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!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Absolutely! He needs to feel safe and secure! Think about it....he has just been separated from a warm group of siblings, where he most likely never spent a second isolated from them. He's thrust into an environment , that while it is warm and safe, is completely alien to him.
When raising a pup, we always started with the crate next to my side of the bed. I would hang my hand, so he could see it and smell it. If he cried, I'd " ssshhhhh" him and stick my fingers through the crate. This, for Enzo only lasted a few days. I then moved the crate just a tad further away. Slowly built up to where we wanted the crate...where it stayed until around 41/2-5 months, when she was permitted to sleep out of the crate if she chose.

[Mike n Mandy]

Thanks for all the replys! Makes me feel like I'm not crazy. Tomorrow will be the first day that we will have to put him in the crate for extended periods during the day (3 hours max). Do you think thats he is just going to cry all day while we're at work? Breaks my heart. haha

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Leave a few toys in the crate( nothing with buttons or pieces that can be removed and swolled) and leave a radio on for him. He may not be thrilled, but he'll be fine.
If your crazy....then we're all right there in the looney bin with you ;)

[Tina]

He'll be fine! The first few of times I left my puppy I was super anxious but came home and she was perfectly fine. Sometimes I even come home to find her snoring and sleeping on her back.

[Tina]

I did this too and initially was determined to get her to LOVE her crate. I realized she didn't understand the meaning of a crate or "den" until about 10-11 weeks. Before that any crate training I did never really clicked.

I moved farther away in steps, first couple nights next to her crate with the door open, then closed, then I would sleep on my bed, but move next to the crate after her midnight potty break. Now she's 16 weeks and only whines for about 1 minute and actually enjoys her crate!

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

When Yarrow was that young, I used to give her a large bully stick in her crate. Granted, she was only in her crate a maximum of 4 hours a couple of times a week. One stick used to last her a couple of weeks, then I'd dispose of it once it was only about 4" long.

[Mike n Mandy]

So today was the first day back to work. We got Remmy into the crate this morning and gave him his bully stick and nylachew bone. He also has his bed/puppy blanket/our shirts in there to keep him comfy. I went home at lunch to let him out and play for a little bit before I had to head back. When I put him in the crate and walked out of my apartment door, I could hear his cries and yips down the hall. Broke my heart...it gets better, right!?

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Aww. Yes, it gets better. I found that the shortest, unemotional goodbyes are best for puppy. Yarrow knows my routine so well now, sometimes when she reads my 'going out' signs, she starts getting excited hoping to come out with me. But, here's my way of letting her know that she's staying... I turn on quiet, classical chamber music. As soon as she hears that particular music in association with me putting my boots on, she now automatically gets the picture and goes and lays in her bed. She'll be one and a half in March. Her sister, who we've had since they were 10 months old, just copies her. I just hope you have understanding neighbors while Remmy is learning the routine.