should i feel bad that my pup cries everytime i put him in his crate?

Question

i crate him at night downstairs...and crate him when i go to work (my fiancee stops by after 5 hours to let him out to go to the bathroom)...

but sometimes he cries so intensely that he actually throws up...should i be doing something else?

ps: just so that you know i leave him with some toys and one of my socks when i put him in there...

Answer 1

May take some time but he will grow out of it.

Answer 2

At night:
As a general rule DO NOT GO BACK TO PUPPY UNTIL AT LEAST 3:30 OR 4AM. By then puppy probably will have to go out for real. Puppy bladders and bowels are just not mature enough to hold it much longer than that. However, some puppies simply cannot go longer than 2-3 hours, even at night, without urinating. If the puppy persists in crying and has been crated for at least 2 hours, assume it has to eliminate and take it outside. Keep these sessions short and quiet. Do not socialize with the puppy and once it has eliminated, take it right back inside and crate it again. The EARLY mornings come with puppy territory, like 2 am feedings and babies.

By about 5 months the puppy's bladder should start to mature and puppy will start sleeping later. But for now all you can do is grin and bear it! When you take puppy out at this uncivilized hour do so with a minimum of conversation. Puppy should know that this is NOT playtime. When he does his business outside PRAISE HIM as usual and bring him right back in, put him back in the crate and go back to bed. Don't go back to him now, either. Puppy should be fine now until you are ready to get up at your regular time. Just remember: Once you have put puppy in the crate don't go back to him for at least 2 hours. If you do, you are teaching him that making lots of noise will get him what he wants - your company. Puppy must learn that nights are for sleeping and his sleeping place is the crate. Once he learns this lesson - and it will take about 2-4 nights - he will begin to look on the crate as his special place. One day you will look for puppy and find him, curled up in the crate where he went by himself to catch a few zzs! Once he goes in at night at this point, do not revisit him, he will settle down....eventually.

Before you go to work:
Try leaving the room when your home, but remain close enough to hear the puppy. Expect some distress at first. Never reward the pup by letting it out when it cries or whines. Ignore it until the crying stops, and then release it.
If crying does not subside on its own, a light scolding may be useful. Avoid any excessive correction— it can cause fear and anxiety, which could aggravate the whining or cause elimination. When correcting, remain out-of-sight so that the puppy does not learn to associate the punishment with your presence. A squirt from a water gun or a sharp noise (try a shaker can containing a few coins) can be used to interrupt barking.

Tips to Remember:
A crate should have enough room for the dog to stand and turn around.
Because dogs are social animals, the ideal location for the crate is in a room full of activity.
For the crate to remain a positive retreat never use it for punishment. You can, however, use the crate to avoid potential problems (e.g. chewing, jumping). If you use social isolation, or "time-out," place the dog in a separate room instead of the crate.

I also posted some good links below

Answer 3

If he cries during the night try putting your crate in your room. Dog are social and want to be with you. As for crating him when you leave make sure you do not make your leaving dramatic get the dog give him a good treat and leave .when you come home do not let him out of the crate if he is barking. You get him to be quiet either by telling him no in a bold voice or ignore him once he is quiet let him out, send him out to do his business, bring him in once he has settled down then give him lots of love. Why? By waiting to praise him after he has calmed down you are reinforcing his calm behavior, if you praise him during his barking and crying state you are reiforcing that behavior , which behavior do you prefer? the calm one... make sure you are putting him in the crate when you are home too. Dogs don't have a sense of time and by doing this he won't know if your going to be home or not. if you put him in his crate only when you leave or go upstairs you are creating seperation anxiety so be positive keep him with you at night and put him in the crate when your home and not home and only praise when he is calm.. hope this helps good luck:)

Answer 4

If your pup is younger than 5 months, then you're crating him/her for TOO long. A 2 month old should not be confined in the crate for longer than 2 hours. A 3 month old should not be confined in the crate for longer than 3 hours...and so on.

When I first crated my 8 week old pup (the day I brought him home), I placed his crate on the floor alongside my couch, and I slept on the couch. After that, I brought the crate into my bedroom for the longest time. Eventaully I moved the crate into the living room.

My pup cried and cried at first. I read that this was very normal, and that you are to ignore the crying. You only let pup out after the crying has stopped. This way you're not reinforcing the crying. At night, though, it's a different story. Your pup might be crying at night b/c he/she has to eliminate, which you need to tend to immediately.

Just for kicks, Are you using the crate as a routine (like a crib for a baby) or are you using it to confine your dog? The crate is to be used as a routine that goes like this: pup in crate for rest time (just like dogs den themselves), pup outside to eliminate, pup playtime/exercise time, pup back outside for another elimination, and pup back in crate for rest time...and so on. I did the routine with my puppies and it worked wonders! I had to have a dog walker come 2 x a day while I was at work.

You might want a dog walker or a friend to let your pup out for a second time while your pup is very young.

Answer 5

Remember dogs are pack animals, so they like to be close to the Alpha dog which in this case would be you... I would suggest until your puppy is just a little older to put the crate closer to where you are at night... also you could try a warmed blanket or one of your larger items of clothing...A teddy bear with a heartbeat like they use for babies is also a good idea but make sure to put it outside the crate but close enough so the puppy can hear it and see it...Soon the puppy will outgrow the howling ...

Answer 6

Just be patient. One of my dogs is a 3 mo. old Pom. Miniature...she cries when I go to another room and shut the door...they miss their moms...and you are that surrogate...but the pup will get over it. Just don't leave him in the crate hours on end...you just kinda have to put yourself in their place...in a crate for an hour or so might be good for a nap...but longer and you'd go a little stir crazy too..Just get him out as often as possible. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Hey, i have a pup too and she cries loudly when we put her in her crate. I haven't heard anything like it before...we have had her for a short while now...she is 10 weeks...i know it sucks to hear him and all that, but it is just something that needs to be done at a young age. she will learn to like her cage, it will just take time...and remember, it should only be for a little while...in a few weeks, give her 1 room to have for herself. if she makes a mistake, put her back in the cage for a night...she will learn that if she can hold it, she can stay out...and then her baby bladder will get stronger....just continue what you are doing, she will be ok..and in a couple weeks give her a room. slowly opening up the house..and remember to give him nothing but attention when you get home because she spends hours in the cage...good luck!

Answer 8

most dogs actually learn to like their crate after awhile.. they feel secure in there.. your dog should probably grow out of this after awhile.. you could try putting the crate in the same room with you for awhile.. ignore the dog when it cries, but talk to it and praise it when it's quiet..

Answer 9

How old is this puppy? 5 hours can be a long time for the dog to be in the crate.

The reason it is crying is because it wants to get out. Keep doing what you are doing, let it cry. I understand that throwing up can be a sign of distress, so just be patient with your dog.

Answer 10

Really exercise him and make sure he's had plenty of time to go potty before you put him in. Make sure he has a good view, like a window. Make sure he gets tons of affection before and after. Consider why you have a dog if its caged more hours of the day than it isn't. the bigger the cage the better for room to stretch. Eventually he'll be more confident in your return and all his needs being met. Good luck.

Answer 11

The throwing up has nothting to do with the crying. Take that poor dog to the vet. Dogs are not like humans, they won't just vomit from extreme emotion, there has to be an underlying problem. In addition, if he's been doing it for a while he's probably dehydrated.