good luck. I wish I lived closer, I would take care of him during the day and I promise I would give him back so tired, he would be happy to hit the crate...

[Jennifer and Jack]

The thing that I was consistent about with Jack in the crate is never under any circumstance did I ever take him out of the crate when he was whining or crying. I think I may have lucked out with him because the longest he ever cried in the crate is about 10 minutes, then he would drift off to sleep.

When he was crying every once in a while I would tell him "Jack go night night" I never let him think he could get out of the crate by crying.

 

I would maybe lay down next to him. My breeder told me to cover his crate with a towel, which I did and I also put his toy that came with his litter mate and a warm puppy that was stuffed and a heart beat.

 

Hang in there, don't quit and certainly don't let an 8 week old puppy sleep with you, it will totally put a damper on your house training.

 

Let us know how is goes...

 

 

 

[Becca & Lucy]

I did not read all the other replies but heres our story. 

Lucy HATED the crate!!! Hate is probably an understatement. She SCREAMED and howled all night long. 

My husband and I looked worse then when we had a newborn! I did put the crate on the side of the bed so that she could see me. The 2nd night was not near as bad. By the 3rd night she was good to go! It just takes time. Do not let her sleep with you the first night. That is just setting her up for failure. Put a tshirt in there with your smell. I had a stuffed animal that had a heart beat and a warmer in it. That helped a ton. (they are for animals) Lucy loves her crate now and goes in there with no issues at all. Its her little den and feels safe. I am a HUGE fan of crating. 

 

Good luck