Our beautiful Maya has only been home for three nights and we are having some issues with crate training. She absolutely hates the crate. Every time we put her in it, mostly just to go to bed, she works herself up so much crying and barking for our attention that she vomits. I have actually spent the last two nights sleeping on the floor next to her crate. She has normal stool and has not thrown up during the day so I'm pretty sure it isn't a health issue. Does anyone have any suggestions?
crate issues
- Thread starter crubin
- Start date
ajcooksey
New member
Turner was our whiner we had them crated together in our bedroom and he stopped after a few nights but he never made himself sick. Ive heard of several ways to calm them such as something warm they make toys you can microwave to simulate sleeping with their littermates. Or putting a clock in with them bc the ticking reminds them of their moms heartbeat and also sleeping near them. I hope she adjusts soon bc I know how sad those cries are.
Straylight
New member
This is Loki's favorite thing to do. I come home to blanket shreds hanging into his crate from the roof. He's vicious.
Sound Bay Newfs
Active member
Get your pup in the crate in the day with lots of treats and praise. In a few days things will improve.
victoria1140
Active member
Max hated the crate with a passion too and would go frantic everytime we put him in there.we built him up to it and let him have treats ,etc in there but no joy.
In the end we sectioned a piece of the kitchen off for him, even when he went to the vets he has had to be put into a holding pen.the one time they forgot poop covered dog -not pleasent.
So for some the crate works wonders -just not for mine
In the end we sectioned a piece of the kitchen off for him, even when he went to the vets he has had to be put into a holding pen.the one time they forgot poop covered dog -not pleasent.
So for some the crate works wonders -just not for mine
R Taft
Active member
I am always sucked in by a puppy in the first weeks...i always have them close to me. it is such a big event to leave the little and i feel the comfort i give does no harm. None of my dogs have anxiety issues. And i do train them during the day to be more independent. I leave them for times by themselves.......Having other dogs helps too, but if not, I still see no harm in comforting a new puppy, by having the crate nearby...you can slowly move it further and further away for longer and longer 
blaue_augen
New member
Have you tried feeding in the crate to help make it a happy place?
Thanks for all of the great advise. I incorporated as much of it as I could into the routine. Last night was better. Still a lot of whining but no vomiting. I did stay on the floor next to the crate again but I'm okay with that for the time being. I do have another question though. When I take her out in the middle of the night for a potty break, should I be letting her have water or making her wait until morning?
Sound Bay Newfs
Active member
You can give her a little water if she wants it. Ice cubes can help thirst without filling her up.
plafleursr
New member
Also you could feed you pup in the crate, maybe leave the door open when feeding.
NinaA
New member
How old was your pup when you got her/him? I think leaving mom too early can make crate training take longer. Mine have always been fairly easy to train, but our dogs all sleep in the kitchen together, so there is always company. I crate train in the kitchen, too, where there is more activity and do it in short bursts during the day and right from the start. Feed in the crate at first, so going in and out is a very easy thing. Should work, but be patient.
hhunter
New member
The goal is to make them think the crate is a happy place, so if they're mainly crated when you leave, they'll associate it with something negative (isolation). It's a good idea to feed in the crate, special treats in the crate, also crate when you are nearby so that it doesn't always mean isolation (you're doing this already by sleeping near the crate), there are all kinds of "crate games" you can play too. A fun one is to put a really really high value treat in their crate, with the door closed (they're outside of the crate). Let them try to figure out how to get IN.. wishing they were in there. Then open the door and let them have the special treat inside. I'm working on this with my fella too... who has separation anxiety.
Also, never ever ever use a crate for punishments or time outs.
I do think some dogs will never take to a crate, but also a lot can be accomplished with actual crate training, versus just putting them in a crate when we need to leave the house.
If she's food motivated, try something like a kong, so that it takes longer for her to eat, and she's associating that nice experience with her crate. You start with just kibble that comes out of the kong fairly easily, then make it more interesting for them by freezing it with some peanut butter, etc.
My guy is 14 weeks now (approx, he's a rescue) and he still does not like his crate either, but it's getting better. He can now go through the night without fussing and no accidents, but that has just been in the last week or so. I would give a little water at night if they seem really thirsty but definitely not too much.
In the rescue, we always tell people to crate a puppy beside you if you can... I think the logic is that sleeping with the pack is quite significant to most puppies, so it's particularly hard on many of them to be alone at that time.
If you work from home or are home during the day, I would definitely be working her up to being alone in her crate... starting with shorter periods, then longer and longer with lots of rewards. It's hard when you work 9-5
Also, never ever ever use a crate for punishments or time outs.
I do think some dogs will never take to a crate, but also a lot can be accomplished with actual crate training, versus just putting them in a crate when we need to leave the house.
If she's food motivated, try something like a kong, so that it takes longer for her to eat, and she's associating that nice experience with her crate. You start with just kibble that comes out of the kong fairly easily, then make it more interesting for them by freezing it with some peanut butter, etc.
My guy is 14 weeks now (approx, he's a rescue) and he still does not like his crate either, but it's getting better. He can now go through the night without fussing and no accidents, but that has just been in the last week or so. I would give a little water at night if they seem really thirsty but definitely not too much.
In the rescue, we always tell people to crate a puppy beside you if you can... I think the logic is that sleeping with the pack is quite significant to most puppies, so it's particularly hard on many of them to be alone at that time.
If you work from home or are home during the day, I would definitely be working her up to being alone in her crate... starting with shorter periods, then longer and longer with lots of rewards. It's hard when you work 9-5
Fortunately, I'm a stay at home mom and 3 of my 4 children are teenagers, so she hasn't had to spend any time in the crate without someone being within her eye sight. The only time she spends in the crate during the day time is for the purpose of trying to make it more comfortable with being there. Thanks again for all of the suggestions and support. I'm so glad I found Newf net.