Crate training question . . . the first week

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

We are bringing home our puppy at the end of this month.   We also have a 2yo doodle who was crate trained.   I picked up puppy #1 in the morning and spent time during the first day treating him as he walked in to the crate in our family room.  If I recall, my husband just 'nudged' him in to the crate that we had in our bedroom the first night.  He did whine so I slept on the floor next to him.   Puppy #2 won't be home until mid to late day...not allowing much time for the initial crate training.   Any suggestions what to do on day one since I won't have much time to spend treating him and training him to go in to his crate.    His breeder has not had him in a crate either so this will all be new to him. 

 

On a similar note...doodle #1 never really liked his crate.  Never went in to it willingly.   I would like for puppy #2 to enjoy walking in to his crate.   How do you train a puppy/dog to enjoy the crate.  What did you do so that at 6 months, 12 months etc - s/he would willingly go in to the crate?

 

THANKS!

[Jaime and Barley Barker]

What an adorable puppy!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

It just occurred to me what Lucy's breeder said to me regarding crates. She said the wire kind was best because it allowed the puppy to view his surroundings (and it should be kept in the hub of the house, like a kitchen nook or family room). Eventually, she said, the puppy will view the room it's crate is in as it's den since it can see out into the room. Cuts down on accidents in the home too. Before that, I was sold on a plastic crate. Glad I got a wire one.

[Jaime and Barley Barker]

That's a great point! I had forgotten that Barley's first crate was a plastic one. He hated it! He got really hot in it, and every time I let him out, his pads were sweaty and he was panting. I bought a new crate for him as he got bigger and it's a wire Midwest crate. He likes it a lot more. I also got him an orthopedic bed with non-fleece material. It's a lot more comfortable and cooler for him.

[Becka]

This is a wonderful video--it's like she's trying to get the stuffed toy to play with her. But my favorite part is the idea of you and your husband sleeping with the stuffed puppy the night before! Did you take turns snuggling with it? :)

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Actually, yes. My husband had it for a few hours and then I had it for the rest of the night. I really don't know what the real trick was when it came to Lucy loving her crate. Maybe her breeder introduced the pups to a crate in those early weeks. I never asked. I do know she had a crate or 2 around. Whatever it was, Lucy never whined, not once, while in her crate. We had a separate smaller one upstairs next to our bed, and only used it 2 nights because we just didn't see the reason for it. Lucy was perfectly happy in the one downstairs. I may have mentioned in my earlier post about the CD, "While You Are Gone, Music Pets Love". We played that CD on the trip home from the breeder's and Lucy just slept in my lap all the way (1hr). I played it whenever she went into her crate too those first several weeks. I think it really helped to calm and settle her. I also played it whenever we had to leave Lucy alone in the house (in her crate). The music is really quite lovely, and I never tired of it. Maybe the reason Lucy loves her crate is more to do with the combination of all the things we did (and possibly, what the breeder did). In any event, Lucy is almost 2 now and still loves her crate.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Oh, a couple other things we did for crate training was we covered the top with a beach towel, to give the crate more of a cave effect. Its a big crate so covering it didn't make it dark inside or anything too drastic, but it may have helped to make Lucy feel more secure in the beginning. Also, we left the door open during the day and put toys inside so she could go in at her leisure to play. We only put her food dishes in her crate that 1st day home, and although we treat her now when she goes in on command, back then when she was a pup we didn't. I crated Lucy about 3 times during the day in those early weeks. She had a schedule of eat, potty break, train and nap (crate time), several times a day. She never stayed in her crate more than an hour or so during the day at any one time.

[Bonnie and Kona]

This sweet video was a joy to behold. Lucy was quite the darling pup.

[Bonnie and Kona]

At four months Owen willingly walks into his crate many times a day. I am not certain that he didn't have crate experience before coming home though. I saw on DK that putting a small crate on the bed works for the first few nights and that is what we did.

[Lisa Ortmann]

We brought Oscar home in November and I was really nervous about how he was going to handle the crate.  The first night he was soooo tired he didn't really fight it and whine at all.  I thought it was a miracle!  I had left the crate out in the room all day where we had played with him and he was curious and even though he looked inside numerous times he made sure NOT to actually get inside.  When it was time for bed he was already sleeping and I picked him up and set him inside coaxing him the whole time.  The second night was a different story.  He was energetic and was having NO part of going in that box!   I slept on the coach night 2 and 3 next to his crate with two of my fingers dangling inside for him to know I was there.  He actually slept at the very front so he could lean against them...  (So sweet)  His breeder also sent home a little blankie with the other puppies smell on it and I threw in the shirt that my husband or I had worn that day.  He is now four months old and knows that "crate" means to get inside and wait for a treat.  Sometimes I will put a very small handful of his food in there.  I have just recently found him getting in there sometimes to nap during the day and he will go up and go to bed after he checks and sees the kids sleeping if I am still piddling around downstairs.  Honestly the 2nd and 3rd nights were pretty rough to stay strong but after that he seemed to think that was his own little safe place and didn't mind it.

I usually don't put any toys in there only because I am a worry wart and he is such a chewer! 

Good luck!

 

[Chloe, Finley & Mama Shelley]

Help.. We have had our now 8 wk old doodle for 1 week, and have had no luck with the crate training.. she screams.. no matter what I do. Tried laying next to her on the floor.., her mother and litter mates smelling blanket, a shirt of mine, covering it.. all to no avail. she just cries and wont stop..she bites at the metal crate wires, and just screams.

I have 2 other dogs in the home and neither of them were ever crate trained, and so I have never been successful. I dont know what to do, or if it even matters that she isnt crate trained, but I have a feeling I would like her to be once she starts really chewing and getting destructive..?? Should I just put her in it, and move it to another room and close the door and let her cry?

For now at night she sleeps in our master bathroom with a baby gate blocking the doorway..she still crys but if I go in and calm her down so she falls asleep she will stay in there for about 4 hours before waking again.

Any advice? I am sure you have all answered these questions before,. but am I missing something here?

[Becka]

I know it can be really heartbreaking to listen to them sound so unhappy, but unfortunately, by going in and calming her down you're rewarding her for the crying, so it's not surprising that she's learned how to keep it up. At some point you're going to have to let her cry it out. I would do a search on this site for "crate training" and see other people's strategies.

[Susie Vetter]

I brought Jersey home by plane at the age of 8 weeks.  She did not willingly go into the crate, and the first two nights I just let her cry a bit.   I did not go to her side, me bad, but she only cried for two nights knowing I was in the room. After that she only cried about 2:30 to go out and pee and poop.That lasted about 5 days.I covered the crate and when I put her in it at night I say time for bed and put the flap down She is now 5 months old and sleeps straight through from 9:30 Pm to about 6 in the morning.  Just be patient, don't cater to her, and she will be one happy puppy and so will you.