I feel guilty crating my puppy...need suggestions

[LuvmyYorkies2]

Sounds like you are doing a good job thus far...keep up the good work.
I didn't really like the crate thing either. And does your laundry room have any windows...that may be why he freaked out. I don't like the idea of locking dogs away somewhere with the door shut if it doesn't have windows.
I like the idea of a baby gate in maybe the kitchen area or a bathroom where you can just leave the door open.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by rufus08

Just curious...What is an X pen? I use a regular size crate right now, and I have tried a play pen (it can be made into a square or rectangle shape). Both have been an issue for my 11 month old yorkie. At first I tried the crate; but I felt guilty leaving him in such a small space...I then tried the pen. I put his bed, open crate, toys and even tried a pee pad. I would come home and the pee pad would be torn to shreads. I even tried anchoring it down. The pen is big and I figured he would be happy with so much space!!

Basically NOTHING I have tried has worked. He won't go outside consistently (I taught him to ring a bell and he does it sometimes, and then other times he will go right in front of me), won't use a pee pad and eats the pellets in a litter box (even when sprayed with bitter apple spray). He now is back to the regular size crate and he does hold it all day, but will go at night. Also he is up EVERY night. Last night he was up at 2am and then every hour after that. I am at my wits end, and I have not slept for more than 5 hours a night in 7 months since I got him. I have to put his crate closer to my room so the neighboors don't hear him bark; but then I hear him so LOUD. I try to ignore it; but then I can't sleep. I want to give him more freedom with a "play pen"; but I know he will just pee all over it, and like I said, he shreads the pee pad.

I have asked around a lot for advice, and all of it is really good; but it does not work on my dog. The crate is only one problem I'm having...I could go on and on about his behavior (not listening), chewing, etc... Does anyone have any idea what I should do? This is my first dog, and I'm sure a lot of it is my fault; but the advice that I have recieved and tried to use is from previous dog owners. It should be working. I am having people over soon and I'm embarrased of all of the gates I have up in my house because he can't be trusted! I feel like I will have to hold him the entire time because he will be up to no good!!! Help!

I used a crate and a pen to train my boy and it worked great!! First you have to stop feeling guity about using the crate, this may be one of the issues. Don't feel guilty, they will get used to it and they will end up loving their own little space. I could not have trained by boy without the crate. Second my boy shredded the pee pad I put in his pen as well. So I purchased the washable ones. They cannot tear them up and you can reuse them. This will also save money. The pen has a door to it. So I put the crate on the outside of the pen and where the door was so he could come out of his crate and into the PEN. There will be times where you should just let him stay in the crate to help with training. I kept my boy in the crate while I was at work and when I was home he was allowed access to the pen. If you want to talk to me personally about your issues I would be glad to talk to you and tell you how I did this. It did take me a year and a half though. You will have to be patient becaues this breed can take some work. PM me if you would like to talk. BTW the pen helped alot with the chewing issues when he was little as well. Now my boy is 4 and has full roam of the house and knows he can't chew on anything but his toys. I don't even use the crate anymore..WOOHOO!!

[mandy4]

I felt guilty too about crating Bella, but I couldnt always watch her. At night, we have never had a problem with her crying. Now, when I tell her its time for bed and sit by her kennel and pat her blanket insde, she goes right in and lays down, and sleeps all night. Of course I have to get up one time during the night to let her potty, but she goes right back in and sleeps till we get up. When we leave the house, we crate her, but only for a few hours. I put one of her toys in with her, but usually she just sleeps. While we are at home, I let her run the house. She uses her pads and goes outside, although she doesnt tell me she has to go, I just consatntly take her out. It is cold here but we just take her out to our covered patio where I have pee pads and she uses them.She has had some accidents but usually she just missed the pad or my skin kiddos are playing with her and dont know when she starts sniffing around like crazy she needs to potty. So, I dont guess I am really using it to house break her, just when we are not home and at night. But she does go in it while we are home and takes a nap. Crates are not a bad thing, they get use to them.