Play pen or crate?

[Lgrand]

I have a 4 month old little 4 pound puppy, and he isn't sleeping through the night just this past week, he use to sleep through the night.. I'm beginning to think, he is picking up on when i put him in his crate downstairs I leave and I'm afraid he thinks when he is in my bed room in his crate I'm going to leave, should i use a play pen, or like a pack n play? I need something that shows him I'm still home and i can put the pack n play by my bed? any suggestions?

[diva_vida]

Do you only put your pup in the crate when you're leaving? Or do you also put him in there when you can't keep an eye on him (cleaning, washing clothes, etc). I put my puppy in the crate throughout the day (usually on weekends when I'm off) for down time. During these times I'll usually relax and watch TV or clean up. He can still see me through his crate and he usually just goes to sleep. I give my puppy Reese a little sliver of FreshPet turkey bacon when he goes into the crate. He basically leaps into the crate to get it since it's his special crate treat lol. You're right, he might be associating you putting him in the crate with you walking out the door or leaving the room. He might also end up with the same associations if you put him in an expen and then leave every single time.

[Shicks]

Hi I used both for my little boy. For a couple months we just used the crate. He slept in my room. When he got a little fussy during the night I would reassure him plus going out for potty time. Then I started using the ex pen. When I had to leave the house I would put his crate with door open inside the pen throw in a few treats and he was a happy boy. As time went along he knew when I was leaving and couldn't wait to get in his pen. He was so sweet. Lost him a yr. ago.

[Lgrand]

was it just a regular pack n play? I'm afraid he's going to chew through the mesh sides?

[diva_vida]

I have two expens...one is the brand Iris, which can be expandable with extra panels. I've only used it once and really only use it as two separate pieces to block off my living room. I've also read of some escape artist puppies climbing it. I also have an 8 panel Midwest expen that is huge and I use this one to block off my kitchen since it is long enough to reach from one end to another when opened up. The Iris one could probably fit a pad a bed or a small crate and some toys. Reese did well in it at one point, but then started peeing on the open space lol. I now put his crate in the kitchen with a pee pad, some safe toys, his food, and water when I go to work. He's been only going potty outside for the past month so the pad is only there just in case. Yesterday was his first time in the kitchen in a long time and I was almost positive that I was going to come home to some kind of mess on the floor, but surprisingly so, he waited until I got home to take him out to the potty. I also have a pack n play type one but the bottom is too slippery and all he does is slide around in it.

[Shicks]

no, no. Nothing soft. My ex pen was an older one made like a 4' high fence. I think most of them are plastic. Very secure. It would secure to make a circle or how ever you wanted it. A few time I would put my little guy in it and get in it too. Would show him his opened crate and toys, etc. You shouldn't leave your little one out in the house when no is home.

[MorkieMania]

Hi, I have 3 dogs ... 2 are female Morkies & a new yorkie male pup 7 months. I purchased a large exercise pen that zips and locks ( one female knows how to unzip it so I "must lock " ) or they all escape, easily into the night and are at the mercy of the 13 pound Persian " Fancypants" which by nature, LOVES to torment her prey... lol
All 3 sleep in this at night time only and it stays opened ALL DAY for their naps... this is their Den they feel safe! The 1st 3 nights the pup whined but after that he sleeps all night without uttering a sound! We just kept " reassuring him " by getting up and telling him " Go to bed " he still made a cry or two but after we would get up the 1st time, so he could see we were there, we would just say No...FIRMLY the second time & follow with...go to bed! on the 4th night he figured it out and now we all sleep peacefully!!! STICK with less words but be Consistant.....they are very smart and catch on quickly!!! Good luck with your baby and let us know how it turns out!

[SirTeddykins]

My Teddy sleeps in his crate at night and is kept in there when I'm away and sometimes in the day, when there is no supervision available, for example.


He has always liked his crate better than x-pen and I have no idea why! But, in answer to your question, I think if you make the crate a safe haven by putting toys in there, or treats and a nice blanket, they really don't associate it with anything bad when its used for various reasons. I'd think the crate would be associated with bad things only if there were no rewards for going in there or it was used for only one thing which the dog hates like going to the vet or something else which has meant a show of displeasure previously.


Even then, though, they tend to get over it!

[Lgrand]

He just isn't sleeping through the night... I'm becoming very exhausted.... He's 4 months and use to sleep through the night until about a week ago.. He gets up at midnight, 2 and sometimes 4... It's becoming very tiring... Last night he even ran hard and played hard right before bed with my Shorkie.. I just don't know why he won't sleep..

[Shicks]

Have you tried a noise maker like maybe a room size air purifier, fan? With my deceased little guy I got up at least twice a night 12 and 4 up until about 7months. We always had a noise maker and (I know this isn't good), he slept with me. It was very hard with lack of sleep, but well worth it. I promise you there will lots of Z's when the baby gets a little more settled. Good luck

[diva_vida]

When he gets up is he barking, whimpering or does he need to go potty? Have you ever left him alone to see if he calms himself down? If he has to go to the bathroom then there's really nothing you can do about that. I guess you could move the crate into your room so that he knows you're there and then eventually move it out into another room if you want to.

[Shicks]

Your little one is 4 months old right? They say as a rule of thumb for every month one hour is all our little ones should wait. So that's 4 hours. That's still a couple times a night. Does your baby sleep with your Snokie? I would try and put the crate beside your bed, but before long the baby will be in your bed. There's nothing like cuddling with a Yorkie. But, this. Of course is not recommended

[Lgrand]

He whines.. And if I ignore him it gets louder... But if I put him up in my bed he goes right back to sleep.. I'm just scared I will roll over on him... He's only 4 pounds.. That's the only way I get sleep is if he's with me in bed.. And yes the Shorkie sleeps in bed with me as well on top of my pillow to be exact Haha

[Zoey Zendaya]

Originally Posted by Lgrand

was it just a regular pack n play? I'm afraid he's going to chew through the mesh sides?

I have a pack n play playpen with the mesh sides I have beside my bed.
I line the bottom with pee pads, and at one end I have a fluffy soft blanket. At the other end food a no water. Being so young I would worry going too long without food and water.
I then drape the sides either with big towels or blankets . She doesn't bother them , seems to like the safe enclosed feeling from it. AND most important they sense you near in the night when they need that reassurance that they are not alone.
Izzy can't wait to go to bed at night. She will go in there and either whine to get in or just stand there looking at it after playtime.

[Zoey Zendaya]

What did I just say.....
Meant to say a bowl of water, duh....