my puppy makes me feel bad because when i put her in her crate she gets so sad the look on her face looks sad and she barks and whines and just looks at us. is that normal she is 4 months old. ive had the crate a week now. and she hasnt peed in it at night wcich is good she plays in the back yard alot. shes hardly in her crate during the day so its not like i make her stay in it alot. so why is she sad about it. i even put treats and toys in there for her so please tell me. I feel sorry for her?
2007-05-30 16:58:13 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Your puppy wants to be with you at all times. If not, she wants to be free, so she can chew and chew and chew! LOL!
So yes, our human nature is to feel bad. And yes, your pup will whine. But do not give in. Crate training is good for many reasons - it helps her gain bladder control (usually, I have one dog with a bladder the size of a peanut - and he will still go in his crate if in there for more than a few hours after eating or drinking) and will give you peace of mind when you are unable to watch her.
Just make her crate a "fun" place. Give her a pillow (although she may chew it up, so be prepared), treats, toys, etc. Leave on some soft music (jazz or classical will relax them the most, but usually just having some background noise is good) and leave. Your puppy will learn that her crate is her "special place". Soon, she will go in there automatically. For example, I have two 10-month old pups. When I leave for work, I get out some treats. One of my pups knows the routine - dogs are BIG creatures of habit and like consistency - and he will automatically go to his crate! He knows it's time for me to go and he knows he'll get treats. The other pup usually needs a tiny bit more of coaxing (just a bit) to go in.
Now, when my pups whine, I know it's usually because one has to go out. Another may whine if he's in a crate at a strange place (like at a vet or groomer), but that's because he's not used to that place. But now, I can put them in their crates and leave guilt free (well, mostly guilt free - trust me, I'd much rather have a tiny bit of guilt over using the crate, then OCEANS of anger coming home to a destroyed house).
2007-05-30 17:07:38 · answer #1 · answered by doctoru2 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We have two puppies and the only time they whine in the crate is when they have to use the bathroom. Make sure you give yours plenty of opportunity to go before you leave her in there for the night. We introduced our girls to the crate when it wasn't bed time so they could get used to hanging out there. Allow the crate to be available for her to explore when you are around so she can get used to it. It should be a place she feels comfortable that she can go to whenever she wants. If she still whines, let her out to use the bathroom and put her directly back in the crate. Then ignore her. She will get the picture. You might have to put up with the whining for a short while, but she will learn fast. Our puppies love to sleep in their crate even when we're home. If you still have questions, search the web for "crate training" and you will find a ton of info.
2007-05-31 00:35:28 · answer #2 · answered by tchergirl 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is normal, but should not last. Here are some ideas to help her...echoing others ideas...
+ make the crate comfy, with soft cushion and blankets
+ stick to a routine
+ potty before bed
+ then just before bed brush her teeth with yummy tooth paste
+ speak to her matter of factly - "ok puppy into your bed - sleep time." (Do not sound sorry).
+ toss a little yummy treat, a small piece of cheese into the back
+ cover the crate with a slight blanket to make it dark in there + at bed time don't let her out when she whines...
+ keep the crate in a place she can get to, so she can go in there anytime
+ soon she will put herself in that crate when she is tired
+ dogs love to have their own den...you'll see!!!
2007-05-31 00:37:49 · answer #3 · answered by dog MD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because she is sad to leave you and when she was with her mom she had company with her when she slept now she is by herself. She will learn to adapt over time. I am thinking of getting a puppy and I to would also crate train it. It can save a lot of hassle with morning surprises until they are really house broken. Make sure she has lots of blankets and a bed and maybe a stuffed toy. She will get better it just takes time.
2007-05-31 00:04:46 · answer #4 · answered by Jenn 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She will be fine. She is use to being out all day so ofcourse when it is time to go to bed she will whine. It is just like a child, bedtime means being put to bed or in your pups case, in the crate. Just when it is time for her to go in there, put her in there and walk away. She will eventually go to sleep. Goodluck
2007-05-31 00:04:09 · answer #5 · answered by cherokeegrl26 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course you do , we all do ! But just like a baby if you go get her out everytime she crys then she will learn that if i cry they will get me out !! You just have to be tough about it and ignore her!! She will one day get use to it!! trust me, i've been there with my dogs and now my new Boxer puppy !! Only this one had to be given medicine from the vet to help her calm down and to sleep !! cause we couldn't get any sleep either from her crying,howling,screaming you name it, she made it sounds !! worse then any dog i ever had, and sooo loud no matter what room she was in you could still hear her !! She is now doing better thankfully !! I give her a treat when it is bedtime after she goes in the crate of course! i tell her bed ! I leave her something to lay on, something to play with and to chew on! and a little bit of water, cause they only end up spilling it anyway ! but just in case she get thristy!! It is hard at first and you feel sad for them, but its worth it and it protects them from harm!!! one day she'll just go in there all by her self without you telling her !! Don't give up! Make sure she's o.k. and she has things to play with and always take her out everytime the same time for potty breaks! like every morning i take mine out before work to potty and then to play awhile and then back in when i go to work! she's out all evening and back in at bedtime! Good Luck !
2007-05-31 01:17:00 · answer #6 · answered by monkeymomma46 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't feel bad. Everybody has this problem. It's almost like a child when they pout because you told them to go to bed or their room. Once she gets older and you keep enforcing this she will get over it. But you mustn't give in because it enforces bad habits. If she whine and you let her out she will think hey if i do this i can come out and will keep doing and then it will become a permanent habit.
2007-05-31 00:07:46 · answer #7 · answered by lexie g 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
she wants to be out of the crate to play with you and having her in the crate is a small confined area and just thank what if that was you how would you feel.
2007-05-31 00:06:15 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is normal for them to whine.They are depressed being locked up.Think about it,how would you feel? I know I will get thumbs down for this but I would never crate a puppy/dog.It just dont seem right.Start training it now and throw away the prison.
2007-05-31 00:34:27 · answer #9 · answered by darlene100568 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
She will be fine its very normal for dogs and pups to whine when there locked up or alone, they grow out of it pretty fast.
2007-05-31 00:28:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