whether you choose Xpen or crate you must be consistent as to begin with it can be hard especially when they whine/bark. I have never used an xpen so not much experience there. I do use a crate, I do work fulltime but I run home on my lunch and let the dogs out. Right now just my 6mo old Biewer puppy is being crate trained, my Yorkie and Golden are fully house trained, but my Yorkie could not hold it all day (he is larger 11lbs). I start out with short intervals in the crate. Put the dogs food in the crate and feed in the crate, leave the door open to begin with, you want the dog to associate the crate with good things, not punishment. Slowly increase the time the dog is in the crate. I only feed in there for about 1wk. After then I put a couple treats and a few toys in there, put the pup in close the gate and leave. Its a good idea to start crate training on your day off so you can really work with it. Be patient as the pup will bark and/or cry. Do not take the pup out if barking, wait until he/she is quiet. They are quick to learn that if they bark they get to come out. Some people like to cover the crate with a towel or something. I use the plastic crate, not the wire, no reason just do. When I put Bentley in the crate in the morning, I put the treats in there and his toy and I tell him "house" or whatever word you want to use. I put him in there, close the door and leave for work, I do not make a big scene. When I come home at lunch, I do not take him out immediately, I come in the house, check the mail etc. Again, NO fanfare. When he is quiet then I let him out and take him outside immediately. When I leave for work again, its the same process. While crate training, I also put him in the crate when I take a bath, and at night the crate is next to my bed. If he whines when the crate is next to the bed, I lightly tap it and say "quiet". It took a couple weeks before the whining subsided, but it did. Occassionally, I will hear him when I leave for work, but I wait and listen and he gets quiet. Good luck, with patience and persistence it does work. Bentley will often climb into his crate when I am on the computer or something, he does this on his own now and lays down to rest.
Kathy |