My 12 week old Saint Bernard hates his crate!!?

Question

What do I do? I didn't take the necessary steps to making him feel comfortable with his crate.. I didnt' know that i was supposed to. I have never used the crate as a form of punishment and I put treats in and encourage him to hang out there. But when it is bed time or when we leave for work. he fights to get out and whines constantly. The whining usually goes for about 10 minutes. Then again a few hours later... all night long.

I have had him for a week and he is doing better with the potty training. I just want to know what i can do to make him more comfortable with his crate so that the potty training process goes even smoother.

Also, is there anything i can do to keep him from yelping all night, is he lonely??

Answer 1

No pup likes the crate at 12 wks. It is training and until the dog understands they will fight it. I don't use the crate as punishment as much as I use it as a security spot. Put the dog in only when you are out and at night. Soon it will learn this is his save place. The crate is to represent the den not punishment. As far as housebreaking is concerned when you are home keep an eye on it.

Answer 2

You have to let him get used to the crate.

He should not be in the crate for more than 3 hours at a time at this stage of his life. If he has been quiet in the crate for hours and then he starts whining, wait for a little break and when he is quiet again let him out to go potty, give him water, play with him and let him go potty again before you put him back in the crate. Tell him good boy and praise him every time you do this.

I know is hard to hear him whine but you have to let him. At such a young age you should never leave him for more than 3 hours at a time. You need to get someone to dog sit him while you leave the house for more than 3 hours or buy him an x pen but if you purchase the x pen and use it as a baby sitter you might have a hard time potty training him.

Please consider having a neighbor or relative watch the dog while you are not home at least till he is old enough to be kept in the crate while you are out or till he is potty trained.

Remember, he is now your baby and you must treat him as such. If you can't take care of him you need to give him to someone that can. Having a pet is a lot of responsibility.

Answer 3

Don't ever let them out right when they are whining for attention. They have to stay quiet for a count of 10 before they are let out. Also, are you using a plastic crate or a wire metal one? Some dogs don't like one or the other, like some don't like how open the wire metal one is. You can put an old blanket or towel over the top of it to feel more denlike. Also try sleeping in an old shirt and then putting the old shirt in their crate so they have your scent nearby. Feed him in the crate as well and always make it a pleasant place as possible. Give him a stuff Kong toy to work on inside, that also helps. If he can't hold it overnight, pick up the water bowl by about 9 PM and take him out as late as you can before you go to bed. Puppies can stay in a crate for as many hours as they are months old (except for overnight) plus or minus an hour, so never longer than 3-4 hours during the day.

Answer 4

I think it would help if you started over with the crate training. You're doing well by trying to make it a positive experience. Start by putting a treat in the cage. Leave the pup in the crate for just a few minutes (like 5), then let him out and give him a big reward. Do this a lot and start to extend the period in the cage. See how that goes....

Answer 5

Yes, he's lonely - but he'll get over it.
Right now he thinks he is training YOU to take him out of the crate.
Start feeding him all of his meals in there - with the door open.
Put the crate out in the living room or wherever you hang out during the day & leave the door open all day. Put a nice cushion in there and all of his toys.
Throw a really great treat in there once in a while & then tell him what a wonderful dog he is when he goes in to get it.
After a week or two, he will love his crate.

Answer 6

the pup must stay in the crate even when you are home if you are not interacting with the dog. i have trained about 8 dogs to use the crate as their den. it only takes me a day or two. just recently i trained i trained a pit bull and a rat terrier(both were very young pups) to use their kennels. when i say "kennel up" they got right in and wait for a reward(a scratch beheind the ears as i close the door). when i quit interacting with them they go into the kennels on their own accord
as far as the yelping, the pit bull tried that for a few nights, i just suffer through it without going in there at all after a few nights he stopped.

Answer 7

We put one of our sweatshirts in the crate with the puppy, one that we have worn and have turned inside out. Be sure that it is something that you would not mind losing - but the smell is reassuring, even if you are actually in the room the pup likes to have the smell with her.

Keep trying, when we crate trained our husky we thought that she would never get use to it - until one day we discovered her laying in it all on her own. It is now her bed, and she comes and goes as she wants to - and at first we thought this would never happen - in our wildest dreams!!

Answer 8

I understand COMPLETELY!! I just got a new puppy. As far as getting him to stop yelping at night,,,get a bone and give it to him at night before bed or before you leave for work. A stuffed animal also helps. It allows the pup to chew all he wants. Just make sure the stuffed animal is from a pet store.

Answer 9

Your dog is probably afraid of small spaces, what you should try is to get a baby fence and put in a room so he does not feel so cramped.

When he yells at night he is lonely, my dog did the same thing so i let him sleep with me in my room and he has not yelled at night anymore. Try this I guarantee it will work. Hope this helps

Answer 10

go to puppychow.com they have some great tips about crate training that actually work good luck