Kennel/crate training?

[sweet_tikka]

So going on one week with our new girl Tikka.
Not going to lie, there have been moments when I want to spank her just like a child... BUT I know that wont do a thing since she doesn't understand english fluently lol.

I also posted a thread in here about transitional potty training as she's used to having a fenced in yard to run around in and do her business, but now she has to go out on a leash... still has yet to go potty outside, she is STILL opting for the door. And now she is going through her first heat cycle, so even messier!

She pee's twice a day and usually poops 1-2 times a day. I'm starting to know when she does it, so I know her schedule. But she whines when she wants to go outside, but when we got out on a leash she doesn't relate that to potty time, she relates it to a walk. GRRRRRR so she is still coming back inside and going at the front door after she whines some more.

NOW we are trying to kennel train her as we cant have her peeing at night and letting the blood/urine soak that long in the carpet. Last night was AWFUL. I work up at 12:50 to her making the oddest noises and whining. So I got her out pointed a finger and firmly said "NO" but for the next two hours she yelped and howled and whined so I had to leave her out... thank God no accidents over night.


Anyone know a good way to train her to sleep in her kennel. She does fine in it if I have to leave her there for an hour if I go shopping or out to dinner or etc but over night she throws a fit! She doesn't usually have accidents over night but if she holds it all day and doesn't pee twice, I KNOW she'll do it at night while we are sleeping.

Also, she's 8 months old. I feel like maybe I should just treat her like an 8 week old and try finding puppy methods for younger puppies?

[ArmaniMan]

As far as crying in the crate, the best method is to just let her cry it out no matter how long it takes. She wants your attention, no matter what kind, so when you get up to tell her No that is a reward to her, she got what she wanted, a glimpse of you! It may take several nights of no sleep, but she will eventually settle down and learn to be quiet in the crate and I believe it is a great skill to learn.

[sweet_tikka]

The only problem for us, is we are in an apartment :/ During the day I'm the only one home [there are only 8 suites in our building! mostly single working men] so would it be a good place to start by leaving her in there during the day and letting her cry it out minus when I try to get her to potty outside, and for our walks/playtime? Would she learn to like it and kind of treat it as her home?

Pooter loves his kennel, but he came to us from a home where he spend 12 hours a day in one. But he hangs out voluntarily in his when he's tired or wants away from Tikka lol.

[gidget529]

I would be concerned leaving a day in a kennel during day and at night. It was recommended to me to get a collapsing pen, it's kind of like a play pen. You put their bed in, water, pee pads, while they are potty training. It worked well. Gidget sleeps in one of these next to our bed and goes in one in the laundry room (large room) when we are out (rarely). She is out and about during the day though - she is potty trained.

[Deuce]

She only pees 2x a day? or 2x a day outside and the rest inside? If she is only peeing twice a day I'd be concerned that she isnt getting enough water. I take Rizzo out every 2-3 hours when I'm at home and he pees every time. I let him sleep in bed overnight, but obviously with a female going through the messy heat process you probably don't want to do that. Have you tried putting her kennel in your room at night, most pups will relax if they can see and smell you at night. Then once you know she is reliable enough to sleep through the night you could let her cuddle in bed with you.

[sweet_tikka]

I wouldn't be leaving her in there at night. no way could I keep her in a kennel for more than what's needed. I'm a stay at home wife so I'm home 24/7 minus church, grocery shopping, dates. Usually an hour or two for each... once a week.

But I figured maybe by starting her out in there during the days until she stops her whining and learns it's okay to be in there, then I can just switch her to nights... or would that work? Right now I can't leave her in there at night at all, as she's too loud and I dont want complaints, but during the day no one cares/no one is home in our apt. building.

Plus, I've heard that crate training and potty training go well together? Is Gidget potty trained on pads or outside? As Tikka knows to go outside, she just wont go on her leash... she wants to run loose and do her business :/

[gidget529]

Gidget is wee pad trained. The breeder who suggested this method also uses it for outside training - helps contain mess until training is completed. Gidget walks willingly into her playpen at night, sleeps all night without a peep. Now she is in the same room as us and can see us on the bed. Don't know if this is possible in your situation, but it really worked for us.

[ArmaniMan]

I totally understand- I live in an apartment too.

What I would recommend then is trying to crate train during the day like you said- if your sure no one is home during the day. First start putting her in the crate, shutting the door and then opening the door right away and give her a treat. Do this many times. Then put her in the crate, shut the door, leave it shut for 10 seconds, open the door give her a treat. Keep repeating this and increasing the time with the door shut. Eventually you will work up to the point where you can walk away for periods of time and come back and treat her ONLY if she is being quiet.

You can also start feeding her in her crate- with the door open- so she associates the crate with a positive time (eating).

Good Luck.

[sweet_tikka]

At Duece... yes she is going pee/poop twice a day each. ALL inside though. Her pee puddles are HUGE so I can tell she's been trying to hold it. I think that's the only reason that's she's going twice a day is because she's trying to hold it as long as she can because she doesn't understand why I'm taking her out in the yard on a leash every 2 hours :/ She drinks a lot of water no doubt I still keep an eye on her eating/drinking habits.
Pooter is good, I take him out ever 3 hours and he does exactly what he wants to do in about 30 second! on his leash lol.

At ArmaniMan Thanks! I'm really hoping crate training during the day will help her out! And good idea with making is a progressive thing. I'll try that starting today.

[I just took them outside for this lunch time potty break, and we stayed out for a few minutes... come inside, litterally as soon as we were in and she was off her leash she piddled at the door... again a HUGE puddle :/]

Also... she is reliable at night as far as not going the bathroom, as long as she pee's by 10pm. Which she usually does... except for one night this week. Oh the joys of puppyhood... it's funny how people who don't have puppies/haven't had puppies don't understand that they ARE just as much work as a child some days lol.

[Rochester]

I have read some ads where people say they raise their dogs in their home, no cratesfor them, yet they say in the next sentence that they keep the dogs in an x-pen with a top on it. A crate has for wire sides and a wire top. The x-pen has 4 wire sides and a wire top. It kind of sounds like a glorified crate, and in essence, these people really do keep their dogs in crates all day. What's the difference?

[gidget529]

One difference I can think of is the size of the pen - dog is able to move around in pen compared to crate.

[sweet_tikka]

@Armani... both of your tips worked! I would do the whole treat thing for 20 minutes... put her in, wait 10-30 seconds, give her praise and a littletreat for being quiet. Then I would leave her in for an hour and if she cried I just let her cry it out until she was quiet. If she was quiet for a good half hour then I'd let her out and give her praise and a treat.


When I leave the house I stand outside the door and listen for whining, so far NONE!


Thanks so much!