puppy problems?

Question

I am so confused. My puppy is alone 3 days a week - for about 9 hours - with a dogwalker coming in to feed and play half way through. My vet told me he will have to relieve himself more than one time so make sure there is enough room in the crate for him to do that or just block off a small section with baby gates. I have the baby gates up and his crate in the space with the door open. I have tried to get him used to the crate (treats, blankets etc.) (he was fine in it with his littermates) but he goes crazy. He cries and whines. He did okay for the first two nights in his crate but now he is waking up every hour and whining and barking. We end up taking him out (we have to get some sleep too) and putting his bed on the end of ours where he sleeps soundly and lets us know if he has to go pottie. Should I take the crate out of my room and set my alarm to take him out during the night? Or is it okay to let him sleep on his bed at the foot of our bed?

He is 9 weeks tomorrow. the crate is in my bedroom at night and on the main floor during the day. I have done the hot water bottle, music and slept with his crate beside my bed. I am just afraid that if he coninually wakes up and cries, he will associate the crate with punishment. Thanks for the suggestions.

Answer 1

Is the crate in your bedroom? This will help since he will be closer to you and feel more secure.

If the puppy fusses alot, I will sometimes the crate closer to my bed, and put my fingers through the door until he falls asleep. As the pup gets more comfortable I gradually move the crate farther away from my bed until its across the room.

Letting your puppy eliminate in the crate is something you never want to do. It will defeat the purpose of the crate and then you'll tons of issues to deal with.

Answer 2

I have a puppy as well and he did remarkable in the crate. He slept all nite at 8 weeks old in the crate. I was amazed. Never let him pee or poop in his crate that defeats the purpose of having him learn to hold it. My puppy hated the crate as well after a couple of weeks he does not go in it anymore and sleeps next to my bed on the floor and does pretty well. Every once in a while he gets up in the nite but for the most part he goes from like 8:30 or 9:00 till 5:00 so that is good. He will be 12 weeks old on Friday. :-)

Answer 3

It's really up to you but you've already taught him that barking and whining fixes his problems so that's a big retraining issue you're going to have. I've had pups in crates all night and i've also had them in bed with me. As long as you're not having accidents during the night, that is the main thing. To retrain good crate behavior you're going to have to put him in the crate and NOT take him out at any time he whines or cries. Even if it's potty time, they only get out when they're quiet. Crate training is something that is extremely useful so it's worth going back and training the dog that being in the crate is good and that you must be quiet and calm when in the crate.

Answer 4

How old is your pup?
We put ours at 8 weeks in my room in the crate for the first 2 nights, then moved her out to the family room. She's done fine. Consistency is key...you can spoil a pup and putting him in his bed will do that.

Mine goes out at 11pm and she's in there until 6 a.m. every night. She cried for about a 1/2 hour the first couple nights, but gave up quickly when nobody came to "save her". As long as you're not feeding or watering him within 2 hours before bedtime he shouldn't have to go out.

Mine is also alone from 8:30-11:30 & 12:30-4:30 every weekday. Shes 14 weeks and she stopped haveing "accidents" in her crate around 10 weeks and even then they were very sporadic.
The key is, do not give him OPTIONS. Do the crate only and keep it closed, he will learn. Give him a treat EVERYTIME you put him in the crate. Also give him his food in there so that he associates it as being a "good" place.
When I started leaving her alone during the day, I bought her "lambs ears" (chewy natural treats) when I put her in the crate, they occupied her time for a good 40 minutes and by the time she realized we were gone she just snuggled up and went to sleep. (according to my roomie who lives in basement apt)

ALSO at night, DO NOT leave a light on for him. I made this mistake, it seems as soon as she saw light she would think it's time to get up. Everytime a light is left on, we know it, cuz she starts whining.

ANOTHER tip...throw the treat in the back of the crate and make him go get it himself, gently push him the rest of the way in and give him a "good puppy" before closing the crate.

Answer 5

The dog should not go potty in their crate.

Also, depending on the age of the puppy, if the dog walker comes in mid day, he is only there for 4.5 hours, he should be okay. As for night time, you don't want to set your alarm for him. Get the dog on a feeding/water/potty schedule, and as he matures, his system will fall into this schedule. At a young age, if he needs to go out during the night, let him tell you, which it sounds like he already is.

Keep the crate somewhere in the house - the dog needs to learn that his crate is his den, his safety zone. He needs a place that he can go to when he wants to get away from the noise, people, commotion, etc.

Answer 6

Definitely leave him in the crate at night, and you will have to get up a few times a night to let him out. Puppies are just like babies, so you will lose some sleep.
And it sounds like he's already got you trained lol. He whines and cries, and you come running to let him out, and then he gets to sleep in the big bed. You are doing both of you a disservice by doing this. He won't learn that you are boss if you do everything he wants.
But it is up to you. Lots of people have their dogs on their beds (although I won't, I like my space lol). As long as you are consistent. But either way, you should be getting up a couple times a night to take him outside to pee.
Good luck with your puppy!

Answer 7

My dog did the same thing. He was fine the first night.. Didn't bark.. but then.. he realized that wasn't going to be the only night he had to do that.. so then he started whining.

It drove me nuts.. so I let him out. Put his pee scent on the potty pad.. and he used it! Just potty pad train him till he's old enough to hold it throughout the night.

Once he seems to not need to go out much.. take the potty pads away.. and try and see if he'll let you know he needs to go.

My dog knew he couldn't use the bathroom in the house unless the pads are on the floor. Start bringing the potty pads outside.. and he'll get the idea. It didn't take a long time at all for my dog to get the idea.. i guess i got lucky! I hope it works for you!

(give lots of treats too after he uses the bathroom outside and when you come home and he doesn't make a mistake.)

Give him a feeding schedule too! And keep track..

When I'm gone... I leave my puppy in my bedroom. If I'm gone for HOURS.. I leave a potty pad on the floor. He actually can hold it.. but I still leave the potty pad just in case. :)

Good luck!

Answer 8

By the sound of it he is just looking for attention and he clearly finds it safer to be in the same room as you as he is a puppy they might feel scared to be alone in the dark. Maybe giving him something that smells of you might comfort him and maybe a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket for him to cuddle up to might help, another suggestion is to have a ticking clock near him as it is like a heart beat. hope this helps

also if he dose not like the crate how about a bean bag bed my dog slleps on that and she loves it.

Answer 9

as he gets used to sleeping at the end of ur bed, he will do it as he gets older, let him no he can't get u to listen to him when he whines. i went to the vet and told her about it, she said there r 2 sucsefful ways,

1. use the water bottle. during the day put him in there, when he whines let him no u won't let him out until he is quiet, then if he doesn't let up with the whining squirt him with it. it does work!

2. ive him something in his cage/crate to calm him. use music,(baby lullabyes) he may think it is ur voice and just fall asleep hearing it. it does work!!!!!!! a rawhide bone also is a good way to brake the habit. Good luck to ya.

Answer 10

You've answered your own question really. I'm biased because I don't agree with crates. Your dog obviously doesn't like it, so do the little critter a favour and ditch the crate permanently.