Puppy barks and cries?

Question

My puppy is a 4 month old Beagle mix. We have been pretty lucky potty training her, she either barks once by the door to go out or sits their quietly until we let her out. That barking, I do not mind.

When I first put her in the crate for the night, she'll whine for a little while, but she usually falls right asleep (we make sure to give her some good play time and potty time before we go to bed). However, she is still waking up a few times during the night, crying to be let outside. This, I don't mind either. However, when I put her back in her crate, she howls and cries and carries on forever! Sometimes, I let her out again thinking she might be thirsty or need to go potty still, but she runs right for the toy basket, ready to play. I put her back in her crate and the same pattern continues until she cries herself back to sleep (sometimes over a half hour!)

Anyone who has a beagle knows what their howls are like. It's really hard to ignore and fall back asleep. I’ve read a lot should be trying to ignore her and not let her ‘take control’ of us, but this is happening at 1 and 3 am in the morning. I have moved her crate out of our bedroom when she starts this and it seems to help a little.

Any suggestions to break her from this ‘crying to get whatever I want’ pattern? She whines a lot, if she can’t get on the couch herself (she’s little), if she wants more food (she’s fed enough, trust me, she would eat until she would pop if she had her way, haha), or just if she doesn’t get her way in general, she whines until we pay attention to her.

Please, any help you could suggest is greatly appreciated!

I do not feed her past 7pm.

I also put a blanket, a few of her chewy toys and a ticking clock in the crate with her at night.

Recently, I moved her crate from our bedroom (where our 3 year old dog sleeps on his own bed) to the living room.

ALSO...is it a bad idea to wake up to let her go potty during the night? I noticed that if I don't, she will pee in her crate. And yes, she only has enough room to stand up, turn around and sit in it, so I know it isn't too big. I just didn't want her sitting in her pee all night....

maybe I should just keep ignoring her though?

Answer 1

You've taught her that if she whines and howls you let her out - she gets to go outside, she gets water, she runs for her toys. So now you have to work twice as hard (and wait twice as long) for her to get trained. You need to totally stop letting her out at night. Let her whine, howls, whatever, but each and every time you let her out, you're setting her training back to square one.

I suspect you've also taught her to whine for everything else she wants, because when she whines, you respond, right? Stop responding and she'll (eventually) stop whining!

Answer 2

I also have a four month old pup right now. He has been very good in crate training and sleeping through the night. It sounds like something has taught her tha barking/whining gets her what she wants. What I've found is working with my pup is that when he decides to bark or whine during the day when he's frustrated or wants something, I say "no" and ignore him for a few minutes. Then I give him what he wants but make it 'my idea'.

Sometimes not having enough exercise throughout the day will make a pup more active at night. So even though it sounds like you are letting her play before bed, maybe try more exercise during the day, if she isn't already getting plenty. Also do training with her and set good rules. No matter how nice it might seem to have a little puppy on the couch or bed, it's not really good doggy manners. =) Soft music can help calm a pup that's crying at night, or a favorite toy or blanket in the crate along with the pup. There's also that chance that she will get over this as she gets a little older. Just set clear rules and keep loving and training her.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I had the same problem with my Mini Schnauzer, I have him in a wire crate and in order to get a decent nights sleep I started putting a blanket over the crate during the day. I'd put him in for about an hour while I do random household chores and then let him out. After about a week of this he quieted down. Another good point is to wait about 15 or 30 minutes before playing with your dog when you first let it out of the crate. Just let it out to go potty then ignore it for a little bit no matter how much noise it makes. After a couple days of this you dog will begin to see that you decide what it gets to do which will make him happier because he doesn't have to make any decisions and you a lot hapier because your dog will stop trying to tell you what to do. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Haveing a puppy ca be frustrateing @ times, but just like haveing a child consistancy is a major part of it...so what i am going to tell you is i would cut her drinking and eating off by 7:30 @ the latest. And when she gets up in the middle of the night howling and whining you need to really ignore her, but if she is getting up and when u let her out of her crate and goes for the toys, maybe when u put her to bed u maybe should put one of her toys in there w/ her...But just like a couple of the other people mentioned u letting her out when she whines is elling her she will get her way if she whines a little bit..I know it will be hard to ignore her but a couple nights in a row it will get to the point where u will say lets go to your bed and she will go on her own and u wont hear a peep from her.. But the reason i say that about cutting her off food and water so early is because u will know she doesnt need to go potty, the idea of potty training is so they know that they need to learn to hold it @ certain times.. I have 2 german shepherds and an 11 wk old chihuahua and on top of that 4 kids and i would be darned if i have to get up in the middle of the night or any earlier then i really need to, just to put one of my dogs out, especially seeings how i already have to be up @ 6 in the morning... and if that dont make you fell good maybe go buy some training pads, but then she will never learn.. I really hope this helps but you have to stick to your guns just as if she were a toddler. Good luck let me know how it goes..

Answer 5

Is she waking up around the same times at night? I would beat her to the punch, set your alarm to wake up and take her out before she starts the whining.
What's going on right now is that she whines and you get up to take her out. By getting up and letting her out you are 'training' her that if she whines she goes out.
Then when you put her back in her crate if she whines let her alone until she stops then go and give her praise and a treat. DO NOT let her out of the crate if she whines. Good luck with your puppy.

Answer 6

At only 16 weeks, your puppy likely does not have the physical control to 'hold it'. Please ignore the advice to let her cry it out. The way I would look at her situation, is that she is doing exactly what you want her to do, and that is to communicate to you before she pees! I agree with one of the answers, to try setting your alarm clock so that you can wake her up when it is almost time for her to pee. Just as you would not force your child to ignore the urge to pee and then to pee in his bed, only to be scolded because he tried to tell you that he had to go, on top of being forced to endure the humiliation and shame and discomfort of sleeping in his own urine each night. When I have had a puppy in the house, I always put their crate right next to my side of the bed so that I could drop one arm over the side and put a couple of my fingers into their crate. Just remember that physically she may not be able to control her bladder urges - she's still maturing. You would not expect a child to hold it before they had control of their bladder(s). Best of Luck - just please don't scold her for trying to tell you what is wrong.

Answer 7

first of all get rid of the dog. have a baby, you will put in about the same amount of time as a dog.

Answer 8

Just be firm with her.She's like a baby now.You know what's right for her right?If she understands that she can get her way by crying she'll do it.All babies do!

Answer 9

she probbley doesnt like the cage or since she is still young maybe she misses her mom.

Answer 10

its seperation anxiety. you have to do your best and be firm.