New Baby & Her Crate

[Renee Pingel]

So I have had my new girl Maggie Mae since Sunday night and I know how many things have changed for her. With that said, any suggestions as to how to make her quit whining, crying, barking and thrashing around almost all night long every night and also when I just put her in the crate to try to assure her it's okay. It really is nuts how much she crys etc.

When I got Molly she didn't like it either but after about 20-30 minutes she settled down and went to sleep. Maggie Mae just goes forever and ever and if she wakes up during the night (after crying etc.) she starts all over again and goes for at least an hour or more.

I'll take any suggestions. I even put her in the ex-pen and she howled in that too. She whines/cries all the time even when I'm in the room and sometimes when I'm holding her. I've never seen a dog be so needy LOL

[Yorkiemom1]

How old is your baby?

[Magnus]

I was lucky in the fact that both Magnus and Zoey never whined for more than 5-10 min and only the first few days they came to live with us.

Maybe Maggie Mae has more energy than Molly? Have you tried playing with her and wearing her out a bit before putting her to bed? Both Magnus and Zoey head straight for their room/bed and go to sleep early after a tiring day.

[Renee Pingel]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

How old is your baby?

She is 12 weeks old. Her breeder never crated her. She had a baby proofed room for her pups and mom.

Mangus - I play with both girls and let them run and play to wear them out. I know that when I get home from work Maggie Mae wants to be held a lot and then she tries to go to sleep. I don't let her for too long as I want her to go to bed. My neighbor comes and takes both girls outside many times a day and plays with them too.

I was hoping to crate them together in hopes that Maggie wouldn't cry but right now Molly doesn't want Maggie with her. I think someone else said that they are trying to see who is Alpha. Molly is 10 months old and has been kind of rough with Maggie barking at her and rough housing. I think this is because she usually plays with the 2 year old male chihuahua next door and he lets her bite and romp with him - roughly. Molly has got ahold of Maggie's ear a few time biting and then Maggie lets out a yelp.

I have been supervising them together as I don't want Molly to hurt Maggie. I am hoping they will start to get along soon.

I'm at wits end on that issue too.

[luvlee]

How long is she in the crate every day? I wouldn't put both dogs in the crate.

She may develop anxiety about the crate and that wouldn't be good. Maybe she should be put in the crate for shorter periods of time & be rewarded for quiet time in the crate.

This may take longer than you anticipated but all well-loved pups adjust eventually.

Good luck.

[Renee Pingel]

Originally Posted by luvlee

How long is she in the crate every day? I wouldn't put both dogs in the crate.

She may develop anxiety about the crate and that wouldn't be good. Maybe she should be put in the crate for shorter periods of time & be rewarded for quiet time in the crate.

This may take longer than you anticipated but all well-loved pups adjust eventually.

Good luck.

She is in her ex-pen during the day and my neighbor comes over several time per day to play with and take out for potty time. She is only in her crate at bed time - I take her out once during the night to potty.

I wasn't thinking of putting them in 1 crate all day just to sleep at night. I figured it would be soothing for Maggie since she doesn't have her litter mates or momma anymore.

I do give her treats when she is quiet in the crate when I initially put her in about 30 minutes before I got to bed. She whines in her ex-pen too even when I am standing in the same room with her cooking dinner.

i hope she learns to quiet down soon. I'm sure the neighbors next to us are tired of hearing her too (we live in a townhouse until our house is done being built).

[luvlee]

Originally Posted by Renee Pingel

I wasn't thinking of putting them in 1 crate all day just to sleep at night. I figured it would be soothing for Maggie since she doesn't have her litter mates or momma anymore.

I wouldn't put them in the crate together - especially 2 girls. You might end up with a cat fight - and that would really wake the neighbors!!

If your crate has a removeable door, perhaps you can put it inside the expen without the door on it. Put a really comfy bed/mat inside the crate. Maybe she'll realize that the crate is a place to rest & relax.

You could try to put the expen near a radio or tv. Sometimes just the sound of human voices is helpful - especially when you're not near.

Also, I don't know whether she's old enough, but perhaps you could try some natural calming rememdies. I just purchased some stuff for my Lucy who has very bad thunder anxiety.

She'll adjust in time. For now, you just have to deal with the "new baby."

Good luck.

[joyce evans]

I had that problem when I first got Hannah and my Vet told me to put a blanket over her crate. It worked for my pup. She is quite from 9:00 till I move or make a sound in the morning. I also have a potty pad in her crate at all times because she doesn't go outside much and never during the night. I've noticed that during the day she has to get her exercise and tire out before she's quite in her crate. She's happiest when I let her free rome around the house but she likes to chew on my furniture so we are working on that. Good Luck!!!!

[Teresiana]

Maybe you can try leaving the crate inside her expen with her & the crate door open. That way she can go in & out and sniff around it. It might help with her getting used to the idea of the crate. Just always have it open & available to her even though she's not in it.

I had the hardest time crate training my first Yorkie. I'd come home & he'd literally be covered in saliva from trying to chew through the crate. I felt horrible & was worried that he'd have a heart attack from the anxiety. I started leaving little bits of cheese or chicken in his crate all the time. I'd sneak them in when he wasn't looking so that everytime he went in his crate, he'd find a really high value treat & hopefully associate his crate with happy yummy things. I also started feeding him only in his crate. It wasn't a miracle. But it did eventually calm him down enough to keep quiet for a while. At night, I put his crate on top of a little end table so that he was level with the mattress on my bed. That helped a lot. He would whine for a few minutes, but I think the fact that he saw me, kept him quiet through the night.

Good luck!! I know it's hard. I feel your pain.

[yorkiedorky]

I couldn't crate train my yorkie. He stays in the kitchen in a folding play pen while we're not home. He still gets a little upset about it but only cries for a few minutes and then sleds the rest of the time. I feel it is a better alternative because it gives him a ton more room and he doesn't feel as trapped.

[Renee Pingel]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have tried many of them to no avail. I put her on the end table in my room last night and all she did was whine, bark and flail around to get out. I moved her back downstairs after an hour of that. I put a towel over her crate to make her feel safe that doesn't work either. I tried not putting the towel over it - didn't make a difference. I think she is having some severe separation anxiety from being away from momma and litter mates. She whines even when she's in the bathroom with me in the morning while I get ready. If I'm not holding her all the time she cries. Don't even think about leaving her eyesight either. I hope she starts settling in with us soon - my hubby isn't as understanding as I am.

She does sleep a bit during the night but not as much as she needs to LOL

I have ordered a heartbeat bear in hopes that might help. She is in her ex-pen during the day and does ok for the most part - but as soon as someone is home the whining begins.

[luvlee]

I'm sorry you're having so much puppy trouble! She'll adjust with some time - just keep hubbt in check!

It's been suggested here to try to really keep her active during the day. A well-exercised puppy is a tired puppy!

Maybe you can get your pet sitter to come even more frequently for awhile.

Good luck.

[Rhetts_mama]

Try giving her something you've worn to sleep with.

I've also spent more than a few nights sleeping on the floor next to the crate.

[Teresiana]

So sorry you're having a difficult time Does she cry in her expen too? Just wondering if it would help you kept her in her expen overnight - inside of a crate. Hopefully she'll calm down soon.

[Renee Pingel]

Originally Posted by Teresiana

So sorry you're having a difficult time Does she cry in her expen too? Just wondering if it would help you kept her in her expen overnight - inside of a crate. Hopefully she'll calm down soon.

We've tried that too and she cries and barks only louder since she is closer to us. I am going to work harder on letting her be in our room tonight since I don't have to get up at 0500. I just hope my hubby can handle it better tonight too!