Sad Baby

[Rebecca DuScott]

I am still figuring out how to post a discussion.  I though I did it in the 'Puppy Madness' group, but it ended up just a 'reply'.

Trying again :)...

Hello!  

We brought our 8 week old, F1B, male, standard, Goldendoodle home two days ago.  His name is 'Blaze'.  He is darling and such a delight for my children and me and my husband.  We all love him so much already BUT he cries the entire time he is in his crate.  He goes into his crate for food and water or to play with a toy without hesitation.  It is when he is confined that he whines, sometimes howls and barks nearly continuously.  We have the crate in our bedroom next to our bed but sticking fingers in or speaking softly doesn't do it for him.  I know he just wants to be snuggled but until at least potty trained and most likely until the teething/chew everything age is past he has to be in the crate when not watched.  So far its been two nights of crying.  Both yesterday and today we had to crate him for an hour or two to go to swim class and library.  Otherwise he is with one of us.  Even the short crate time he just cries.  I give him a chew stick or stuffed baby kong but he won't touch them till after he is let out of crate. 

I know he is still adjusting to his new surroundings and family but I am wondering if any of you have any suggestions or tips on how to make crate time not so sad for him.

Thanks!

Rebecca & Blaze

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/introductions?groupUrl=pup...

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Covering the crate completely with a dark sheet or blanket may help. It always did for my girls. Its like a "lights out" signal and there are no distractions for him to see so it may help him calm down and go to sleep. Also since he is so young, some people (including me) have used a Snuggle Puppy in the crate. It is a small stuffed puppy with a battery operated heartbeat so he doesn't feel all alone in the crate. He most likely slept in a pile of his siblings before he came home with you.

http://www.smartpetlove.com

[Rebecca DuScott]

Thanks for your

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Hang in there, he will stop crying - it's heart breaking though.

I have used a sheet successfully on some of my puppies.  Do not talk to him or look at him, or stick your fingers in, when he cries, you are actually teaching him that crying results in attention. 

Some dogs respond well to a sharp rap with a flat hand on the crate, followed by a stern mean sounding quiet!

sometimes moving the crate to where he cannot see you is  a help.

Trying crating him at odd times for short periods while you are home. As soon as he is quiet for one minute let him out casually no big deal made of it, then stretch it to quiet for two minutes etc.

Never, never remove him from the crate until he is quiet.  Horribly, terribly  hard on you, but absolutely essential.  Usually a week, but sometimes as long as two weeks.

[Lynda Kamrath]

It is very similar to training your baby.  Try not to respond to negative behaviors and ignore him when he is doing something you do not like.  Reward him when he is doing things you want him to do.  I don't use crates but did have baby playpens that we used when the dogs were puppies.  They were in their playpen whenever they were not supervised in the house until they were house trained.  Worked for us.  Oh yes, once a night a quick trip out to do their business, then right back into the playpen.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

I also used a dark sheet to cover the entire crate, except the front door, and I thought that worked well.  At nighttime, I just did a "shhh" - sometimes repeatedly - when Beasley would whimper and cry (and I knew she didn't need to potty).  Seemed like it was several times a night for the first couple weeks.  Eloise, my older doodle, was quiet in the nighttime crate from day 1 - except for a little bit of crying early that first night, so I wasn't so sure puppy #2 would ever get it.  But she did and eventually your guy will get the hang of it, too.  

Like the other comments said, it's important not to let him out of the crate until he's quiet.  I crated mine while I was home during the day to get them used to it right away, and I just had to let them cry it out.  The first time, I think both howled and cried for a good hour, at least.  Eloise even stretched up so high howling that she tipped over backwards - so pathetic.  :)  But once they were quiet, I let them out.  I continued to put them in for short periods at a time while I was there during the day and they got used to it.  Crate time meant peanut butter puppy kong (but I don't think either one was interested until they were more comfortable in the crate).  I'm sure your sweet puppy will adjust to it soon. Good luck!

[Rebecca DuScott]

Thanks for the reassurance and suggestions!  

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Oh it's so heart breaking to hear puppies cry like that! I downloaded a "yoga and meditation/relaxation" album on iTunes and played it softly whenever I put Moose, my second doodle, in his crate and that helped him calm down much quicker that with out the music, it's a lot of nature sounds and slow "zen-like" music. I think it helped me survive the early puppy madness! He's 3months now and sleeps through the night so hang in there it gets better! If you have other pets I think it's hit or miss if they help relax him. Some people have posted about how their other pets helped calm down the new one but my older doodle would sit right out side the crate and constantly squeak squeaky toys right in his face-not cool! So I covered almost the whole crate with a big comforter to help him settle in as well. Hope this helps! Good luck!