How can I get my puppy to stop barking when he's in the crate?

Question

We have a two month old daschund puppy. We have had him for around 3 weeks. We were letting him sleep on the bed, but that was too much trouble and now we're trying to crate train him at night and while we're gone in order to housebreak him. The only problem is he barks like crazy when he's in the crate. We put him in there at 10:30 last night and he barked at least until 2 am. At least, that's when I finally fell asleep. Any ideas on how to keep him from barking so much when he goes in the crate?

Answer 1

You can try things like chews or Kongs to keep your pup occupied. Also you can make sure that he is really tired before he goes in there.
I have fostered a lot of puppies and all of mine I have been able to crate train without too much trouble. First you need to work out whether he is distressed or just annoyed (it is very easy with pups to think they are really upset when actually they are just vocal because they are angry) as this will alter how you deal with it.
If your pup is distressed then go slow, lots of treats and great associations with the crate. If they are just annoyed it is still important to make it a nice place but there can also be an element of 'well you need to get used to it'. This may seem a bit mean but it will teach your pup to deal with frustration (possibly one of the most important things they can learn). He will eventually learn that it isn't the end of the world, he will get out but he certainly won't get out while he's barking.

Answer 2

First let me commend you for deciseding to go the crate training route.
Crate training needs however to be a process, not just a matter of putting the puppy in the crate.
First and foremost you must not let the puppy out of the crate when it is barking. THis teaches the puppy that barking is one way to get its goal of on longer being in the crate.
You need to make as sure as possible that the crate is not solitary confinment. Dogs are very social creatures. You did not say were the crate is located. If the crate that you are using at night is not located in the Bedroom move it their - that way the puppy can hear you and know you are around.
What is the puppies routine before bed time? Has it been feed and exercised just before going to bed? This will help as dog naturally want to sleep when they have full stomachs.
You need to make the crate as friendly a place for the dog as its bedroom is for the teenagers with a TV and stereo. It is good practice while your dog is young to feed it in the crate.
This also provides an opportunity for the dog to go in the crate, be let out of the crate when it has not barked (it's hard for them to eat and bark at the same time). some dogs will get into a barking chain to the point of not being able to remember the reason for barking. If youfeel this is the case you can use a sharp sound (such as on empty water bottle hitting the crate) to startel the dog, when it is quiet for a short periold then quiently praise the dog. If can slso work for when you need the puppyto be quit so that you can take them out of the crate.
The other thing is that holding tight for a number of nights will make it so that the puppy should quit down a little bit sooner each night, and learn what the new routine is. When he goes into his crate also make sure that he has some good chew items, and washable toys so that he can entertain himself.
If you puppy wakes up in the middle of the night - take that as a sign that he may have to go out. Do not go for a walk just carry him out to a spot your want him to use, set him down let him sniff a small area and if her goes praise him. If he doesn't go in a few minutes pick the puppy back up and put him back in the crate.

Answer 3

There is no need for spray bottles, kicking the cage, or putting chew toys in the kennel. Even excersizing wont help. If the dog wants to bark in the kennel he will, no matter how long you played or exersiced him.
To start with, because you let him sleep on the bed, crate training will be more difficult. There should be no toys, food, or water in the crate. The crate is a place for rest, and down time.
It will be tough to get through this but after your done it will be worth the time!
When you have time during the day,go outside for a potty break and then put your puppy in the crate. Very matter of factly. Dont make a big deal out of it, the crate is the crate. WALK AWAY. Even if the puppy is wining, you just ignore him, do not yell, or talk, or try to comfort him. When the puppy is quite, go to the crate, let him out, go out side and potty, and have a little play time. Letting him out when he's quite is a reward. I've seen it take 15-20 mins in the crate before the pup quiets down. Dont get discouraged! Puppies are smart, and they learn fast. Pretty soon the pup will learn that to get out of the crate he has to be quiet. Eventually he wont whine at all when you put him in. The time between when he starts whining and stops will get shorter. Once he starts being quiet quickly, start to lenghten the time he has to stay. When he gets quiet, let him sit a minute longer, then maybe 5. Eventually he'll stay in quiet untill you come to get him. Remember when you take him out, take him immediatly outside (this helps with potty training too) and then have some play time. Good luck! I hope this helps!

EDIT: Every you let him out when he is whining, you teach him that when he whines he gets to come out. If he's used to getting out when he whines, he may get louder and louder, try sounding hurt, or make other funny noises to get your attention. dont fall for it! Once he reaslizes that he has to be quiet it will get better faster. So even if it seems worse at first, keep trucking on to success!

Answer 4

I had a chihuahua a while ago and he did the same thing. the only thing you really can do (that i know of) is put a towel or some sort of thick clothing on top pf the whole cage so it covers it. put him in the cage early and sit there. then when he starts barking/ whining just slowly lift it up at the corner and tell him what a good boy he is and how everything is allright. if he barks the moment you put down the blanket and just sit there. he will feel secure in the cage. hum to him or just sit there and read for a while, until he quiets down. when he's quiet and nearly asleep just put the blanket over the cage and tiptoe away.
sorry i don't have any more ideas, good luck!
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Answer 5

I crate-trained my Lab, hands down the best way to potty-train. Here are few helpful hints: Make sure the crate is full of things he likes-- toys, maybe a rawhide chew, and soft blanket or pillow liner. Marine, like your Dachshund, whined many, many nights, all night long. I found that it was helpful to block out any light to her: ie, drape a blanket over the crate, or put it in the laundry room. Puppies have a short attention span, if they can't see or hear you, they will forget you're there and fall asleep in no time flat!

Answer 6

We got our puppy to quit by puting him in the crate then walking just out side the door or went layed down in bed (the crate is our bedroom). Everytime he barked we snapped our fingers and told him no in a firm voice. This is also how we have trained to not jump on ppl or if gets too routy. It takes patience to break a puppy of bad habits but once they get it they get it forever.

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Answer 7

It kind of funny but we had to deal with this issue just like we did with our kids. We had to let them cry it out. We put the puppies in the crate, said good-night and then let them cry. When they were tiny (8 weeks or so) we would make sure and take them out in the middle of the night because they couldn't hold their bladder all night but then right back in the crate. Believe it or not eventually they began to see their crate as there safe place and would automatically go in when they were tired.

Answer 8

If you are sure the puppy doesnt need to go out, then ignore the puppy, If you respond, and talk to him, he will know that when he barks you will respond. (like having a cowbell) Lots of times dogs bark to train their owners.

Answer 9

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The first is simple; you must win your dogs mind. If you don’t achieve this first then you will be struggling the all the way. When I talk about winning your dogs mind what I really mean is that your dog looks to you for all the decisions. Before you do anything else watch one of the amazing video sites that show you the 5 Golden rules to establishing yourself as the pack leader. If you aren’t putting these in place then you are setting yourself up to fail. Just at the crucial point where you really want your dog to listen they will go and do their own thing. For sure your dog may play ball occasionally or even most of the time, you may even have a dog that is obedient 99% of the time, however if you want a dog who always listens to you and does as you ask then you need to win your dogs mind.

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Answer 10

Use a spray bottle with water and use 1 squirt and tell him in a firm voice NO this may take a while but he will get used to it and stop baking i trained my lab puppy like this it took about a week.