Crate Training Question - YorkieTalk.com Forums

micksbabe · 11-28-2006, 10:25 AM

I am trying to crate train my puppy, the problem is that I am nervous that he will get scared and hate his crate if I keep putting him in it and then leaving. I work from 8:30 until 4:30, but I go home for an hour from 12-1 so he gets let out.

Is it alright to crate him for those 3.5 hours I am gone? or should I put him in the bathroom with his crate?

Also at night I have just been leaving him in the bathroom with free reign (he has toys, paper, water, and his crate for sleeping), I am going to try to keep him in the crate during the night in my room so that he doesn't feel alone. I want him to sleep with me, but I don't want him to mess on the bed. I am wondering if this is better than just putting him in a room alone. I feel horrible when he barks and whines because he is just so young I am not sure he understands and it makes me so upset to have to listen to that.

Can someone give me some advice. I am going to try to follow that daytime schedule, but at 10 weeks is that to young to start putting him in his crate for that long?

Fulrtonchigirl · 11-28-2006, 10:49 AM

My Little hair ball who is 5 months, is getting the crate training (ABOUT TIME). I thought it wasnt possible but i guess it's true that it takes a while. I dont let her sleep in her crate since it's so small, I dont want her to lay in her poopee! Gross. She has a bed she sleeps in next to her crate. She loves it. I took the advice here and used potty pads and now she is toO goOd to use newspaper which is not a great smell anyways... She had her own little area i made for her and she'd go in her crate and anywhere else tOo! She still does..Im trying to have patients but it's getting better! She likes when i take her out for walks which is rarely. She doesnt like to poopee outside though. Maybe when im lucky. She pee'd under my sons bed and behind the door this morning and totally ignored her pad. Yesturday i was lucky cuz she went right on it. 2 times! I guess it's a matter of when they have an accident and you catch it right away, take em to their crate and show them this is where your supposed to do it. I Show her, her mess, Tell her NO then take her over to her pad or crate and tell her good girl.. She's catching on. When i get happy and think she's catching on we end up taking 2 steps back. I guess be persistant. Try not to pull your hair out is my advice.. I feel bad i leave sonia in her area in the basement when i cant watch her. You can hear her cry though the vents. I JUST started letting her sleep in the roOm at night. My husband doesnt like her on the bed. He says he doesnt want fleas. She has not had an accident on it. I learned that leaving her water and food out all day creates more mess so i limit her food. Only in the morning, Afternoon and evening. Hopefully she gets it!

ladyt · 11-28-2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micksbabe

I am trying to crate train my puppy, the problem is that I am nervous that he will get scared and hate his crate if I keep putting him in it and then leaving. I work from 8:30 until 4:30, but I go home for an hour from 12-1 so he gets let out.

Is it alright to crate him for those 3.5 hours I am gone? or should I put him in the bathroom with his crate?

Also at night I have just been leaving him in the bathroom with free reign (he has toys, paper, water, and his crate for sleeping), I am going to try to keep him in the crate during the night in my room so that he doesn't feel alone. I want him to sleep with me, but I don't want him to mess on the bed. I am wondering if this is better than just putting him in a room alone. I feel horrible when he barks and whines because he is just so young I am not sure he understands and it makes me so upset to have to listen to that.

Can someone give me some advice. I am going to try to follow that daytime schedule, but at 10 weeks is that to young to start putting him in his crate for that long?

They get very comfortable with their crate. Since he is still a puppy, If you can come home and let him out at lunch time that's great. But after a while they can stay in their crate up to 6 hours some even longer. The older he gets he will be able to hold his business longer. They usually don't do anything where they sleep or lay. The crate will become a den for him and he will learn to enjoy it. Eventually he will just go in and sleep rather you're home or not.

