how long will a 5 month puppy bark and whine in his crate?

Question

My new puppy is upset when in his crate. I crate him during the day for 3-4 hours at a time and at night. I am afraid he is suffering from seperation anxiety...or is it something else? Is it normal to whine and bark and if so, for how long?

Answer 1

I find that the younger you begin crate training the easier it is. I start mine the day I get them, usually at 8 weeks old. If Your dog is just now being crated, then he does not understand. I also use treats to "entice" the dog into the crate so that he/she will find it a pleasurable thing. Something to look forward to. DON'T take you dog out of the crate until he stops barking. If you do, this will teach him that when he barks, he gets to get out. If he is having separation anxiety, there are some medications your vet can recommend. Make sure the crate is the right size for the dog. He should be able to stand and turn around and lay down comfortably. If the condition persists, consult your vet, he can recommend a "behaviorist" for dogs that can help you understand how better you can help your dog. Also you should leave the crate door open, and throw a few treats in for him to go and get, and don't shut the door. Let him go in and out of the crate when you are home, and don't need him to be confined. Keep putting treats in there, even when he is not looking, so it can be a "Surprise" .... Make the crate a nice safe place for him. You know, dogs in the wild love caves. This is his cave. I also drap a towel over the sides of the crate to make it more like a cave so the dog feels more secure . Good luck.

Answer 2

Crate training is the best way to train a dog. Yes they will whine until they get settled. I don't know if you just started crate training at this age but in any event, depending on the breed & how often to go outside.....You should take them out about every 3hrs; even during the night. They will eventually find out that when they bark & whine, you will come to the cage & take them outside to do their business.
Seperation Anxiety:
Another very important thing is, dog's need to sleep with you in their cage, in your bedroom. Dog's do have seperation problems, they are pack dog's, & need other's to be with; so if you have no other dog's, that would you! They need to feel part of the family.
People who put their dog's in a cage furthest from their bedroom so as not to hear them whine, are not dog loving people. Not saying you do that, however I'm just adding that so as other reader's can understand that pups need reassurance etc. that they are loved.
Of course you will lose sleep when you have a puppy. To some that's OK. To other's it's not OK. I alway's say, if you can't divide time to a puppy, then don't get one, & don't think that if your kids wanted the pup, that it's their responsibility to take the dog out etc., because kids don't know how to train dog's & the puppy thinks that the child is one of them, so that doesn't work at all.

Answer 3

How old was he when you started crate training? They will usually whine at the beginning, but in a few days they get used to it. Some dogs even go back in it when they feel that they need a safe place. My poodle goes in it to be alone. Make sure the crate is neither too large or too small. It should be just big enough to fit the dog in and perhaps a blanket to lay on and a toy. Try putting a dark towel or blanket over the crate to shut out the light for him. If you think it would help give him a warm water bottle, or a shirt of yours with your scent on it after you've worn it. Just don't give in, let him whine and tell him NO and walk away. If you let him out he will know that is the trick. Just like a toddler, he's going to test you. Make him understand that its time for the crate and it is also used for misbehavior. Never throw or shove him in it, just let him know that he has done wrong or it's just time to go in.
Hope this helps. :-/

Answer 4

It is normal for a dog just being crate-trained to whine and bark. Some more than others. Some dogs are just very vocal about their displeasure and some are quieter.

We have a very vocal dog who we are crate-training now and I'll give you the run-down of what we've been doing to try and cut down on the barking:

-He gets a walk in the AM, a long one.
-He gets some training time in the AM to stimulate his mind (we are clicker training, so we run though all his "tricks" and teach him new ones)
-He gets his breakfast in his crate, frozen into a Kong. I make the Kongs for him and his brother every night by microwaving their kibble with some water and peanut butter for 45 seconds, then I stuff the mixture (which I readily admit I find disgusting, but they seem to love) into their Kongs and freeze them overnight.
-About 5 minutes before we leave, I ask the dogs to crate up, they go to their crates and I give them their Kongs. I shut the doors, and then I studiously ignore them. They're munching away on their Kongs so there's not much going on with them anyway. Meanwhile I brush my teeth, get my stuff together,etc...
-I turn on the radio in their room to try to drown out some of hte noises they may hear outside in the street (we're in the city) that might set them off barking.
-I shut the door to the room they're in so they can't actually see me leave the house.
-Then I just leave. No big productions about bye-byes, I just go.

Also, you didn't say how you'd been crate-training him. Crating is more than just tossing the dog in the crate for 4 hours right off the bat. You have to start with just a minute or two, and even before that just getting puppy to go into the crate to get a treat and coming right back out. Then you slowly up the time, and never ever let puppy out of his crate when he's barking or whining or being fussy. Wait until he settles down just for a second or two to let him out. Letting him out when he's barking just teaches him that if he barks, he gets let out.

If your dog had Seperation Anxiety, chances are he'd not just be whining and barking but would be acutally hurting himself in an attempt to get out of the crate. If he's just sitting in their fussing and crying, it isn't SA, it's just a normal dog reaction to being left alone. You can get him used to being left alone, and make being left alone not such a bad thing, but it does take some work.

Answer 5

Lots of good answers--and good info--on this one, but you need to think of caging as prophylactic, not just a way to get him out of your hair.
Dogs are pack animals--they don't do well on their own, physically or socially. And, once you've taken a dog into your home, you become their pack. Ideally, their Alpha. Which means that their time with YOU is what makes them feel secure. The kennel should only be used, initially, to limit his excitability or his opportunity to have Accidents in the house. And you should try to make it as comfortable and cozy for him as possible, so he'll regard it more as a haven than a prison. Better if you keep him near when it's convenient--like when you're home and just doing chores or something--so he'll feel he confident of your care and attention. Bear in mind, as his Alpha, you ARE his security, his comfort and his happiness.
Not that it's good to let them dictate to you, but try just kennelling him without locking the door--just put him in and push it closed, that way staying is his idea. He can easily be taught to kennel up, also. Lure him with a small treat while using your selected command like 'Kennel up' or 'Get in bed' or something similar. Slowly move further away from the kennel but still treat him till he gets the idea firmly in his mind. In not too long, you'll be able to send him to bed without the treat and leaving toys inside makes it more like a mere rest-time than a punishment. Eventually, he'll go quite willingly and stay.
But don't over-use the place. He does need time with you and the family! The more he feels a part of his Pack, the happier he'll be, and the less troublesome. Plus, keeping a pup too long in a cage can seriously impair their physical and mental development--which I'm sure is not in your plans.
Good luck, and be patient.

Answer 6

I don't agree with caging a dog. My roam free through the house whether I'm there or not and they are perfectly happy and do not whine and bark. As long as they are properly trained why cage them!?

Answer 7

I think the puppy just wants to be held and to play. They need lots of attention. I have a 5 month old jack russle and she is finally calming down. I would take your puppy for walks and let the puppy see other dogs. My puppy loves it when she gets to play with my other two dogs. I wouldnt let the puppy play with the other dogs since you dont know them or if they would hurt your puppy. I would just let her see other dogs.

Answer 8

yes it's perfectly normal.....actually if i was a dog i'd do the same thing...how wud u like to be locked in a metal cage for 3-4 hours?? u'd hate it and u'd cry to get ur parents attention so he can be let out so.....that's perfectly normal

Answer 9

until you take him out of it.