I have had my puppy for about 5 days and we are having serious crate training problems. I read a dog training book which says that I need to put him in the crate when I leave and ignore him until he stops crying. One little problem: he cries and whines for about a half hour before he quiets down! Additionally, he will wake up at about 1 am and cries again for a while, and then again in the morning.
I have been looking up various articles, which say that I need to make the crate a positive place and play with the puppy as well as click/treat him when he goes into his crate. We have been making progress with this, and he seems to be understanding. I am afraid, however, that tonight he is going to be put in the crate to go to sleep and become afraid of it again.
He has been doing a great job with holding his bladder, but I don't know what to do to confine him until he can make positive associations with his crate. We tried the bathroom with the crate inside last night, but he was crying worse than in the crate.
I was very proud to see he had no accidents in the bathroom when I went to get him this morning, so it did serve it's purpose. I just hate seeing him so miserable and fear for the bathroom door!
ANY suggestions on where I should go from here would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Cindy
I have been looking up various articles, which say that I need to make the crate a positive place and play with the puppy as well as click/treat him when he goes into his crate. We have been making progress with this, and he seems to be understanding. I am afraid, however, that tonight he is going to be put in the crate to go to sleep and become afraid of it again.
He has been doing a great job with holding his bladder, but I don't know what to do to confine him until he can make positive associations with his crate. We tried the bathroom with the crate inside last night, but he was crying worse than in the crate.
I was very proud to see he had no accidents in the bathroom when I went to get him this morning, so it did serve it's purpose. I just hate seeing him so miserable and fear for the bathroom door!
ANY suggestions on where I should go from here would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Cindy