Kennel Training....New owner..Help! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

willie22 · 07-11-2005, 08:15 AM

Hello. We are new yorkie owners and want to ensure we are doing the best and right thing when it comes to training. We picked up Willie last Thursday, he is 9 weeks old and is VERY smart. He has been really good about going potty outside, but one thing is he HATES his crate. I am sure this is pretty normal for new babies, but was wondering if there is some trick to this? Sounds crazy, but our breeder played country music to the pups when they were going to bed and now he HAS to have it on to sleep, it is kind of funny. But, our question is should we take him out every time he cries in his kennel, after he has been in there awhile to go potty? Should we tell him "No" when he starts to cry after we put him in there? I have just heard eventually they LOVE the crate, and at this point I am not sure if he will ever like it? Is there any pointers anyone can give a newbie to yorkie ownership? Last night he had his 1st accident in his crate, and we just want to make sure we are doing the right procedures to get him fully potty trained. Thanks everyone for any info you can pass one.

Have a great day-

scrappymomma · 07-11-2005, 08:24 AM

I would love to know the same. I just got Roxy thursday also and she really hates the crate. She is to the point when we put her in she starts crying. We let her play so she is tired when she goes in but she still cries. This is all new to me and really hoping Im doing this right and its all worth the crying.

Hickey007 · 07-11-2005, 08:33 AM

Well first I personally wouldn't take him out when he cries. I feel like they are like children. If you have a child in a store and they are throwing a fit to have a toy and you give it to them the next time you go in you can expect another fit. If I put Reagan in her cage I make sure she isn't crying when she comes out. There is an exception to this however. She is potty trained to go out and sometimes if she is in there and she is crying she had to go potty. Its just a matter of knowing about when she might have to go. Others may disagree with this though. I just feel you need to show authority here.
He is young and probably doesn't like to be alone so you may want to limit the time spent in the kennel. You also said he had an accident in it. He is young and will probably not be able to hold it all night, so you will need to take him out occasionally during the night. Reagan actually slept in the bed with us and when she woke up I would take her out, usually only once during the night but some take their out every couple hours. Its just a matter of finding out what is needed for your pup.
Hope some of this helps and I'm sure you'll get a lot more info. Good luck with the new pup.

Diego · 07-11-2005, 08:33 AM

Your puppies need time to adjust to your homes .

hollyb · 07-11-2005, 03:35 PM

It does get better. I felt the same way you did. I thought Mia would NEVER like her crate. Well, I am still not sure she will ever LIKE it, but she is doing much better. We have had her for 4 weeks (she is 12 wks old). She now is to the point where she doesn't cry when we put her in there at night (she used to cry, bark, howl, for what seemed to be forever) Now She doesn't even make a peep until 5 am when we take her out. We never took her out during the night... a lot of people said we should, but we felt like she should learn to hold it. And now she has! But when I leave her during the day (like to run and errand or something) she still cries and barks, but only for about 5 min. Hang in there. The best thing for us was giving her a little "tough love". It was so hard to listen to those little cries, but we knew it would be better in the long run. We would put her in there, say goodnight (or goodbye) and walk away. They figure out that the crying is not a ticket out of the crate, and they learn to accept it. I know it sounds mean, but it will be better for you... and your baby! Let us know how it goes!

willie22 · 07-11-2005, 06:39 PM

Thanks everyone for all of the info. I knew this would be a long process, but your encouraging words lets me know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will keep you posted on Willie's progress.......

dianne · 07-11-2005, 07:17 PM

Sorry cant help you with any advice I know they are safe for them but I dont like them. I only use a soft crate in the car.

dianne

scrappymomma · 07-12-2005, 12:18 PM

Thanks everyone...I will keep working on this

Bella0722 · 07-12-2005, 01:02 PM

Sorry for your situation. I brought General Patton home three weeks ago. Since the first day, he has adjusted to the crate at night v.well. He may cry a minute or less and then he stops. When I shower etc, he may cry a little longer in order to get my attention. During the day while I am off to work, General Patton stays in his XP pen.

