Won't chill out in the exercise 'pen'...any tips?

[Tracey]

So apparently we have a lippy Doodle =S. Our GR didn't even bark until he was about 10 weeks old, and this guys been barking since at least 7 weeks!

We have a big 'Super Gate' that creates a large pen that you can hang out in when I can't directly supervise him. I thought it would be better than putting him in the crate, since he'd still be around us and have room to play (we have a Great Room, with no real way to just block off the kitchen. Problem is he has a FIT whenever I put him in there, and would seemingly bark/yip/whine forever. I've tried using a shake can, and he's so unimpressed with that. Also tried giving him a treat when I put him in to associate it with good stuff, but no luck so far. Anything else I should be trying? Should I just ignore him rather than try to verbally correct?

[Lynn]

We have used a spray bottle with water. It has worked pretty well.

[Tracey]

Ah, forgot about ye olde spray bottle, thanks ;).

[Lynne B]

If you want him to enjoy his experience in there, then it's counter-productive to punish him while he's in it. Would it be possible to spend time in there with him and make it a 'super fun' place? Maybe try putting some favorite things in there and not allowing him to have them anywhere else, like a bullystick? How about a kong with some peanut butter or cheese in it? If there are times when he is in there and not yacking, praise him lavishly and give high value treats, pet him and say 'good quiet' If all else fails I would ignore the noise he's making rather than punish anything he does while in there.

[Tracey]

Oh yes, both myself and my son have spent quite a bit of time in there with him. He just hates it when we leave ;). Of course I'm still right there where he can see me, but he just isn't having it. Normally he wouldn't have to be in there quite so often, but both rugrats have strep (and my oldest has the strep-bronchitis combo =P), so I'm a bit tied up to say the least, poor guy.

He's had some diarrhea so we haven't been able to go crazy by way of treats, but I think I may break down and get him some bully sticks since everyone here raves so much about them (got a bit turned off when I looked up what they are LOL).

Thanks for the ideas!

[Lynne B]

my puppy loves bully sticks but he has figured out how to eat one in 30 minutes /sigh...when I really need to keep him busy I give him a kong, I fill it with kibble and then I squirt that weird canned cheese stuff in there, I don't use much cheese, just enough to keep the kibble from falling right out of the kong. He goes nuts over it and will spend hours with it

[Sine]

Joey whined a lot when we put him in his pen too. We tried as hard as we could to associate it with good times and gradually increased the time spent in there, making sure he understood that we would always, always come back. Oh yeah - we would leave him in there and leave the room out of his visibility , then come back so he could see us (while not acknowledging him at all with neither praise or eye contact - nothing) while still leaving him in there. It was hard but we actually did have to ignore the whining and eventually, he would stop. We also made it a point on not making it a big deal ever - that it was the most natural thing in the world. Gosh, I kinda miss how vocal he used to be with all the whining as a pup.

[Tracey]

LOL! You say that NOW =D.

But that's very good advice, not making a big deal out of it, and the leaving and coming without acknowledgement. Today we tried going around the corner so he couldn't see us, then as soon as he quieted went in to love him up. Kiiiiiiind of worked =S. I'll try your tactic next, makes total sense!

[Sine]

Yeah, I know.... ! I remember thinking, holy cow, I think I am going insane with all the crying and whining. He was the worst when crated by our bedside for the night. We just let him and eventually he would fall asleep. Then one day I realized, gosh - Joey doesn't whine anymore at all. It is really strange how fast they grow. I really miss the baby stages though...!

[Steve Drury]

We used an excercise pen instead of a crate from day one. We kept Daisy's bed and all her toys in the pen. The pen was open all time except when we were not home or at night. She could come a go as she pleased. Because her bed was in there all the time it became her sanctuary----her private space. We didn't want the pen to be viewed as a punishment. We wanted it to be a pleasant space that sometimes had its gate closed.
We were very fortunate that Daisy never had ANY separation anxiety----when we went to work or at night. When we were going to bed or leaving the house we would simply stand by the gate, tap the top of the pen and say "bedtime" or "time for work" and she would walk in and make herself comfortable. Then we'd give her a cookie or two and go.
Good luck.