[Oscar]

Hello all

I just brought my puppy home 2 days ago. I originally planned to give him crate training. BUt my puppy Oscar hates the crate so much!! He just reluctant to go into the crate and whenever he's in the crate with the door closed, he cries and barks so hard! I already put his toys and his treats and even feed him in the crate. He's willing to go inside to have his food, but once i closed the door, he cried so hard! and he never took a nap inside the crate too! I even tried to crate myself with Oscar together. I sat inside the crate (it's a extra large sized crate) with Oscar together. BUt it doesn't help! He's still crying even tho i was together with him in the crate!

How do i make him feel to like the crate or how i can housebreak Oscar without using the crate? He's got a good vocal! he's very loud when crying and barking.. My neighbour started to ask me what happened with my dog.

My puppy is a 8-week-old Great Pyrenees. He's gonna be big! so i so much wanted him to get used to the crate. So in case i'm not home, he can stay quietly and comfortably inside the crate! I'm afraid he would bite my furnitures when i'm not home

Plus, another challenge for him i guess, I do have another small-sized dog which is already 4 yrs old. He's never in a cage right now cos he's already housebroken.

Pls help!!

[Lara's mom]

I've tried crate training 3 times and bombed. I just gave up...

[Todd]

Check this link out. We discussed a similar issue...

Monster Puppy Biting Me! Anti Crate!!!

Also adding to that, I listened to a vet's podcast today and he said to put your dog in the crate 30 minutes before you leave the house so the dog doesn't necessarily associate being crated with being alone. This could be a form with separation anxiety. Do you leave during the day and when you are gone is that the only time he is crated? You don't want that to be the case all the time or he will associate being crated with you leaving. When you leave don't make a big deal about saying good bye. This makes it less difficult on the dog. Same thing when you return. The vet suggested leaving the dog crated for 30 minutes after you get home so he doesn't associate you coming home with being "free" if you will. Never keep your dog in a crate for more than 4 hours in total throughout the day. I believe any longer is inhumane. How big is the crate compared to the dog? It should only be big enough for the dog to stand up and reposition itself with no extra room or he may relieve himself in a corner. If you don't want to keep buying crates as he grows get a big one and they also sell dividers or crates that have them to change sizes to accomidate the dog throughout its life. Anyway, consider the advice I just gave as well as the advice others and I gave in the link to the thread I provided above. Good luck.

Todd

[Oscar]

I was at home when i tried to crate him. And i tried to crate him at night during the bedtime. BUt he barked seriously and my other dog barked too because Oscar barked.. The voice was so loud so i was afraid my neighbour would complain, I live in a townhouse.. so i set him free and roamed all over my house. I had to get up like 4 times during the nite to take him outside.

What can i do to make her like the crate and be quiet inside the crate?! I did all the things like toss treats inside the crate and feed him inside the crate. He has no problem eating inside the crate. BUt every time i close the door, he cries! My old dog never barked before I brought Oscar home. When Oscar is in the cage barking, my other dog barks too! My neighbours for sure would complain if they keep barking non-stop!

What should i do?!

[Yogi]

As one who has crate trained many dogs as well as pups I cover them up and generally try to keep a tv or radio going until the are comfortable. I have a couple that will bark when the crate door closes at night but as soon as the cover comes down, total quiet and they sleep like babies. Crate training like most issues in puppies takes time and patience. Just stick too it, the pup will come around. Good luck.

[reeskujo]

I do the same thing Yogi...Seigi likes his crate so he's pretty easy but Nina hated it so I would cover it up and leave the T.V on...usually on Animal Planet...LOL

Anyway it worked like a dream with her.

[DoggieVogue]

Originally Posted by Yogi

As one who has crate trained many dogs as well as pups I cover them up and generally try to keep a tv or radio going until the are comfortable. I have a couple that will bark when the crate door closes at night but as soon as the cover comes down, total quiet and they sleep like babies. Crate training like most issues in puppies takes time and patience. Just stick too it, the pup will come around. Good luck.

I'd agree with Yogi, the noise usually helps comfort them and with no distractions from the cover over the crate, mine also calmed down quickly and went to sleep. Good luck with yours!

[angiesample]

I was going to suggest music too.. Something soft like classical or if u have direct tv they have a station called "beautiful instrumental" thats what my dog likes. Well at least it seems to calm her down. Good luck!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Oscar

I was at home when i tried to crate him. And i tried to crate him at night during the bedtime. BUt he barked seriously and my other dog barked too because Oscar barked.. The voice was so loud so i was afraid my neighbour would complain, I live in a townhouse.. so i set him free and roamed all over my house. I had to get up like 4 times during the nite to take him outside.

What can i do to make her like the crate and be quiet inside the crate?! I did all the things like toss treats inside the crate and feed him inside the crate. He has no problem eating inside the crate. BUt every time i close the door, he cries! My old dog never barked before I brought Oscar home. When Oscar is in the cage barking, my other dog barks too! My neighbours for sure would complain if they keep barking non-stop!

What should i do?!

What I would do at night is put him in his care in your room right next to your bed so he know's you are there. This will make him feel a lot more confortable. Each night, gradually move the crate further and further away from your bed until it is eventually out of your room and in its desired location. Take it very slow and gradual and you should experience positive results.

Also, when your dog barks and cries in the crate do you respond? Do not yell at him to be quite or comfort him. You must completely ignore this behavior. if you confort him or let him out he is getting what he wants, your attention. Also, if you yell at him to stop your are giving him attention as well. Negative attention here is also a form on the dog accomplishing what he wants to accomplish. Any attention is better than none for the dog in this circumstance. Flat ignore him and don't make eye contact as hard as it may be. This way he will learn that this behavior will do him no good and will not get your attention.

