YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - 4 month old crate barking out of control!

anko · 01-02-2010, 05:51 PM

Hi there,

I have a 5 month old boy and I use an xpen instead of a crate. It works really well! I think xpen is much better than a crate because it gives them more room to stretch out, and they don't feel as confined.

My puppy sleep in his xpen in my bedroom. He wakes up about 3 times a night. All you hear is him getting out of his bed, going on his litter box, than munch on his food followed by a loud drinking after which he gets back in his bed sighs really loud, drops in laying position and back to sleeping. This probably goes on for like 4 minutes, it's actually pretty funny.

My breeder suggested that I use xpen, and I followed all her specific instruction, which did work!

Here are some tips:
1) Invest in a comfortable doggie bed, where she would feel "at home". Bed train your dog, so she likes spending time in her bed and is comfortable. (I don't have a crate, instead my puppy has a bed which he perceives as his private space).

2) When you are home have the bed moved around the house wherever she is, so it is always there. Give her treats and different chews in her bed.

3) When you leave the house or during the night, place her in the xpen with her bed, toys, and food/water. (My puppy is also litter box trained so I also place a litter box in his pen)

4) Do not make a big deal about putting her in the xpen. Quickly place her in her pen on the doggie bed and give her a treat and then leave right away. Don't say or do anything else. (if she has one favorite treat, only offer it when she is being closed off)

5) Tire her out really good! (a long walk, intensive fetch game, etc.). If she is tired she will sleep while you're away.

6) Also it is CRITICAL: to not respond when she cries. If you respond, go pet her or talk to her in the very beginning, she will keep doing this ALL THE TIME. (if thats what happened during her crate training, maybe you can start fresh with an xpen) So, close her off, and just ignore her, even if she goes on crying for awhile. In a few days she will be used to the idea, stop crying, and actually feel comfortable.

7) And also it is extremely important to develop a routine, so everything is consistent and she knows what comes next. So at night start getting her ready for bed, by moving her toys, bed etc. to her xpen. In the morning do the same, and try to move things in the same order because they really do catch on. She will soon know what comes next and what to expect, so will not be anxious. She will feel safe and also know that after she is put away, you will eventually return and that she is not forgotten.

Hope that helps,
please keep us updates on her progress!

01-02-2010, 05:51 PM	#6
anko Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 31	Hi there, I have a 5 month old boy and I use an xpen instead of a crate. It works really well! I think xpen is much better than a crate because it gives them more room to stretch out, and they don't feel as confined. My puppy sleep in his xpen in my bedroom. He wakes up about 3 times a night. All you hear is him getting out of his bed, going on his litter box, than munch on his food followed by a loud drinking after which he gets back in his bed sighs really loud, drops in laying position and back to sleeping. This probably goes on for like 4 minutes, it's actually pretty funny. My breeder suggested that I use xpen, and I followed all her specific instruction, which did work! Here are some tips: 1) Invest in a comfortable doggie bed, where she would feel "at home". Bed train your dog, so she likes spending time in her bed and is comfortable. (I don't have a crate, instead my puppy has a bed which he perceives as his private space). 2) When you are home have the bed moved around the house wherever she is, so it is always there. Give her treats and different chews in her bed. 3) When you leave the house or during the night, place her in the xpen with her bed, toys, and food/water. (My puppy is also litter box trained so I also place a litter box in his pen) 4) Do not make a big deal about putting her in the xpen. Quickly place her in her pen on the doggie bed and give her a treat and then leave right away. Don't say or do anything else. (if she has one favorite treat, only offer it when she is being closed off) 5) Tire her out really good! (a long walk, intensive fetch game, etc.). If she is tired she will sleep while you're away. 6) Also it is CRITICAL: to not respond when she cries. If you respond, go pet her or talk to her in the very beginning, she will keep doing this ALL THE TIME. (if thats what happened during her crate training, maybe you can start fresh with an xpen) So, close her off, and just ignore her, even if she goes on crying for awhile. In a few days she will be used to the idea, stop crying, and actually feel comfortable. 7) And also it is extremely important to develop a routine, so everything is consistent and she knows what comes next. So at night start getting her ready for bed, by moving her toys, bed etc. to her xpen. In the morning do the same, and try to move things in the same order because they really do catch on. She will soon know what comes next and what to expect, so will not be anxious. She will feel safe and also know that after she is put away, you will eventually return and that she is not forgotten. Hope that helps, please keep us updates on her progress!