RLC12345678 · 11-28-2006, 11:35 AM

3.5 hours is not too long to leave your new puppy in his crate. However, I definately would not leave him in there longer than that. Here is an excellent webpage that will help you get a schedule down pat for your little one and crate training:

http://www.darnfar.com/Dog%20Trainin...ng_a_puppy.htm

Also I would not leave him in the bathroom by himself at night. He is used to being with litter mates and his mama. He has never been left alone before and I am sure he is just nervous and scared. If you REALLY don't want him to sleep with you, then I would put him in his crate at night and put his crate on your nightstand so he can see you. That way he won't feel alone. If you do want him to sleep with you, I would go ahead and let him sleep with you. Both of mine have slept with me since the day I brought them home and neither has ever messed in my bed. I think it is because they will not mess where they sleep. They will get up and move around if they have to go to the bathroom and when they start moving around, get up and take him outside. Wrap him up in a towel and lay a towel on the bed beside you for him to lay on. If he does happen to mess in the bed, at least it will be on the towel.

micksbabe · 11-28-2006, 12:32 PM

I am just scared that he will start to not like his crate because when he goes in it I leave and so he will associate the crate with me going away. I have never had a puppy before he is my first one and I don't want to scare him.

I will put him in his crate at night in my room!! Thanks for the advice.

Lexi Rae · 11-28-2006, 01:25 PM

when i first got lexi i crate trained her.. i would let her out every one to
two hours during the night, but in the daytime i would leave her in the bathroom with the crate in there so she can go in and out whenever she
wants to..... and as she gets older give her more and more space to roam.
just my opinion.... thats what i did

RLC12345678 · 11-28-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micksbabe

I am just scared that he will start to not like his crate because when he goes in it I leave and so he will associate the crate with me going away. I have never had a puppy before he is my first one and I don't want to scare him.

I will put him in his crate at night in my room!! Thanks for the advice.

He will not start to not like his crate. If anything, he will grow to love it.

dcelmo · 11-28-2006, 01:45 PM

I have always crate trained my dogs. I have 2 now and they willingly go to their crates. I have found if you use a special treat.( mine was animal crackers), to put them in the crate it is a happy experience. Never put them in in anger. My dogs sleep in their crates all nite and have since they were 8 weeks old. I would get up and let them out to potty every so often and they learn real quick to just rest in the crate. When they whine and fuss, try not to act on it. They learn real fast, how to push your buttons and get what they want. "If I cry, she will let me out"! My crates are in my room and if they keep fussing, I just gently tell them,"it's nite nite, go to sleep". Now all I have to do is open the pantry and they run to their crates. I have always been pretty lucky getting them used to and loving their crates. It is nice for them to be crate trained if you have to travel, or if for their own safety. I live in California and I always have this fear that if we have an earthquake, would I be able to get both my dogs out. If they are crated it is no problem, they go from house to car, and are safe.
Just keep up the good work and be persistant, it will pay off.

micksbabe · 11-28-2006, 02:10 PM

Thank you so much. He does have a favorite treat, I can't remember what they are called, but they are freeze dried beef liver and if he gets a whiff he is in the crate!! lol but his butt hangs out lol I give him a little boost and after I shut the door he wimpers and whines and once he has settle down for about 2-3 minutes I give him a scratch and a treat. if he starts to wimper again, I just let him go at it and when he quiets down for a little longer next time I give him a scratch and tell him good boy. Hopefully this will work.

He still doesn't like to really pee on the paper, after I take him out we sit there for 15 mins and he wont go, as soon as he is on the carpet bam it is time to relieve himself. I have ordered some pee pads to see if these might work better, and once it gets warmer up here I am going to start taking him outside, but with the temperature the way it is (-30 Celsius, not sure what that is Farenhiet) I don't want him to get a chill.

LuvMyChloe · 11-29-2006, 01:44 PM

Crate training is not a bad thing to do, so don't feel guilty. I know its tough. I really didn't think it was a "nice" thing to do in the beginning, but honestly, the dogs do like the crates. It becomes their safe haven, and now Chloe will go in her crate during the day on her own if she is tired when I am home and doing other things. I usually put her in there with a water bowl, her food, and her kong with a special treat that she only gets when she goes in the crate. I do have her in a larger crate, one for a 40lb dog, but I put two nice crate pillows in there, and then with the food and water dish, there is no place to pee. 3.5 hours is fine in the beginning. I put her in for about 4hours, come home at lunch, then back in till I get home. Chloe sleeps in my room at night, she has her own bed, and I put a pee pad on the floor just in case she doesn't wake me up. She is outdoor trained, but will use a pee pad if she needs to. I wouldn't leave your dog in a room alone for bedtime. They like to be in the same room as you when you are home. Again, just don't feel guilty about the crate, its good for their safety too!

