Not getting used to her crate

[laurabelle]

OMG I feel like Thor's mommy right now, I can't take it! I know I've only had her a week but seriously, no one is getting any sleep. Last night was awful, she had quieted down but my son is cutting his last teeth and was up every hour and when he was crying then she was crying and I had to get them both settled down, and let's just say Collin was way easier to settle down than Sasha. I think she thinks I've abandoned her but she should know by now I always come back! I guess I'm just ranting too, I try to ignore her but she sounds like a damn bird sometimes, and she's SO LOUD!! I had no idea dogs can be so LOUD!!! I can't really wear earplugs cause I need to be able to hear if Collin gets up! She hates her crate during the day when I have to leave and then at night we put her in the bathroom with puppy pads - I don't expect her to be able to hold her pee all night since she's only 9 weeks old, and she just runs crazy in there and knocks her food and water bowls over and makes a big mess and yaps like a nutcase. She'll quiet down after about 20 minutes or so but it only lasts about an hour and then she's at it again. Argh!

[laurenr]

I have had my 11 week old Mango home for 10 days now. She sleeps in her crate at night with the door closed. Once they are used to it, the crate actually becomes their little safe "cave". Even during the day, when I leave her crate with the door open inside her pen, she will climb into it of her own accord and go to sleep.

Just persevere with the crate, she will eventually get used to it, but I definitely would crate her at night. I lift all food and water by 9 pm so as to not put a strain on that tiny little system. Mango will hold it the whole night, after having her last pee at 11PM. She sleeps soundly until 7AM the next morning.

[laurabelle]

I was wondering if I should crate her at night, but then I kept reading that I shouldn't restrict her food at all when she is this little, but I was afraid if I put food in her crate with her that she'd end up pooping in it or something. I might have to try crating her at night as well, I was just afraid about not letting her eat for that long.

[laurenr]

Originally Posted by laurabelle

I was wondering if I should crate her at night, but then I kept reading that I shouldn't restrict her food at all when she is this little, but I was afraid if I put food in her crate with her that she'd end up pooping in it or something. I might have to try crating her at night as well, I was just afraid about not letting her eat for that long.

How old is your pup? Do you know how much she weighs? At 11 weeks Mango was 1 lb 4 ozs and she went fine the whole night without food and water. It's when they are really tiny that there is the concern of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Mango has breakfast at about 7:30 AM. She is thriving on the system we have set up for her. Perhaps you can get advice from your Vet or the breeder as to whether your puppy can go through the night without food.

[laurabelle]

Jeez, I have a big Yorkie haha. She is 9 weeks old and at 8 weeks weighed 2lbs 7oz. My breeder said they'd never had problems with hypoglycemia with the puppies, she probably would do fine without food and water at night, but I'll ask the vet tomorrow when she goes in for hernia surgery. You know us mommies, I worry about her! But I can't handle this nighttime thing, something's got to change.

[SweetCuteness]

We tried the crate for 6 months and Ferdinand never got used to it. He still cried at night... all night. I finally quit crating him because I thought it was cruel because it was blatently obvious that he hated it. Everyone says they get used to it... but he never did.

He sleeps babygated in the laundry room now with his bed, toys, food, water, and pee pad. And he's happy as can be in there. He never makes a peep.

I still leave his crate in there with the door open, but he never goes in there.

[laurabelle]

I'm gonna keep giving it a shot, but I'm afraid she won't get used to it either. I wish there was a backup plan room in our house - we picked the bathroom because it's not carpeted and stays quite warm. Everywhere else is cold in our house, or carpeted and she's not potty trained, she grabs her pee pads and chews them and carries them off. Even if she does get used to her crate I'm wanting to move her from the bathroom - it's the only working one and if I have to pee at night I'm screwed basically.

[laurenr]

Between my parents, my sister and myself, we have had Yorkies for the past 18 years. All of them eventually got used to the crate. It is also fantastic for potty training.

