need help with puppy?

Question

I just adopted a 3 month old puppy from a shelter, and trying to crate train her. Obviously she's had a hard start in life, and crates are not her idea of a peaceful place. Any ideas on how I can accomplish this? I've tried treats inside, toys, a comfy soft pillow, and nothing seems to work, she barks and whines loudly, and continuously.

Answer 1

It may be that she needs a more structured "treat-receiving system" to help her. This is going to seem really long and tedious, but it works when done properly.

Place her in the crate. Sit next to the crate with a bowl of really great treats (small bits of chicken or hot dog, for instance). Don't talk to or look at the pup. Regardless of what she is doing, drop a treat into her crate every five seconds (you won't be reinforcing her behavior, you will be creating a positive association with the crate and getting her quiet). Do this for about one minute, then let her out. Don't make a fuss over her when you let her out if she is frantic - that teaches her that being released from the crate is the best thing possible, when you want her to learn the opposite.

Repeat the above as often as necessary until she is quiet several times in a row for those five seconds between treats. Then give a treat every seven or eight seconds. Again, repeat until she is quiet for this duration. Then go for ten seconds.

When she wil be quiet in the crate for one minute getting a treat every 10 to 15 seconds, go for a minute and 20 or 30 seconds. Work towards a treat every 30 seconds while she is crated for about 5 minutes.

At this point you need to work on distance. Sit two or three feet away from the crate. Give a treat every 10 or 15 seconds (since you moved away you need to make it a bit easier on her) for one minute.

Repeat the entire sequence, gradually increasing the time she is in the crate and reducing the number of treats she gets each time you move away. When you get to the point of being further you will need to walk over to the crate, drop in a treat, then walk back to the appointed distance.

Again, I know this sounds like a lot. It should go pretty quickly once you get the first couple of steps done, though.

Anytime she's in the crate and you aren't actually working with her, make sure she has a highly enticing chew toy, like a Kong stuffed with peanut butter, cheese, hot dogs, canned dog food, Kong Stuff'N, etc..

There is a cd that might help, also. It's called Canine Lullabies. It is wonderful for calming down anxious dogs.

Answer 2

The key to crate training is to be consistent with what you want to achieve. If you take your puppy out of the crate when it whines or barks, the puppy will just learn that whining/barking gets it out. Also a 3 month old puppy can only hold it's bladder for 3-4 hours, so take it out often to pee. Also, it is good to make sure there are some times when you put the puppy in the crate for only short periods of time (5-10) minutes and let it out so it doesn't associate the crate only with being left alone and locked up for long periods. Also, if you take the puppy on a long walk before crating it will leave it more calm, relaxed and tired and it will make more sense to the dog to rest when the pack leader (you) leaves.

Answer 3

I adopted a shelter puppy about the same age 4 years ago and she had the exact same problem. She would bark and whine, anything I put in the crate with her (blanket, plush toy) she would tear to pieces. Nothing seemed to work, but after awhile, which will seem like forever, she got used to it. You might trying keeping her in the crate at night but put it in your room so she knows your there and won't feel alone. My dog now goes into her crate without any problem, I give her the command to "kennel up" and she runs right in. It's hard to hear them crying but they will get better.

Answer 4

first a cage has been her punishment in the shelter; first you have to let her feel like it is the best place ever; leave crate open; put her treats in it , toys in it ; best comfy place but leave the door open so she can go in an out so it gets to be a place of refuge for her ; she barks and whines b/c that what they do in the shelter ; you have to change her mind-set from being locked up all the time; think of it in terms of yourself , what would you do or think ; the same!; spend a lot of time with her; exercise her, walk her; train her; change the treats so the crate is a daily excitement place to go ; never know what she will find; then give good treats to occupy her ; everlasting treat balls ; hide peanut butter inside ; kong treats etc ; then put her in crate for small intervals with door closed; so she gets it ! increasing the time and praising her when she behaves; give her sometime, she is a baby still and like all babies , she wants love and time with you; good luck you can do it.

Answer 5

My dog barked and whined every night we put her in her crate for 2 or 3 weeks, even though we didn't do anything to encourage her by letting her out when she whined. Give it time, your puppy will learn to love her crate and regard it as a place where she can be alone.

Answer 6

Ignore the barking and the whining. Start her out at 5 minutes in the crate at a time and give her a treat when she gets out. Then slowly increase crate time.

Answer 7

some dogs do not like to be crated. when they are like this nothing will work. if i was u if she is not house broken train her to be and puppy proof ur house. she may have spent her life in a crate and doesn't like them. but i wouldn't crate her if she gets that upset i would find an alterative like letting her stay in the house by herself or if you have a yard put a shelter out there and have her stay out there while u are working or anything. just make sure if u put her outside don't forget about her like alot of ppl do.

Answer 8

all dogs are like this, the first night i got my puppy the crate was in my room and i had to lay next to her, she still isn't really used to the idea and we've had her for 3 weeks. it really just takes time, leave the crate door open she might just go in it after a while when you are home. put it in a room where there's usually people like the living room and try putting her in it when you are home and comfort her until she calms down and leave her in for a couple more minutes. i work at a dog kennel and we've crate trained a lot of puppies & trust me, they all get used to it after a couple of weeks. be persistent don't let her out just because you feel bad. good luck!

Answer 9

I have to admit, I'm in the school that just doesn't understand the joy of keeping a pet confined to a crate. When exactly does the "zoo" part end and the "pet" part begin? I am of the opinion that if you do not have an enclosed yard, you should not keep a dog for a pet. If your work hours mean a day of cramped confinement in a crate and no mental stimulation for your dog, do your dog a favor and give her to someone who can give her a dog's life.

Answer 10

Great start, good for you!!! Crate training is a helpful and important for your puppy. Once she realizes this is her space, you will probably find her going to her create on her own for afternoon naps. As other posters have said, short periods of time at first to get her accustom to her create is a great idea. One suggestion (sounds crazy, but worked for me) is to put a shirt, sweat shirt, towel, etc that smells like you in her create. If she is having separation anxiety, the familiar smell of you will help calm her down. Good luck with your new little one. let us know how it goes.