Crate Users.....

[PinkMartini]

I am STILL having issues with Bailey and throwing temper tantrums in his crate. We've had him almost a month now and he's just not getting used to the 'routine.' It's causing issues between my fiance & I and it's not a good situation, all around.

I've been told and experienced the differences between sexes in dogs and wondered how true it is, and if this might shed some light on my current problem, so I decided to post a poll. Males are said to be more clingy than females and I'm wondering what everyone's experience here has been.

Please vote if you've used (or still use) a crate and what your experience has been, plus the sex of your pup. Thanks

[Yorkie_GirL]

I have a male & female yorkie, both 4 months and they actually took the crate training very well.. and it's only been a few days.

i haven't had them bark or whine in there, i have one of those baby monitors in the room and in the kitchen, and they were absolutely quiet angels! and when i came back they were just as happy to see me as always

i guess it just really depends on the doggie!

[Milo]

Milo is OK He goes in his crate with the door open and 'kicks it. Especially if there is too much going on. We have children and they all have friends. Plus Milo likes to fall in the pool all the time.

[bld2751]

Hercules adjusted very well to his crate. Didn't whine very much. Maybe just a few minutes at first. Within a week or two was used to the routine.

Athena is just about the opposite! She still whines very loudly - a little drama queen! It will calm down after 10 or so minutes, but she always whines. We've had her about 3 weeks now, and I'm still waiting for her to get adjusted to the routine.

[artie merlino]

My male Artie was shipped from the Breeder @ 20 weeks old, frome Florida to Boston but he missed the connecting flight in Newark he was stranded there for 4 hrs. until the next flight. No one had let him out or had given him any food or water even though it was packed on top of his crate. Need
less to say he was a sight for sore eyes, completely covered in urine in Boston in the winter time. He never went near that crate again! So with my new female puppy Abigail I don't even bother, besides I'm home all the time except for 2 hrs. a day Mon. thru Fri. when I go to the gym. She sleeps with us in the bed, my male slept with us too. He grew out of that after 3 months he now sleeps on the floor on a sheepskin rug guarding our bedroom in the doorway.

[rrosenberry]

When I got Bailey, he would cry and bark, but I only put him in it when I wasnt home, I use to leave and come back, and sit outside to see how long he actually cried.. He goes to work with me everyday, so hes not away from me much, But now he's 9 months and if I leave I get a treat and put it in and he'll go right in and while hes eating it, I leave and he doesnt cry or bark. But if I put him in to try and do something ( while Im home) like run the sweeper... he barks nonstop. They do get use to it,,, eventually. Good Luck

[russell04]

Snickers took to his crate right away, he never cried at all, even the first night he was here. He goes in there at around 10 at night until 7 in the morining, sometimes I put him in there during the day for an hour just to give us both a break, he never complains, he goes right to sleep. I think I have been very lucky with him so far!

[chloeandj]

I have a 13 wo female. She had a hard time in the beginning but was able to adjust to it after we tried a few different things. It took about 2 weeks for her to stop crying at night. She adjusted faster to it during the day time use. She likes it now and seems to think of it as her "den". She often goes in it on her own to sleep. She goes to bed about 9p.m. and gets up about 8am.

[orinskye]

i have a male..... he hated his crate at first, but now he loves it

[nemom]

I have a little girl 10 wks old, she didn't like the crate but loves the playpen and a bigger den type. we put a wee wee pad on one end and pllow/blankets/stuffed animals on other end

[chachi]

I have a male and a female. They both do not like their crates but the female is the worst with the fits. She is my clingy one and will cry all night in the crate. My male barks at first but will give in and go to sleep.

[YappyScrappy]

I followed these steps and have had no problems...

http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/cratetraining.htm

[browniesmom622]

i have 2 males and theres no problems with the crate

[snoody2004]

I have a female Pebbles and she has no problem in her crate she dosent bark but in the middle of the night so she getts atetion she barks!

[Stitches29]

We have had Maggie for 9 days now. The first night was stressful for both of us. After that the crate training went without a hitch. One thing that has been very helpful is to get them on a strict schedule. Maggie's crate is in the kitchen, with a cover for it (like a birdcage cover). She has a soft blanket and a few stuff animals in there too. She has her food, water and the rest of her toys in the kitchen area. I have a baby gate up while she is playing. When it's nap time, she just climbs into her crate, I close the door and put the cover on, and she sleeps for 3 hours. When she wakes up, I'm there to open the crate and take her outside to potty. We come back in, have something to eat & play, and in about 1 to 1 1/2 hours it's naptime again. Around 7 at night it's a school time / play time in the den. At the age of 9 weeks she "Sits" and "Stays" on command. Crate training makes all training work. If you give in just once and let the dog out because of crying, then you will have to start all over. Tuff Love is hard. I'm retired so I have a lot of time to devote to Maggie. I couldnt imagine trying to raise one and have a full time job too. This is just like raising a real human baby. I hope this will help you. I won't sit here and lie and say it was easy at first, because I thought I would cry from being so tired, but so far in just a very short time, it has paid off.