Crate Training Question

[Mike n Mandy]

So I know its very early on, we've only had Remmy for 2 days, but just wanted to shoot a question out there. When we crate Remmy for the night, he begins crying/whining. We let it go for 10 minutes, but it doesn't stop. For our sanity, I laid down in front of the crate and he instantly stopped crying and fell asleep. Once asleep, he slept practically through the night (only getting up when he had to eliminate). I obviously won't make this a habit - my question is tho, will it breed a bad habit? Or since I only lie down for a few minutes and then he sleeps fine, is it ok way to help him feel comfortable this early in the training?

Thanks!

[Laura and Angus]

My boyfriend did this too and it doesn't breed a bad habit necessarily.. you might consider moving the crate next to your bed, so the puppy knows you're there. We also put t-shirts into the crate with our puppy that we had worn that day, so they smelled like us.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

I did the very same thing for the first 3-4 nights after we got Winnie. Her crate is in our bedroom, but not right next to the bed. So, I laid in front of the crate and sang softly to her- "Jesus Loves Me"- I figured she (and I) could use some Divine intervention! Lol  

I think if you only do it a couple of nights, you'll be fine. 

[Wasseem Sidhom]

I definitely don't miss those early weeks.

I hate to say it...but we did the same as you for a month, and it never really stopped.  cooper was always readjusting himself. When we moved the crate into our room, his noises and his movement kept us up most of the night :)

So we ended up letting him sleep on the floor next to our bed, and slowly started moving him further away.

He's almost 1 now and he sleeps downstairs in his "bed" (laundry room area 7 x 2 gated area).  We do coax him in there at night when we're about to go to bed, and sleeps through the night like a baby!!!! That's where he also stays when we're out of the house. However, he doesn't go there when he wants to relax.  He'd rather stretch on a floor some where close by to where we are  spending time. 

Good luck...and this tough time does pass.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

I started with Ripley's crate within touching distance of me while in bed. Each night I moved his crate a few inches away, toward the corner where I wanted him permanently. If he cries, turn away. If he is quiet, calmly praise. It is hard, but it teaches him that whining doesn't get him attention. Otherwise he will train you! :) good luck!

[Judith and Addie]

Two days is very soon after he has left all his security. I didn't want to have the crate in my bedroom - lack of space. But I had a sun room of my living room. The first night, I slept on the couch in the sun room next to the crate. The next two nights, I slept on the couch in the living room where my puppy could still see me. After that, I was sleeping back in my bed. With Addie, it seemed enough to acclimate and make her feel secure. She has no problems sleeping in the crate (she is 1 yr now) and actually goes into it on her own when it is her bedtime.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think your most important job when bringing your pup home is to make him feel safe. Our first night home with Vern, he had just been taken from his mom, met our Fudge for the first time, and we ended up all sleeping in bed together the first night. The next night I easily transitioned him to his crate. For both dogs, I kept the crate right next to my side of the bed so he/she could see me and would put my fingers in the crate if they fussed. I also used a Snuggle Puppy, which I swear by, for both dogs. I did not continue to crate them long at night, but crated them for at least a year when we left the house during the day and never had a problem. 

Our first puppy, Hershey, who we had until she was 13...I did everything all wrong and I still regret it. All the books said let them cry it out...don't respond if they are crying, etc.....and we crated her by herself in our family room and I laid awake for almost a week letting her cry at night. I could hardly stand it, but I was so afraid I would mess everything up if I went to her. How dumb was I? She never liked her crate. She went in it, but it was like I was taking her to the most awful place imaginable. I did it right with Fudge and Vern. I didn't stress about the night stuff. Stayed nearby and offered comfort and stopped crating when they seemed to be too hot at night. I eventually just started closing our bedroom door and letting them sleep on the floor, which they both preferred. When I felt they were trust worthy, I opened the bedroom door and let them have the run of the house. Now, they sleep wherever, but often end up back in our room on their dog beds. The crates are long gone, but I would find Vern in it at night from time to time.

Good luck. I really feel this is an important bonding time and I know you lose sleep, but just make him feel safe and secure and "this too shall pass".

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Laurie, did Fudge and Vern ever like their crates? It's interesting. I feel lucky our breeder introduced the crate so early and so we never really had a negative issue. I did give him the snuggle puppy and kept him close, but he never disliked his crate. And now he loves it, and it gives me huge peace of mind knowing he's safe. He is nine months now and I think about all the dogs with the cute beds and how nice that must be, but then again all Rippley does is eat his bed if it's not in the crate! I'm not sure when to try giving him more freedom, but I guess if it isn't broke...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Both of them did fine in the crate. I never had a problem getting them to go in the crate. At night, I often thought they got hot. I started with blankets in the crate for Fudge and eventually took them all out. I didn't crate Vern long at all at night, because by then Fudge was out of her crate at night and sleeping in our bedroom and he seemed to do fine being with her. 

For me, the crate was a great tool to use in the beginning to keep them safe and accident free, but my goal all along was to eventually live a crate free existence with them. I think it all comes down to what you want for your dog and many dogs do fine with crates all their lives and it works great for that family. Vern weighs 110 pounds, so that crate is enormous and I got tired of having two huge crates in the house. 

Plus, my dogs are allowed on our beds and some people don't like that either. I was so much stricter with our Hershey than I have ever been with Fudge and Vern. I guess the older I get, the less rules I like. LOL

As for Rippley, it sure seems like it is working well. I wouldn't change a thing. 

[Tina]

I did the same! Laying there with ear plugs worried I'd mess up my pup's training. I'm lucky my husband is a softie and cuddled her the first couple of nights. Best decision ever.

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

What I did when we brought Hurley home is set his crate on a stool close to my side of the bed so he could see me and I put my fingers in the crate to pet him when he seemed restless. I gradually moved the stool away along with the crate. Then I put his crate on the floor where the stool was. That al took a few weeks and he was fine. Having said all that Hurley was always restless in his crate. Not whiny. Just restless. So when he was sleeping through the night I started putting him on the bed and he was so happy and content, laid quietly and slept all night. He never got off the bed until I would encourage him to do so.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

You want to make him feel secure. Otherwise you may inadvertently breed separation anxiety issues. Go on, be a "softie" like the majority of us.

[Emily Lau]

Hi! :) Just remember that it is just a tiny tiny tiny baby right now :) It needs your assurance. And it looks like your baby is actually doing very well! Most puppies whines and cries for WEEKS in the crate...

:)