How much crying is too much?

[julieandchili]

Ok, this pup would really rather be on my lap than in his crate. But Im determined to crate train him because while I have the summer off work, I go back in September and he will still be a puppy, likely to harm himself or eat my couch if left unsupervised.
Ive been introducing the crate slowly....an hour or so after breakfast/potty/playtime. A couple one hour increments in the afternoon.
Well the poor sad soul has been crying and yelping in there for 45 minutes now. I made sure to give him a treat when I put him in there, he has toys.....has been potty...all needs taken care of. I think he's convinced that if he keeps it up, Ill come get him.
Im trying not to give in......(Ooooooh, the crying is slowing now).
But how much crying and yelping is too much?

 

[mjb]

I know they're all different, but mine would cry if he could see me. If I was in another part of the house, he would go to sleep....and he wouldn't cry when I left either. I would stand outside, and I wouldn't hear him. A few times he would bark a little, but he would quit very shortly.
I think I've been fortunate because I've crate trained 2 puppies, and both took to it fairly easily.
Maybe you could try stuffing and freezing a Kong with something tasty, putting it in there with him (it will take awhile, especially frozen, for him to finish it), and go to another part of the house or leave for awhile.
Also, I guess some people have better luck with an x-pen. If he's going to be left for a whole day in September, an x-pen gives him a little more room, especially if he's not old enough to hold it that long by then.

 

[julieandchili]

In September, Ill be able to come home for lunch for an hour or so....so we should be ok there. He shouldnt be left alone crated for anymore than 2 1/2 to 3 hours at a time by then.

At this moment, he's still crying. I put the crate up on my bed and closed the door. If he can see me he will NOT give up. He's slowing down (probably very tired, poor thing), but his frozen kong with treat inside is in there...his fav chew toy (that I rubbed under my armpit again for good measure) and a stuffed animal.
But egads, I keep telling my oldest daughter to shut-up....cuz he can hear us and acts up with a batch of fresh crying.

Poor puppy....I feel so bad.

 

[julieandchili]

Gawd......he's "still" crying, although much slower now.
Now Im struggling thinking he may need to pee by now, but if I go get him he'll think his crying was finally rewarded.
What to do.....what to do.....

 

[julieandchili]

Wait....whats that sound?
Its....nothing!
I think he's cried himself to sleep! He's sleeping! Yay!
~~~patting myself on the back for not giving in~~~~~

LOL...I want to get my butt out of this chair and go grab a coffee, but Im afraid he'll hear me walking and start up again.
Ok, well Im stuck for now. A 4 pound puppy has got *me* crated in the computer room!
Tis ok....Ill gladly sit here if it means one step closer to crate training!

 

[julieandchili]

Yeah! I win!
I let him sleep...not too long cuz I figured he'd need to potty soon, and *I* wanted to be the one to initiate taking him out of the crate rather than him waking up and howling for me to come get him.
I went in, spoke to him, and he sat wagging his tail like crazy.
He went potty....had some lunch....played a bit...now he's sitting here looking at me warrily. Im sure he figures Im going somewhere and going to leave him all by his lonesome.
Man....I dread later this afternoon when I have to do it all over again.
He *will* get used to this, right? He wont just learn to hate the crate?

 

[Mach1girl]

He'll get over it, trust me!

Make sure you stick to a schedule, for instance, potty, play, crate.

He will adapt.

 

[julieandchili]

Round 2!
He's fed, has piddled and pooped, played...poor pooch was exsausted enough to fall asleep in my arms while I carried him to the crate.
But not so exsausted that he thought he better make his displeasure known!
However, the crying isnt anywhere close to what it was last time.
Im going to have a shower so I dont have to listen and feel rotten though......

 

[cowgurl6254]

A trick that we have always used is to cover the crate with a blanket. This helps the puppy relax and go to sleep easier. Just make sure you don't give in and only let him out of the crate if he is being quiet. With our new puppy, we waited until he had stopped whining, and then we let him out immediately. He soon learned that he got more attention if he was quiet.

 

[julieandchili]

Thanks for the reminder cowgurl. I wish hubby had'a read it!
He came home when I was in the shower, heard pup crying and let him out.
I was so ticked!
Just like a dad, huh? All fun and games, but when the hard work comes....where are they????
Well, I berated him good.....explained the necessity of only letting Chili out when he was quiet.....so hopefully that wont happen again.
I hope if Chili has another accident today....he has it on Jay's side of the bed again.

 

[Mach1girl]

What kinda pup??

My dogs pulled the blanket through the bars of the crate and ate it~Every time!!

I guess depending on your size of pup, the blanket can be beneficial!

Not here though, or we have blanket guts everywhere!!Lol.

 

[julieandchili]

AW......he's just a wee baby 10 week old mini daschund. All of 4 lbs soaking wet.
Mind you....that doesnt mean I doubt he can shred a blanket if he wants to......but this afternoon I covered the crate with an old towel and tucked it in tight under the crate.
He didnt pull it through (before hubby got to him....lol)but I think Ill continue to use the old towel in case he does decide to shred it.
Hard to believe that such a pipsqueek of a thing could potentially cause so much damage....but Ive felt his little razor teeth in some very sensitive places. No doubt he could shred some stuff.