Bailey's Mummy · 11-30-2006, 02:05 AM

My little one is almost 12 weeks old and she has a small crate that she sleeps in (locked in)

During the day she stays in her playpen with a pee mat and her crate + kibble and water.

The only time she EVER cries in her crate is when she needs to go to the bathroom

Grayson's mom · 11-30-2006, 04:33 AM

Grayson loves his crate, we keep his by our bed at night so he can see us if he gets lonely or scared.

11-28-2006, 10:25 AM	#1
micksbabe Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 40	Crate Training Question I am trying to crate train my puppy, the problem is that I am nervous that he will get scared and hate his crate if I keep putting him in it and then leaving. I work from 8:30 until 4:30, but I go home for an hour from 12-1 so he gets let out. Is it alright to crate him for those 3.5 hours I am gone? or should I put him in the bathroom with his crate? Also at night I have just been leaving him in the bathroom with free reign (he has toys, paper, water, and his crate for sleeping), I am going to try to keep him in the crate during the night in my room so that he doesn't feel alone. I want him to sleep with me, but I don't want him to mess on the bed. I am wondering if this is better than just putting him in a room alone. I feel horrible when he barks and whines because he is just so young I am not sure he understands and it makes me so upset to have to listen to that. Can someone give me some advice. I am going to try to follow that daytime schedule, but at 10 weeks is that to young to start putting him in his crate for that long?

11-28-2006, 10:49 AM	#2
Fulrtonchigirl Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Plainfield, Il Posts: 146	My Little hair ball who is 5 months, is getting the crate training (ABOUT TIME). I thought it wasnt possible but i guess it's true that it takes a while. I dont let her sleep in her crate since it's so small, I dont want her to lay in her poopee! Gross. She has a bed she sleeps in next to her crate. She loves it. I took the advice here and used potty pads and now she is toO goOd to use newspaper which is not a great smell anyways... She had her own little area i made for her and she'd go in her crate and anywhere else tOo! She still does..Im trying to have patients but it's getting better! She likes when i take her out for walks which is rarely. She doesnt like to poopee outside though. Maybe when im lucky. She pee'd under my sons bed and behind the door this morning and totally ignored her pad. Yesturday i was lucky cuz she went right on it. 2 times! I guess it's a matter of when they have an accident and you catch it right away, take em to their crate and show them this is where your supposed to do it. I Show her, her mess, Tell her NO then take her over to her pad or crate and tell her good girl.. She's catching on. When i get happy and think she's catching on we end up taking 2 steps back. I guess be persistant. Try not to pull your hair out is my advice.. I feel bad i leave sonia in her area in the basement when i cant watch her. You can hear her cry though the vents. I JUST started letting her sleep in the roOm at night. My husband doesnt like her on the bed. He says he doesnt want fleas. She has not had an accident on it. I learned that leaving her water and food out all day creates more mess so i limit her food. Only in the morning, Afternoon and evening. Hopefully she gets it! __________________ MeLANie~SoNia'S~MoM

11-28-2006, 01:25 PM	#6
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,455	when i first got lexi i crate trained her.. i would let her out every one to two hours during the night, but in the daytime i would leave her in the bathroom with the crate in there so she can go in and out whenever she wants to..... and as she gets older give her more and more space to roam. just my opinion.... thats what i did __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

11-30-2006, 04:33 AM	#12
Grayson's mom Mommy's Little Boo Boo Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Virgina Posts: 3,734	Grayson loves his crate, we keep his by our bed at night so he can see us if he gets lonely or scared. __________________ Proud mom to Grayson Abby Dusty Pepper Ryan Gabriel and of course me Diane Grayson loves Tia

