Crating making me crazy

[codegirl42]

I just got my first yorkie - 3 months old now. *and my last at this poinit*

Every day, he's in his area *kitchen* for three hours, and then we pull him out for 1 hour, and back and forth until about 8pm. At 8pm, he gets back into his area *kitchen* for a little while and then i pull him out and put him in his crate for bed at 9pm.

He'll whine and bark and cry for a good 30 minutes, and then he'll wake up at 1am and cry again *30 minutes* and again at 4am *30 minutes*...I pull him out at 7am and we start our day after he runs around for 1 hour.

Issue #1: I'm sure he has to pee in the middle of the night. Sometimes when i pull him out, he's wet, but the crate isnt. He DOES NOT HAVE HIS LAST ROUND OF SHOTS...so he hasnt really been outside yet *except for the ride home from the pet store*.

Issue #2: I'm trying to get him accustomed to the crate during the day now so that he doesnt spend the night YELPING and waking my apartment complex. What's the best way?

Thanks so much for any advice. I just want to sleep...*sigh*...and im sure my neighbors do too.

[keri1973]

does he get plent of stimulation and excercise during the day?

[codegirl42]

Originally Posted by keri1973

does he get plent of stimulation and excercise during the day?

Yes, he's free to run about the living room AND the kitchen area for 1 hour every 3 hours.

I'm wondering if I should keep him in his crate during the day, and then let him play in the kitchen area for 1 hour, rather than in the kitchen during the day and the LIVING room for 1 hour. *hope that wasnt too confusing*

**Sidenote: I'm home all day, but I'm in my office so that I can work.

[bal214]

had the same problem. we finally covered the crate with a sheet. now she only cries for about 5 minutes before she calms down.

[ARCHIE]

I would put the crate in your bedroom so he can hear you breathe.
Puppies don't like to be left alone. Remember he was with a litter
before you and now he's all alone. I feel certain crying will stop at
night.

[codegirl42]

Originally Posted by bal214

had the same problem. we finally covered the crate with a sheet. now she only cries for about 5 minutes before she calms down.

He sleeps in the bedroom with us, in his crate. I actually tried putting a blanket over the crate, but that was just to muffle the noise from the neighbors. He still cries louder. *head in hands*

[codegirl42]

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

I would put the crate in your bedroom so he can hear you breathe.
Puppies don't like to be left alone. Remember he was with a litter
before you and now he's all alone. I feel certain crying will stop at
night.

He is currently sleeping in the bedroom, but in his crate. I have him situated on a lounge chair, where he can see me through the holes in the crate door.

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by codegirl42

He is currently sleeping in the bedroom, but in his crate. I have him situated on a lounge chair, where he can see me through the holes in the crate door.

Oh dear, I really thought that might help!
I guess you will just have to ignore him or put a cover over the
top of the create some say that helps. IT is very hard
in the beginning but it will get better.
I have to say that my vet told me NOT to get up in the middle
of the night and take him out because I would be on his schedule
and I want him on mine. Buddy did not have accidents in his create
and I did get him out at 6:00am every morning even on weekends
Hang in there because it will get better.

[keri1973]

do you walk him alot during the day and wear him out?? does he sleep alot during the day.
by bedtime he should be tired.
when they are new at sleeping in the crate they can be scared and whine but they will give up eventually and go to sleep. and then every night should get better and better because they should learn that the whining is not getting them anywhere.

[keri1973]

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

Oh dear, I really thought that might help!
I guess you will just have to ignore him or put a cover over the
top of the create some say that helps. IT is very hard
in the beginning but it will get better.
I have to say that my vet told me NOT to get up in the middle
of the night and take him out because I would be on his schedule
and I want him on mine. Buddy did not have accidents in his create
and I did get him out at 6:00am every morning even on weekends
Hang in there because it will get better.

it does take time and a lot of sleepless nights in the beginning until they realize how its going to be. but they do need alot of play time and walking during the day for sure.

[codegirl42]

Originally Posted by keri1973

do you walk him alot during the day and wear him out?? does he sleep alot during the day.
by bedtime he should be tired.
when they are new at sleeping in the crate they can be scared and whine but they will give up eventually and go to sleep. and then every night should get better and better because they should learn that the whining is not getting them anywhere.

well, now because he keeps me and himself awake yelping through the night....he sleeps in his area on and off during the day....grrr

[DianeW]

My Experience Is Slightly Different. Harvey Is 1 Yr Old Now And Sleeps In His Crate In The Kitchen, He Has Done This Since He Was First With Us, At 8 Weeks Old, (though For The First 4 Nights He Slept With My Daughter - Until The Vet Told Us We Should Start As We Meant To Go On).

Luckily Harvey Is Out Of The Crate At All Other Times Except During The Night And Though He Doesnt Love His Crate - He Goes In No Problem And Never Cries. At First He Cried For About 1 Hour Each Night For About A Week, Then He Must Have Realised He Was Staying In It, No Matter What - And So Gave Up The Crying. It Was Heartbreaking Though Listening To Him, But Now I Know It Was The Best Thing For Him And Us. We All Need Our Own Space At Times.

We Also Cover The Crate - Just Leaving A Small Opening At The Front - For Air.

Good Luck With Your Little One - And I Am Sure Thing Will Get Better For You.

[LIL MIS' MAGIC]

I crate my new male Silky at night and we have luckily never had any problems with him with that, but I can understand how hard it must be. Those first few weeks are so hard and tiring, you really need to try and stick with it so your little one will learn what you want from them.

Another thing you can try is you can get an Xpen and let him sleep him there, that way he is not in a crate (if he is afraid of a small area) all the time. I would be his crate in the Xpen with the door open so he can easily go in and out and he should soon learn that the crate is his "home" and grow to love it.

I hope you find something that will work for you!!

[rmcook21]

What is your reaction when the baby starts crying? Do you talk to him? Or look at him? The reason I ask is, I was told be an obedience trainer that is is very important for you to IGNORE him completely. Even if he is driving you absolutely crazy, if you talk to him while he is in the crate, he will then have his barking or whining reinforced, because you are giving him attention. I know it is very difficult to ignore your baby, but we are working on crate training a puppy right now and that seems to work well. She is starting to realize that even if she whines/barks/carries on she will NOT get out of her crate until the morning to be let outside, and then she will calm down and go to bed. I hope this makes sense!

[psugorilladdr]

Maybe a little exercise? I know that made a HUGE difference in mine not being so wild when we left them. We go for 2 walks a day, and they are worn out.