Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Update: Am I building up crate time correctly?
Stew is doing really well. Eating, playing, getting socialized & he so far loves his crate. He even went in it on his own Thanksgiving night when he got tired from playing. Everytime he falls asleep during the day, I've been putting him in his crate. He goes in without a fuss & usually falls right to sleep again.
He was left in the crate for 2 hours one day when I went to get fitted for a bridesmaids dress, then around 4 hours on Saturday afternoon when I went to a family potluck (cousin is allergic). He was exercised, fed & fell asleep right before going in the crate both times. I believe he cried a lot both of those times, as the crate blanket was removed & part of it was pulled into the top of the crate. He has never pooped or peed in the crate, even after the 4 hours! I think it's really great progress!
Now that Thanksgiving is over, I have one more week & weekend off. Now it's time to really get our schedule down & Stew adjusted to the longer crate times.
I started today, we got up at 5:45, he peed/pooped outside, he ate & drank, he hung out on his bed with a toy after eating, then we played some fetch & I ran around (he chased me, really good exercise), then at 7:30 he curled up on the floor & fell asleep. I'll need to be at work by 7:45, so I put him in the crate, like I would if I left. He woke up around 8:15, barked like mad, then started a growl bark & got quiet. I peeked in to check on him around 9 & he'd taken the blanket over the crate off. He was quiet but going back & forth. Since he was quiet, I took him outside & he peed right away. He then curled up at my feet & fell asleep again. I'm guessing he did have to go, since he fell right asleep again. I put him back in the crate & he's still asleep now at 9:40am. Should I have left him stay in there longer, instead of getting him at 9?
I'll be coming home at 11:45 until about 1 for lunch, then won't be home until 4:45. I was thinking I would just keep building up time from 7:45 until 11:45, then 1-4:45 over this week so he'd be used to being in the crate for those times. Would an ex-pen be better in the beginning, with crate, toys, pads for pee/poop, food/water bowls? Even though he likes his crate, I don't want to traumatize him being in there alone so soon.
Update: Since I have a whole week & weekend still, I started from scratch yesterday, tossing treats in the crate, treating while he's standing in it. I'll build up to being in it with the door open, then shut, then build up time he spends. It's making me nervous he'll get too attached since it's only me with him & I don't really have anywhere to be, to put him in for short periods of time. At least, I know he probably won't pee/poop in his crate, so even if he screams once I go back to work, I won't need to worry about coming home to pee/poop.
Any advice would be great! I think it'll be better once I can take him outside this weekend after his 2nd round of shots.
He was left in the crate for 2 hours one day when I went to get fitted for a bridesmaids dress, then around 4 hours on Saturday afternoon when I went to a family potluck (cousin is allergic). He was exercised, fed & fell asleep right before going in the crate both times. I believe he cried a lot both of those times, as the crate blanket was removed & part of it was pulled into the top of the crate. He has never pooped or peed in the crate, even after the 4 hours! I think it's really great progress!
Now that Thanksgiving is over, I have one more week & weekend off. Now it's time to really get our schedule down & Stew adjusted to the longer crate times.
I started today, we got up at 5:45, he peed/pooped outside, he ate & drank, he hung out on his bed with a toy after eating, then we played some fetch & I ran around (he chased me, really good exercise), then at 7:30 he curled up on the floor & fell asleep. I'll need to be at work by 7:45, so I put him in the crate, like I would if I left. He woke up around 8:15, barked like mad, then started a growl bark & got quiet. I peeked in to check on him around 9 & he'd taken the blanket over the crate off. He was quiet but going back & forth. Since he was quiet, I took him outside & he peed right away. He then curled up at my feet & fell asleep again. I'm guessing he did have to go, since he fell right asleep again. I put him back in the crate & he's still asleep now at 9:40am. Should I have left him stay in there longer, instead of getting him at 9?
I'll be coming home at 11:45 until about 1 for lunch, then won't be home until 4:45. I was thinking I would just keep building up time from 7:45 until 11:45, then 1-4:45 over this week so he'd be used to being in the crate for those times. Would an ex-pen be better in the beginning, with crate, toys, pads for pee/poop, food/water bowls? Even though he likes his crate, I don't want to traumatize him being in there alone so soon.
Update: Since I have a whole week & weekend still, I started from scratch yesterday, tossing treats in the crate, treating while he's standing in it. I'll build up to being in it with the door open, then shut, then build up time he spends. It's making me nervous he'll get too attached since it's only me with him & I don't really have anywhere to be, to put him in for short periods of time. At least, I know he probably won't pee/poop in his crate, so even if he screams once I go back to work, I won't need to worry about coming home to pee/poop.
Any advice would be great! I think it'll be better once I can take him outside this weekend after his 2nd round of shots.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Christy&Riley on
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Not sure we did it right but here is our story. We got Riley at 9 weeks on a Friday. We introduced the crate that night and put it inside a pen with the door open. She slept in the pen area at first. My husband took her out every few hours at night to prevent her from learning we'll come running if she cries at night. Monday we went back to work so she has been crated ever since. I came home twice a day for three weeks to let her go potty and sit with me for a few minutes. Then started coming home at lunch only. She wasn't thrilled to go in but she got used to it. Had to keep coming up with creative ways to get her in. The crate in the pen helped me because I could gradually contain her before actually putting her in. She would cuddle in my lap because she knew I would give in for a few minutes but I couldn't resist. She still tries to buy more time by cuddling but doesn't work so much anymore. :-) Hope this helps.
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Permalink Reply by Jess & Stewart on
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I always wait for a quiet moment to take him out of his crate, even if he barks at night to go out, I'll wait until he's quiet at least for 30 seconds. I'm worried that since I've been with him this whole time, it'll be hard for him. He has only gone into his crate willingly a few times, but doesn't fight me when I put him if he's partially asleep either. Most of the time he falls asleep by my feet on the hard floor.
He's slept most of the day, but I've been putting him back in the crate after he goes to the bathroom. I'm not sure about hiring a dog walker for the in-between times as well.
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