When I take Mango out of her crate in the morning or after all naps, I take her outside and use the command "go wee-wee" , which I say over and over until she does. Then I give her a "Good Girl!" and a cheerio as a reward. After only 10 days, she is now peeing on command. Poops are not as predictable, but she will usually go within 20 minutes after her meal.

[lovelilly]

Originally Posted by laurenr

I have had my 11 week old Mango home for 10 days now. She sleeps in her crate at night with the door closed. Once they are used to it, the crate actually becomes their little safe "cave". Even during the day, when I leave her crate with the door open inside her pen, she will climb into it of her own accord and go to sleep.

Just persevere with the crate, she will eventually get used to it, but I definitely would crate her at night. I lift all food and water by 9 pm so as to not put a strain on that tiny little system. Mango will hold it the whole night, after having her last pee at 11PM. She sleeps soundly until 7AM the next morning.

Mine did too Try putting something in there for her to snuggle up to. Or I use the everlasting treat ball to distract them. In the beginning I had to throw a towel over the crate so it was nice and dark.

[laurenr]

Originally Posted by lovelilly

Mine did too Try putting something in there for her to snuggle up to. Or I use the everlasting treat ball to distract them. In the beginning I had to throw a towel over the crate so it was nice and dark.

I totally agree and forgot to mention that. Mango always has a pig's ear chew to soothe her inside the crate. (do NOT use rawhide). I also have a towel rolled up in the back to take up the excess space because she is soooo tiny. On the floor is a nice cosy, folded up baby blanket for her to lay on. Also, at night, my room is totally darkened with blackout shades (the only way I can sleep.) If your room is not dark, a covering over the crate is a good idea, as long as there is enough air to circulate unerneath, it should be fine.

A friend of mine had a walk-in closet when her Yorkie was a pup. It slept in there, in the crate, at night because she could make it totally dark, and also because the "human" noises would not disturb her. It worked great for her at that time, because she also had an infant who would occasionally waken during the night.

The secret to success is perseverance and keeping the crate door closed for the entire night. The results are so totally worth it in the end.

[BLowry]

I wouldn't give up on the crate either...Lillie didn't like being in the crate when we first brought her home either. I was up with her every 2 hours for the first 4 to 5 nights. After a while she got used to it. Lillie was only 8 weeks old when I got her and 1.6 lbs..very small....I think (even though the crate is not big) it was very overwhelming for her where she didn't have her mom or litter mates. I put a cat bed (the kind with the hood) in the crate with a heating pad UNDER the bed...I made a little pillow and put it in the bed and made her a little blanket. I pulled the bed right to the front of the crate so it did't look so big to her...She is perfectly fine in there now. And....I have an adult that sleeps with us and Lillie still doesn't mind sleeping in her crate now.
On the food...I wouldn't put food in the crate. I used to pick up the food after about 9 at night...put Lillie on the pad, tell her to pee (she did) and then into bed she would go...she has never had an accident in her crate.

I hope this helps..I know what how sleepless nights feel..

[Tink's Mom]

Well, I'm sorry to disagree that they will get used to the crate. My toy poodle would not crate train. I tried for a year and a half and finally had to give it up. He broke off 3 of his permanent teeth trying to get out of the crate and broke one of his legs trying to get out. He was potty trained so there was no problem with that but he would destroy things in the house while I was at work. So I just restricted him to the kitchen. About of month of restriction and he was fine and I never had another problem with him. He was the best little furbaby I ever had.

[laurabelle]

She seems to be getting used to it now, yay! She barks for a few minutes, whimpers for a few minutes more, and then she's good until someone gets up in the morning! Yay again! Thanks for the encouragement!

[Patti]

Glad to hear it's going better. Pixie is starting to settle down in her playpen after 3 weeks. She's still screams a bit when put in there.

[Tink's Mom]

Yeah! Glad it's starting to work for you. What new thing did you try or did she just give up?