[Oscar]

what about my other dog? He barks together with my puppy! I think it did have bad influence on the puppy too! What should i do to make him quiet?

THe crate has been in my bedroom since we brought him in. Should I cover the whole cage up (including the door)?

I seem housebreaking the puppy pretty successful even without the crate. he just walks all around the house but he tries not to pee and poop inside. Of course accidents did happen but most of the time right after the nap and meals , i held him and took him outside, so he peed and pooped right away when he's outside

but I still wanted him to be crate trained just in case i'm out or he bites

[angiesample]

u know something that really worked for me with potty training is bell training my dog. She caught on very quickly!! In fact my puppy hasnt had an accident since she was 10 weeks old. I just hung a bell on the door and she tabs it with her little nose and i take her out. I did have a problem for a while trying to teach her that the bell is ONLY for potty time, not walks or playtime... but at least she wasn't having accidents

[reeskujo]

Since your older dog barks because the puppy does that should stop when the new puppy stops barking...

As for covering the crate I covered the whole crate but only covered the door half way...

Todd also made an important point...When the puppy is in his crate and barks do not respond...Giving him that attention will only encourage him to do it more and never take him out of his crate until he's quiet...if you take him out while he's barking he will learn that by doing that he gets let out and it will make the problem worse.

[Oscar]

if i wanted to put him in the crate while i'm away from home during DAY time, should I cover the crate as well?

[Lara's mom]

Keep in mind that the warm weather is coming. Wouldn't a covered crate get awfully hot?

[Oscar]

I do have airconditioning at home, and i'm out of home for 2 hrs at most

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Oscar

I do have airconditioning at home, and i'm out of home for 2 hrs at most

2 hrs in no problem. Just no more than 4 hours or so for the entire day, this obviously doesn't include night time because she sleeps in it. I'd say go ahead and cover it if it's cool enough in your house. Also, I believe you said you have other dogs. They are not crated during the day correct? In this case you may want the crate covered and in another room closed off from the others dogs if they have freedom to rome around the house because seeing the dogs doing as they wish while the pup is still in the crate can make things worse because she wants to get out and get with them. Just like a toddler. You wouldn't want them taking their daily nap while other people are moving around them in plain sight. This makes the toddler want to join in as if he/she is "missing something" or is being excluded. You want to put the napping toddler or pup in this case in a quite place, where she is sway from distractions like other dogs roaming around.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Oscar

what about my other dog? He barks together with my puppy! I think it did have bad influence on the puppy too! What should i do to make him quiet?

THe crate has been in my bedroom since we brought him in. Should I cover the whole cage up (including the door)?

I seem housebreaking the puppy pretty successful even without the crate. he just walks all around the house but he tries not to pee and poop inside. Of course accidents did happen but most of the time right after the nap and meals , i held him and took him outside, so he peed and pooped right away when he's outside

but I still wanted him to be crate trained just in case i'm out or he bites

As Ree noted'
try covering the puppies crate as to eliminate seeing things as suggested, in turn this should resolve the other dogs barking as you stated he only barks when the pup barks. Eliminating the puppies barking should resolve both issues.

[Oscar]

I used blanket as cover for the crate but the puppy drag the cover into the crate and still barks like crazy...

besides, my other dog even peed on my sofa in front of me this morning!! I dunno why since he's never never peed inside the house before! Not even an accidnet when he's still a baby! My other dog is now 4-yr-old already!

How can i reinforce the crate training and how to make my other dog calm down?!

Thank you all! You guys are so professinal and i'm so happpy I found this website!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Oscar

I used blanket as cover for the crate but the puppy drag the cover into the crate and still barks like crazy...

besides, my other dog even peed on my sofa in front of me this morning!! I dunno why since he's never never peed inside the house before! Not even an accidnet when he's still a baby! My other dog is now 4-yr-old already!

How can i reinforce the crate training and how to make my other dog calm down?!

Thank you all! You guys are so professinal and i'm so happpy I found this website!

Just keep trying the suggestions we gave regarding the crating of the pup. It takes time to adjust a dog to it. It won't happen over night. Hard work and being persistant will pay off. When he barks do you let him out of the crate? We talked earlier about this. This will reinforce the bahavior because it's a plea for attention.

Reagarding the other dog, has he been fixed? Has there been any lifestyle changes lately that may have brought this on? It may be that he is marking his territory since the new puppy now lives with you. he may be marking over the pup's scent. In this case you would have to do the same things you did to house brek him initially. Not necessarily crating him, but rather the same correction methods and bringing him outside. be sure to wash the areas he's peep on with an odar nuetralizer designed for dogs so he won't remark the spot. Has the pup peed in any of the spots the older dog is going in?

[Oscar]

I didnt' let him out of the crate when he's barking. I let him out of the crate when he stops barking. I dont' dare to put him in the crate at night time b/c i'm afrad that his voice will annoy my neighbour. I live in townhouse managed by a condo.

My other dog 's life style never change lately, except there is another puppy living in the house right now

Another problem: My puppy doens't seem to pay attention to me. Everytime i walk him, he never looks at me and walk to wherever he wanted to go. I use treats to attract his attention, but he doens't care at all. He loves the treats when he's in the house, but when he's outside the house, he doens't like the treat anymore. He seems a bit scared of the outside environment and he's easy to get tired and alwasy lies down on the floor. I ask him to come to me but he never comes to me and never follows me. I've been trying very hard to give positive feedbacks to him when he walks witih me.. but still, he follows his instinct and never look at me in my eyes when he walks. However, he does follow other strangers!

How can i change this and make him concentrate on me?!