Horrible Night Crate Training Need Advice - YorkieTalk.com Forums

grapeguzzler · 01-11-2012, 04:09 PM

Marley is 12 weeks old and we got him Christmas evening. We have always used the crate and we make going into the crate fun for him. 2 days ago he started to go in on his own for play during the day but not long periods of time and always walks willingly every night when we say "get in your crate for night night". From day one we would put him in the crate around 12 and wait for him to whine during the night to let him out but that was not until 5:30 or 6AM. We knew this was not the norm and felt lucky.

But last night was aweful! I put him the crate and he whined constantly the entire night. I let him outside every 2 hours and put him back in the crate immediately. But at 3AM I turned the baby monitor off so I could get some sleep, I take heavy medications at night and DH was out of town. At 5:30 he woke me and when I got him out of the crate he had peed...I felt horrible. Please tell me this was just a bad night and not every night will be like this. He cried the whole night and has never done this before.

My question is do I let him cry as long as I take him out every 2 hours to pee? Why the set back? I put him in the crate when I had to run to walmart that day but my son got home from school so he was only in the crate for 30-40 min at most, would this have triggered something? DH was out of town, would he be missing him?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

PS-I work from home so he is either with me or in a closed off area of the kitchen during the day when I can't watch him. He typically only goes into the crate at night when he sleeps.

Lovetodream88 · 01-11-2012, 06:29 PM

I would first off try moving the crate to where he can see you.

myteddybear · 01-11-2012, 06:37 PM

We have always had the crate right next to the bed. If it wasn't close enough for them to see us then I would sit it on the nightstand litterally right next to my head practically and that usually always did the trick. Our Rosie now still sleeps in the crate at 2 years old and if I try to let her sleep on the bed she gets down in the night and goes into her crate and stays there till morning.

Maximo · 01-11-2012, 06:42 PM

I understand some people may not want the doggies in the bedroom, but as stated above, the fastest way to cure your problem would be to have the crate where your pup can see you. The closer to your bed, the better.

Make sure your pup has a potty break right before bedtime, and try to be as consistent as possible with a schedule of feeding, activities, and sleep time.

Last, but not least, keep in mind that at 12 weeks, a small pup's bladder is probably not fully developed and many potty breaks are probably needed.

gracielove · 01-11-2012, 06:43 PM

I have failed crate training every time I tried it but did you cut off his water like around 6 or 7PM so he didn't have a lot of fluid he was dealing with during the night? They have such little bladders it's not good to let them drink close to bed time.

grapeguzzler · 01-11-2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myteddybear

We have always had the crate right next to the bed. If it wasn't close enough for them to see us then I would sit it on the nightstand litterally right next to my head practically and that usually always did the trick. Our Rosie now still sleeps in the crate at 2 years old and if I try to let her sleep on the bed she gets down in the night and goes into her crate and stays there till morning.

We had never done this previously & he was okay. I was wondering what changed. Maybe he is just getting more attached. We don't let him out of the family @ kitchen rooms. To have him near us we would have to carry him up a flight of stairs & down again to potty outside every time. Should I have 2 crates; one in our bedroom & 1 in the family room where we hang out during the day?

grapeguzzler · 01-11-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gracielove

I have failed crate training every time I tried it but did you cut off his water like around 6 or 7PM so he didn't have a lot of fluid he was dealing with during the night? They have such little bladders it's not good to let them drink close to bed time.

Well I do remember 1 time when he came in from outside he stopped at water bowl but I was so upset w the night I thought that maybe that was what he was needing. So im sure this is why he had the mishap in his cage.

grapeguzzler · 01-12-2012, 05:47 AM

So last night he was fine. I didn't change anything but did put one of my husband's dirty undershirts in his crate. He seemed to be back on track in the crate at 11:30 and woke at 5AM. Strange, I guess it was just a bad night for him. Thanks for everyone's input and so glad I found this board!

Maximo · 01-12-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grapeguzzler

So last night he was fine. I didn't change anything but did put one of my husband's dirty undershirts in his crate. He seemed to be back on track in the crate at 11:30 and woke at 5AM. Strange, I guess it was just a bad night for him. Thanks for everyone's input and so glad I found this board!

Glad to hear all went well. The shirt was a great idea. Your little guy must have been comforted having your husband's scent on the snuggly tshirt.

southernbelle04 · 01-12-2012, 11:18 AM

By fellow YT'ers advice, I too set Katie Scarlett up right next to us from day one. And she has done great! She has never cried for more than a few minutes each night. She usually will come in the bed with me for just a few minutes before night time. I love on her, rub her belly, and get her calmed down for the night. Then I say 'time to go night night.' I put her in her area and every now and then she may bark 2-3 times. I look over at her and say 'enough' or 'hush' and she settles right down. We used the Potty Training Puppy Apartment system with her and it was great for us! She has a bed on one side and her pad on the other. She is now pretty much house trained. She has those pad tray thingies set up in other areas of the house. We have now transferred her to a 'big girl' bed next to ours at night. I have her bed and one of those pad trays with the pad clipped into it right in front of thed bed. I have her a water bowl in there and a few toys. I then have her x pen set up around it. She has only enough room to get in her bed and get to the pad or water bowl. I did not give her a lot of play room at night so she would know it was time to lay down and sleep. This has worked for us. She rarely ever gives me trouble at night. She uses her pad when she has to go and goes back to sleep. She doesn't even wake us up anymore. She lets me wake up on my own. And since she can see me, I think it puts her at ease.

Good luck to you!

grapeguzzler · 01-13-2012, 08:01 PM

The next night was another good one. He went into his crate (located downstairs) at 11:30 pm and woke at 5:30 am which I took him out. He then went back into his crate until 6:30. He only whimpered a minute or two.