What I would suggest is for you to put toys and make it comfortable. Get a receiving blanket, rub it with some of your smell, and put it in his crate> Hopefully, that works. Try to put him to bed with the same routine every night. And I agree with the others, don't open the crate when he starts crying; otherwise, you'll reinforce bad behaviors. Good Luck!

Deegan's mom · 07-20-2005, 12:19 PM

I would suggest to leave him in the crate even if he cries. He will never get used to it if you constantly take him out when he demands it.
I got my little guy when he was 9 wks old, and he hated his crate so much that my boyfriend had to sleep with ear plugs, but after two weeks he was fine. Now he even goes in it on his own when we keep him in the laundtry room free to play and eat during the day.
If you put in a toy and a cozy blanket he should be fine. I know it's diifuclt to listen to them cry, but it will work out in the end. Just give it time, he just needs to get used to him new surroundings.

Ponyup · 07-20-2005, 12:46 PM

I'd purchase ear plugs. It only took Logan a week to get used to bed time. He knows he doesn't get out unless he's being good. I put a bed, blanket, water bottle, pee pad (they have little bladders) & nylabone in his crate with him. we cover the crate with a blanket, turn on the radio and shut the door. He doesn't make a peep anymore unless he has to go potty (found that out yesterday). He cried a little bit yesterday morning about 15 minutes before we were ready to take him out so we thought he had just heard us up. Nope he had to go and couldn't hold it and so he went in his cage, but that's only happened twice so far & he tried to tell us.

Jkatt · 07-20-2005, 12:55 PM

I agree keep him in there even if he cries. Once he is use to a schedule he will get better. Duke is great now with his crate. At first he wouldnt hold it either but he was as young as yours. Now at 4 months he is holding it .
Good Luck and hang in there!

07-11-2005, 08:15 AM	#1
willie22 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4	Kennel Training....New owner..Help! Hello. We are new yorkie owners and want to ensure we are doing the best and right thing when it comes to training. We picked up Willie last Thursday, he is 9 weeks old and is VERY smart. He has been really good about going potty outside, but one thing is he HATES his crate. I am sure this is pretty normal for new babies, but was wondering if there is some trick to this? Sounds crazy, but our breeder played country music to the pups when they were going to bed and now he HAS to have it on to sleep, it is kind of funny. But, our question is should we take him out every time he cries in his kennel, after he has been in there awhile to go potty? Should we tell him "No" when he starts to cry after we put him in there? I have just heard eventually they LOVE the crate, and at this point I am not sure if he will ever like it? Is there any pointers anyone can give a newbie to yorkie ownership? Last night he had his 1st accident in his crate, and we just want to make sure we are doing the right procedures to get him fully potty trained. Thanks everyone for any info you can pass one. Have a great day-

07-11-2005, 08:33 AM	#3
Hickey007 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 789	Well first I personally wouldn't take him out when he cries. I feel like they are like children. If you have a child in a store and they are throwing a fit to have a toy and you give it to them the next time you go in you can expect another fit. If I put Reagan in her cage I make sure she isn't crying when she comes out. There is an exception to this however. She is potty trained to go out and sometimes if she is in there and she is crying she had to go potty. Its just a matter of knowing about when she might have to go. Others may disagree with this though. I just feel you need to show authority here. He is young and probably doesn't like to be alone so you may want to limit the time spent in the kennel. You also said he had an accident in it. He is young and will probably not be able to hold it all night, so you will need to take him out occasionally during the night. Reagan actually slept in the bed with us and when she woke up I would take her out, usually only once during the night but some take their out every couple hours. Its just a matter of finding out what is needed for your pup. Hope some of this helps and I'm sure you'll get a lot more info. Good luck with the new pup. __________________ Courtney

07-11-2005, 06:39 PM	#6
willie22 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4	Thanks everyone!!!! Thanks everyone for all of the info. I knew this would be a long process, but your encouraging words lets me know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will keep you posted on Willie's progress.......

