Help needed with crate training

[hisdestiny63]

We bought our beautiful Sugar home Friday night and the three nights she has been with us have been trying. We put her in her crate when we go to bed at night and when we are not home. She cries all night. I have not had any sleep since Friday night. And I mean literally cries ALL NIGHT! This morning when I took her out, she followed me to my bedroom and stayed there while I was in the shower and I tell you, she would not stop crying! What is going her with her? I know she's not scared, but I need to get the crying to stop. I am a nurse and need to get some sleep. How do I do this? I put her bed in the crate, some toys and some treats. And still she cries ALL NIGHT LONG. PLEASE HELP!

[Sue J]

I can't remember how old Sugar is, but for some reason I was thinking she is pretty young. Is it possible she's missing her littermates? When I first took pups from their litter in the past I put an old fashion wind up ticking clock beside the bed (out of their reach). Some old timers say it simulates the sound of a heartbeat for the pups. I wish I had better advice though, not sleeping is tough :( ! Hopefully some of the others will chime in with advice for you. Good luck and let us know if you find anything works.

[jelly8bean]

Yes, it is most likely she is missing all the companionship of her litter. This will pass, unfortunately you just have to ignore it. Outside of the heartbeat sort of thing, you could also cover the crate to make it be more like a den setting. Where do you have the crate? It would be more comforting to her if the crate is in your bedroom where you are at night. This should not take long for her to get over. The other thing to do is go back , or call and ask the breeder for advice.

[Big Dogs]

The first few nights are taxing. A couple of tricks we do are no naps before bedtime no water an hour before bedtime and play till you drop before bedtime and last but not least out side before bedtime and there favorite toy. Hope this helps!

[hisdestiny63]

Thank you for the advise. I don't have room in our bedroom for her crate. So it is in the living room. Sugar is 10 wks old. What we are going to try tonight to see if it works, is put her bed and a chew toy in our bedroom and see what happens. My husband (who has raised dobes in the past) thinks that because dobes are VERY family oriented she looks at her crate as punishment and she cries because she ALWAYS has to be around one of us. I mean, if I get up off the couch to go to the kitchen, BANG she is right there to see where I am. It is kind of funny at times. She is alone in her crate for approx 6 hours, 3 days a week while we are at work, so she will HAVE TO get used to being alone sometime, right? Anywho, I will let you all know what happens tonight...wish me luck...LOL

[Sue J]

"Family oriented", "ALWAYS has to be around one of us", "Bang she is right there"
That's the "velcro" in her. I had another thought that might help comfort her. Put an old flannel shirt (or something soft and remove all buttons/snaps/choke hazards) with your smell on it in her crate at night (watch she doesn't shred it and eat it though). I used an old worn out fluffy robe that was ready for the trash with a pup once. It was big enough to burrow down into it and he loved it.

Your husband may be right about what she associates with the crate. 6 hours is a long time in the crate for a 10 week old pup. Is there any possibility that someone could come in and take her out to go potty when you're at work? If not, she would have to eliminate in her crate. Dogs don't generally like to go potty where they sleep. I hope you and Sugar sleep tonight. Good luck

[Bob J]

Sabbath did that the first night and I took the advice of the breeder and draped a sheet over the crate so he couldn't see out. It gives them more of a "den" atmosphere and it makes them feel more secure. I hope this works for you also.

[hisdestiny63]

Well FINALLY got some sleep last night. I put her bed in the bedroom without the crate, and not a peep out of her all night long. She only pooped twice on the bathroom rug (my bad though, forgot to pick them up). When I put her in her crate this morning she was fine. I locked the door and listened for a minute and she didn't cry or whine. The great thing about her is she can really hold herself well. I put an old towel in her crate with her and some rawhide chews (or whatever those things are called). I tried putting a poop pad in there but it was torn to shreds...LOL. She is adjusting well now. I think the stress of her travelling caused her alot of anxiety (she comes from Peru, breeder's wife is from there). I hope I can post pics of her soon (believe it or not I don't have a digital camera). I know, I know bad momma!

[Sue J]

Yeh for Sugar. Glad you slept!

[magtie]

much easier on everyone when they sleep :)

[jelly8bean]

So glad to hear she is settling in. My girls all love their crates, but it does take some training. I started out by feeding them in their crates, and I always give a treat for going in the crate. When it is bedtime the race is on to get into their crate first. I leave the door open and they often go in there to nap. It doesn't take long, but it does take some enticements and work to get it going.