We have not used the pads and chose to go straight to outside. I am fortunate enough to work from home and watch him like a hawk. He has only had a few accidents. When he is better housebroken we will let him into other rooms but right now only 2 rooms.

Since DH is back in town, I noticed already 8PM Marley seems to be a little unsettled already. I wonder if he will have another long night. But I don't mind a few long nights when the majority are great.

PS- He is loving his crate and already goes into it when I mention it in a sentence. Of course we give a treat every time and praise him for going in. He likes to sneak things like leaves (which we promptly remove) into his crate, which I feel he must me feeling very comfortable and "den" like to do this. right?

01-11-2012, 04:09 PM	#1
grapeguzzler Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 54	Horrible Night Crate Training Need Advice Marley is 12 weeks old and we got him Christmas evening. We have always used the crate and we make going into the crate fun for him. 2 days ago he started to go in on his own for play during the day but not long periods of time and always walks willingly every night when we say "get in your crate for night night". From day one we would put him in the crate around 12 and wait for him to whine during the night to let him out but that was not until 5:30 or 6AM. We knew this was not the norm and felt lucky. But last night was aweful! I put him the crate and he whined constantly the entire night. I let him outside every 2 hours and put him back in the crate immediately. But at 3AM I turned the baby monitor off so I could get some sleep, I take heavy medications at night and DH was out of town. At 5:30 he woke me and when I got him out of the crate he had peed...I felt horrible. Please tell me this was just a bad night and not every night will be like this. He cried the whole night and has never done this before. My question is do I let him cry as long as I take him out every 2 hours to pee? Why the set back? I put him in the crate when I had to run to walmart that day but my son got home from school so he was only in the crate for 30-40 min at most, would this have triggered something? DH was out of town, would he be missing him? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. PS-I work from home so he is either with me or in a closed off area of the kitchen during the day when I can't watch him. He typically only goes into the crate at night when he sleeps.

01-11-2012, 06:29 PM	#2
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	I would first off try moving the crate to where he can see you. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

01-11-2012, 06:37 PM	#3
myteddybear Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cambridgeshire, England Posts: 1,208	We have always had the crate right next to the bed. If it wasn't close enough for them to see us then I would sit it on the nightstand litterally right next to my head practically and that usually always did the trick. Our Rosie now still sleeps in the crate at 2 years old and if I try to let her sleep on the bed she gets down in the night and goes into her crate and stays there till morning. __________________ Please help save Lennox! http://www.savelennox.co.uk/ Let your voice be heard so Lennox can go home

01-11-2012, 06:42 PM	#4
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,041	I understand some people may not want the doggies in the bedroom, but as stated above, the fastest way to cure your problem would be to have the crate where your pup can see you. The closer to your bed, the better. Make sure your pup has a potty break right before bedtime, and try to be as consistent as possible with a schedule of feeding, activities, and sleep time. Last, but not least, keep in mind that at 12 weeks, a small pup's bladder is probably not fully developed and many potty breaks are probably needed. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

01-12-2012, 11:18 AM	#10
southernbelle04 Katie Scarlett's Mommy Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sweet Home Alabama Posts: 7,554 Blog Entries: 1	By fellow YT'ers advice, I too set Katie Scarlett up right next to us from day one. And she has done great! She has never cried for more than a few minutes each night. She usually will come in the bed with me for just a few minutes before night time. I love on her, rub her belly, and get her calmed down for the night. Then I say 'time to go night night.' I put her in her area and every now and then she may bark 2-3 times. I look over at her and say 'enough' or 'hush' and she settles right down. We used the Potty Training Puppy Apartment system with her and it was great for us! She has a bed on one side and her pad on the other. She is now pretty much house trained. She has those pad tray thingies set up in other areas of the house. We have now transferred her to a 'big girl' bed next to ours at night. I have her bed and one of those pad trays with the pad clipped into it right in front of thed bed. I have her a water bowl in there and a few toys. I then have her x pen set up around it. She has only enough room to get in her bed and get to the pad or water bowl. I did not give her a lot of play room at night so she would know it was time to lay down and sleep. This has worked for us. She rarely ever gives me trouble at night. She uses her pad when she has to go and goes back to sleep. She doesn't even wake us up anymore. She lets me wake up on my own. And since she can see me, I think it puts her at ease. Good luck to you! __________________ Aymee & Katie Scarlett

01-11-2012, 06:43 PM	#5
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	I have failed crate training every time I tried it but did you cut off his water like around 6 or 7PM so he didn't have a lot of fluid he was dealing with during the night? They have such little bladders it's not good to let them drink close to bed time.

01-12-2012, 05:47 AM	#8
grapeguzzler Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 54	So last night he was fine. I didn't change anything but did put one of my husband's dirty undershirts in his crate. He seemed to be back on track in the crate at 11:30 and woke at 5AM. Strange, I guess it was just a bad night for him. Thanks for everyone's input and so glad I found this board!

01-13-2012, 08:01 PM	#11
grapeguzzler Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 54	The next night was another good one. He went into his crate (located downstairs) at 11:30 pm and woke at 5:30 am which I took him out. He then went back into his crate until 6:30. He only whimpered a minute or two. We have not used the pads and chose to go straight to outside. I am fortunate enough to work from home and watch him like a hawk. He has only had a few accidents. When he is better housebroken we will let him into other rooms but right now only 2 rooms. Since DH is back in town, I noticed already 8PM Marley seems to be a little unsettled already. I wonder if he will have another long night. But I don't mind a few long nights when the majority are great. PS- He is loving his crate and already goes into it when I mention it in a sentence. Of course we give a treat every time and praise him for going in. He likes to sneak things like leaves (which we promptly remove) into his crate, which I feel he must me feeling very comfortable and "den" like to do this. right?