11-28-2006, 11:35 AM	#4
RLC12345678 I heart Hootie & Hobbs Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA Posts: 7,149	3.5 hours is not too long to leave your new puppy in his crate. However, I definately would not leave him in there longer than that. Here is an excellent webpage that will help you get a schedule down pat for your little one and crate training: http://www.darnfar.com/Dog%20Trainin...ng_a_puppy.htm Also I would not leave him in the bathroom by himself at night. He is used to being with litter mates and his mama. He has never been left alone before and I am sure he is just nervous and scared. If you REALLY don't want him to sleep with you, then I would put him in his crate at night and put his crate on your nightstand so he can see you. That way he won't feel alone. If you do want him to sleep with you, I would go ahead and let him sleep with you. Both of mine have slept with me since the day I brought them home and neither has ever messed in my bed. I think it is because they will not mess where they sleep. They will get up and move around if they have to go to the bathroom and when they start moving around, get up and take him outside. Wrap him up in a towel and lay a towel on the bed beside you for him to lay on. If he does happen to mess in the bed, at least it will be on the towel.

11-28-2006, 12:32 PM	#5
micksbabe Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 40	I am just scared that he will start to not like his crate because when he goes in it I leave and so he will associate the crate with me going away. I have never had a puppy before he is my first one and I don't want to scare him. I will put him in his crate at night in my room!! Thanks for the advice.

11-28-2006, 01:45 PM	#8
dcelmo Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Victorville, CA Posts: 181	I have always crate trained my dogs. I have 2 now and they willingly go to their crates. I have found if you use a special treat.( mine was animal crackers), to put them in the crate it is a happy experience. Never put them in in anger. My dogs sleep in their crates all nite and have since they were 8 weeks old. I would get up and let them out to potty every so often and they learn real quick to just rest in the crate. When they whine and fuss, try not to act on it. They learn real fast, how to push your buttons and get what they want. "If I cry, she will let me out"! My crates are in my room and if they keep fussing, I just gently tell them,"it's nite nite, go to sleep". Now all I have to do is open the pantry and they run to their crates. I have always been pretty lucky getting them used to and loving their crates. It is nice for them to be crate trained if you have to travel, or if for their own safety. I live in California and I always have this fear that if we have an earthquake, would I be able to get both my dogs out. If they are crated it is no problem, they go from house to car, and are safe. Just keep up the good work and be persistant, it will pay off.

11-28-2006, 02:10 PM	#9
micksbabe Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 40	Thank you so much. He does have a favorite treat, I can't remember what they are called, but they are freeze dried beef liver and if he gets a whiff he is in the crate!! lol but his butt hangs out lol I give him a little boost and after I shut the door he wimpers and whines and once he has settle down for about 2-3 minutes I give him a scratch and a treat. if he starts to wimper again, I just let him go at it and when he quiets down for a little longer next time I give him a scratch and tell him good boy. Hopefully this will work. He still doesn't like to really pee on the paper, after I take him out we sit there for 15 mins and he wont go, as soon as he is on the carpet bam it is time to relieve himself. I have ordered some pee pads to see if these might work better, and once it gets warmer up here I am going to start taking him outside, but with the temperature the way it is (-30 Celsius, not sure what that is Farenhiet) I don't want him to get a chill.

11-29-2006, 01:44 PM	#10
LuvMyChloe Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 10	Crate training is not a bad thing to do, so don't feel guilty. I know its tough. I really didn't think it was a "nice" thing to do in the beginning, but honestly, the dogs do like the crates. It becomes their safe haven, and now Chloe will go in her crate during the day on her own if she is tired when I am home and doing other things. I usually put her in there with a water bowl, her food, and her kong with a special treat that she only gets when she goes in the crate. I do have her in a larger crate, one for a 40lb dog, but I put two nice crate pillows in there, and then with the food and water dish, there is no place to pee. 3.5 hours is fine in the beginning. I put her in for about 4hours, come home at lunch, then back in till I get home. Chloe sleeps in my room at night, she has her own bed, and I put a pee pad on the floor just in case she doesn't wake me up. She is outdoor trained, but will use a pee pad if she needs to. I wouldn't leave your dog in a room alone for bedtime. They like to be in the same room as you when you are home. Again, just don't feel guilty about the crate, its good for their safety too!

11-30-2006, 02:05 AM	#11
Bailey's Mummy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 73	My little one is almost 12 weeks old and she has a small crate that she sleeps in (locked in) During the day she stays in her playpen with a pee mat and her crate + kibble and water. The only time she EVER cries in her crate is when she needs to go to the bathroom