[Bizzymammabee]

Originally Posted by mommyof2

Okay. So we got Dixie two days ago. She has done wonderful. Except, I don't know what to do with her at night!!

When we first got Yogi, we tried to crate him at night. He didn't like it and howled the first night. So we put him in the bathroom, with everything he could possibly need, and he was fine. Not a single peep out of him since that first night. Once he got adjusted, we started gradually putting him in his crate. Not one peep out of him and he goes right in the crate!

Dixie, on the other hand, is totally different and I don't know what to do! We tried her in her crate the first night, no way. She howled and howled and howled...so I put her in our bathroom. She howled for a little while, but quieted down. I thought we were okay. I was sooo wrong. Last night was just horrible!! We put her in the bathroom and she howled and howled and howled (we are talking over two hours). I tried her in her crate downstairs. Howled again, I moved her crate up into our bedroom right on a chair next to me and my bed, still howled! So I put her down in the bathroom again, because I can't have her howling upstairs, I have young kids. She howled all night in the bathroom, and I mean, literaly, all night.

I don't know what to do. She is fine when she is in bed with me, but I'm reluctant to start that, especially right off the bat. I don't want that to be the only way she can sleep, with me. I'm not always going to be around for her to sleep with, so I think it's good for her to get used to sleeping on her own. I just don't know what to do. On top of it, we are under a time crunch. We are going camping Friday with my parents and their camper and we are ALL sleeping in the camper. I don't know what I'm going to do if she won't sleep in her crate. We weren't planning on getting her until the last day of our camping trip (memorial day) so I wasn't too worried about it, but now that I have her, I don't know what to do.

Any advice on how to get her used to her crate and stop the howling? Sorry so long...I'm long winded.

I had the same problem with Lex with both the crate and xpen. He would be fine to sleep in either if I left the door open. Don't know what his issue was but I gave in and started leaving it open. DH has to get up at 5:30 to work and we have three young children...so now way I could deal with the howling. Funny how he just hated the thought of being locked up...lol.

Anyhow you are doing great...keep it up. I think that by us giving in it also reinforces bad behaviour and they know the if they keep up the bad behaviour they get their way. These little stinkers can sure manipulate us...lol.

Good luck.