07-11-2005, 07:17 PM	#7
dianne YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,002	sorry Sorry cant help you with any advice I know they are safe for them but I dont like them. I only use a soft crate in the car. dianne

07-12-2005, 01:02 PM	#9
Bella0722 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 940	Sorry for your situation. I brought General Patton home three weeks ago. Since the first day, he has adjusted to the crate at night v.well. He may cry a minute or less and then he stops. When I shower etc, he may cry a little longer in order to get my attention. During the day while I am off to work, General Patton stays in his XP pen. What I would suggest is for you to put toys and make it comfortable. Get a receiving blanket, rub it with some of your smell, and put it in his crate> Hopefully, that works. Try to put him to bed with the same routine every night. And I agree with the others, don't open the crate when he starts crying; otherwise, you'll reinforce bad behaviors. Good Luck! __________________ ~Bella, General Patton, Lipstik, Darwin, Sizzle and Maria~

07-11-2005, 08:24 AM	#2
scrappymomma Currently Suspended! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 697	I would love to know the same. I just got Roxy thursday also and she really hates the crate. She is to the point when we put her in she starts crying. We let her play so she is tired when she goes in but she still cries. This is all new to me and really hoping Im doing this right and its all worth the crying.

07-11-2005, 08:33 AM	#4
Diego Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 3,617	Your puppies need time to adjust to your homes .

07-11-2005, 03:35 PM	#5
hollyb Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 33	It does get better. I felt the same way you did. I thought Mia would NEVER like her crate. Well, I am still not sure she will ever LIKE it, but she is doing much better. We have had her for 4 weeks (she is 12 wks old). She now is to the point where she doesn't cry when we put her in there at night (she used to cry, bark, howl, for what seemed to be forever) Now She doesn't even make a peep until 5 am when we take her out. We never took her out during the night... a lot of people said we should, but we felt like she should learn to hold it. And now she has! But when I leave her during the day (like to run and errand or something) she still cries and barks, but only for about 5 min. Hang in there. The best thing for us was giving her a little "tough love". It was so hard to listen to those little cries, but we knew it would be better in the long run. We would put her in there, say goodnight (or goodbye) and walk away. They figure out that the crying is not a ticket out of the crate, and they learn to accept it. I know it sounds mean, but it will be better for you... and your baby! Let us know how it goes!

07-12-2005, 12:18 PM	#8
scrappymomma Currently Suspended! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 697	Thanks everyone...I will keep working on this

07-20-2005, 12:19 PM	#10
Deegan's mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 1,271	I would suggest to leave him in the crate even if he cries. He will never get used to it if you constantly take him out when he demands it. I got my little guy when he was 9 wks old, and he hated his crate so much that my boyfriend had to sleep with ear plugs, but after two weeks he was fine. Now he even goes in it on his own when we keep him in the laundtry room free to play and eat during the day. If you put in a toy and a cozy blanket he should be fine. I know it's diifuclt to listen to them cry, but it will work out in the end. Just give it time, he just needs to get used to him new surroundings. __________________ Jayde, Deegan & Trooper ~Be the change you wish to see in the world - Adopt a rescue pet~

07-20-2005, 12:46 PM	#11
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	I'd purchase ear plugs. It only took Logan a week to get used to bed time. He knows he doesn't get out unless he's being good. I put a bed, blanket, water bottle, pee pad (they have little bladders) & nylabone in his crate with him. we cover the crate with a blanket, turn on the radio and shut the door. He doesn't make a peep anymore unless he has to go potty (found that out yesterday). He cried a little bit yesterday morning about 15 minutes before we were ready to take him out so we thought he had just heard us up. Nope he had to go and couldn't hold it and so he went in his cage, but that's only happened twice so far & he tried to tell us. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

07-20-2005, 12:55 PM	#12
Jkatt Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 90	I agree keep him in there even if he cries. Once he is use to a schedule he will get better. Duke is great now with his crate. At first he wouldnt hold it either but he was as young as yours. Now at 4 months he is holding it . Good Luck and hang in there! __________________ DUKE'S MOM