cjr3bryant
New member
Hi everyone! Was looking for some advice on my Newfie who we picked up on Saturday and is around 11 weeks old. My boyfriend raised our Bernese from a puppy (he passed on Christmas Day) so he thought he knew it all but, of course, Jackson is acting completely different.
He has started HATING his crate. I took the week off from work to stay with him so he has only been using the crate at night in our bedroom. We do have the crate, with the door open, downstairs during the day but he has no interest in it. He has peed in the crate twice during the day. Literally walked in, peed, and then walked out. I blame myself for those two times. I didn't take him outside quick enough.
The first couple of nights, in the crate, he was a little whiney but settled fairly quickly. Last night was different. He cried, barked and whined. After about 15 minutes, we went over to check on him and discovered he had peed. We cleaned up, took him outside and then brought him back to the crate. He cried and barked and tried to scratch his way out for probably a half hour before settling down. He then woke up at 4am so we took him outside to pee and brought him back to the crate. Once again, complete freak out. Since my boyfriend had an early morning meeting, I brought him downstairs to which we played for a bit and then he passed out on his dog bed. He seems to prefer moving between sleeping on his dog bed and right next (sometimes in) his water bowl.
I've tried to put him in the crate during the day once he falls asleep, but he may sleep in it for five minutes and then walk out and move to his bed. I've also tried using treats and toys to lure him in, which works, but he never wants to stay in the crate.
Any advice on how we can make him more comfortable in the crate? We're also nervous to let him cry it out, in case he's actually telling us he has to go potty. I'm back to work next week so he'll have times where he will have to be in the crate during the day (we plan on taking turns working from home).
One more thing - is it normal that he likes to sleep with his head in the water bowl? Our only issue is that he gets so wet which turns into a stinky puppy.
Sorry this is so long and thanks so much in advance for any replies!
He has started HATING his crate. I took the week off from work to stay with him so he has only been using the crate at night in our bedroom. We do have the crate, with the door open, downstairs during the day but he has no interest in it. He has peed in the crate twice during the day. Literally walked in, peed, and then walked out. I blame myself for those two times. I didn't take him outside quick enough.
The first couple of nights, in the crate, he was a little whiney but settled fairly quickly. Last night was different. He cried, barked and whined. After about 15 minutes, we went over to check on him and discovered he had peed. We cleaned up, took him outside and then brought him back to the crate. He cried and barked and tried to scratch his way out for probably a half hour before settling down. He then woke up at 4am so we took him outside to pee and brought him back to the crate. Once again, complete freak out. Since my boyfriend had an early morning meeting, I brought him downstairs to which we played for a bit and then he passed out on his dog bed. He seems to prefer moving between sleeping on his dog bed and right next (sometimes in) his water bowl.
I've tried to put him in the crate during the day once he falls asleep, but he may sleep in it for five minutes and then walk out and move to his bed. I've also tried using treats and toys to lure him in, which works, but he never wants to stay in the crate.
Any advice on how we can make him more comfortable in the crate? We're also nervous to let him cry it out, in case he's actually telling us he has to go potty. I'm back to work next week so he'll have times where he will have to be in the crate during the day (we plan on taking turns working from home).
One more thing - is it normal that he likes to sleep with his head in the water bowl? Our only issue is that he gets so wet which turns into a stinky puppy.
Sorry this is so long and thanks so much in advance for any replies!
But, with time he has gotten to tolerate it for a (very) little while at a time. Some dogs just don't grow to like the crate whatever you do. This isn't to say you shouldn't try, just don't feel like it's your fault if everything you tried seemed not to work.
