How to Train Your Small Dog to Like a Crate

Hello Farheen, You can move the time back. I suggest something in between like 8-10 minutes, instead of all the way back to five minutes. Also, know that if you continue at 12 minutes and are firm not to let her out until she is quiet, she should adjust too. The most important part of all of this is not to let her out while she is still barking (wait for a few quiet seconds - even if that means you go past 8-12 minutes). If you let her out while she is barking, you are teaching her that barking gets her out and she will bark even more. If you reward and let her out when she is quiet, she learns that being quiet is a good thing, and should do more of that. Either way, it takes most puppies a couple of weeks to adjust, so don't get discouraged if the barking continues some for a little while. You should see very gradual improvement along the way. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Shakira, First, know its still normal for a puppy to cry for the first two weeks. Some puppies adjust within 3 days, others take 14 easily. You can certainly help her adjust though! Follow the Surprise method from the article linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello, the guide you have read and are referring to is exactly what I would recommend. Keep doing what you are doing, and yes leave Granite there even when she barks. She will eventually learn that this is her sleeping place at night. Continue to feed her there but don't worry about making her eat the treats in the crate. Keep placing them there, though as it gets her going in and out. Try giving her a frozen kong toy - take a kong and add softened kibble and a smear of peanut butter (natural only - no xylitol as it is toxic to dogs!). Freeze the kong and give it to her in the crate during the day as a way to show her the crate is good. You can extend the time in there during the day and this may help her adjust. But, you can also follow the steps you are doing already and she will eventually get used to it. Patience and consistency like you are doing is great. This guide may have advice, too: https://wagwalking.com/training/not-cry-at-night Good luck!

Hello! If she isn't barking or whining excessively or showing signs of destructive behavior which can indicate separation anxiety, I would leave her where she is at. Some dogs do better being secluded in their kennels. When they can see everyone moving around, they become anxious.

Hello Emily, First, since pup already has such a bad association with the crate, you might want to try a different type of crate or an exercise pen and durable dog bed. If you are using a vari-kennel plastic crate for example, maybe start the training with a wire crate instead. Second, check out the article I have linked below, especially the Surprise method. https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate/ Pup may also need their barking interrupted, if ignoring it doesn't work after 2 weeks. The goal is for the interruption to stop pup from barking long enough to give you an opportunity to reward the quiet, then gradually increase how long pup has to stay quiet for before rewarding, so that pup learns that staying quiet equals rewards. I would start the first two weeks without using an interrupter though, to help pup just get used to the idea of the crate again if you can. If an interrupter is needed, First, work on teaching the Quiet command during the day using the Quiet method from the article linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Second, during the day practice the Surprise method from the article linked below. Whenever pup stays quiet in the crate for 5 minutes, sprinkle some treats into the crate without opening it, then leave the room again. As she improves, only give the treats every 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hour, 2, hour, 3 hour. Practice crating her during the day for 1-3 hours each day that you can. Whenever she cries in the crate, tell him "Quiet". If she gets quiet - Great! Sprinkle treats in after five minutes if she stays quiet. If she continues barking or stops and starts again, spray a quick puff of air from a pet convincer at her side through the crate while calmly saying "Ah Ah", then leave again. Only use unscented air canisters, DON'T use citronella! And avoid spraying in the face. Repeat the rewards when quiet and the corrections whenever she cries. Practice for a few days until she is doing well during the day. Continue what you are currently doing at night during this process. Once she is doing well during the day, crate her at night too. When she cries at night before it has been 8 hours, tell her Quiet, and correct with the pet convincer if she doesn't become quiet and stay quiet. Since pup tends to run and hide, you may need to keep a drag leash on pup while home as well (don't leave on when you aren't there and it could get caught on something. When its time to go into the crate, use treats as an incentive, but you can also calmly pick up the end of the leash to keep pup from trying to hide under the bed. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello, Ozzie is young and attached - this is common and a lot of Dachshunds have a tendency to have trouble being left alone. But it is good that he likes the pen and crate in general when you are around, so now to have him relaxed and calm when you are not there. Start with intervals of leaving him for 10 minutes, then 15, then 20 to get him used to you going out and knowing you'll be back. I recommend a toy that is hard to resist: the kong. Prep it this way - fill the kong with moistened kibble and a smear of peanut butter (no xylitol as it is toxic to dogs!). Freeze the kong in a zip lock bag. Give Ozzie the treat before you leave. Keep one always prepared in the freezer so that when you go out you can give it to her. I once had an anxious dog who destroyed things so he had to be crated every time I left. Once I started giving him the kong, he would run for the crate as soon as he saw the kong being taken out of the freezer. Then, when he got older, I would just give him a couple of biscuits in the crate when I left and that was just fine. Good luck and happy training with Ozzie!

Hello Evan, Often pup will have to cry it out during the night in most situations, with the exception of potty trips outside at night. With gradual practice during the day with food rewards also though, like the Surprise method, pup tends to adjust to the nights, as well as the days, and learns more quickly how to calm themselves and entertain themselves with a toy in the crate; overcoming the initial dislike of the crate. Essentially sleepiness can help pup eventually calm down at night, and practice with treats can help pup calm themselves when less tired still during the day too. Almost all puppies will cry for the first two weeks though. It is normal and most dogs adjust when you are consistent. Very few people have the luxury of actually starting the crate out completely gradually - that is something a breeder has to begin for you before you bring pup home in most cases, which is why it may seem confusing in your case. Although you weren't able to start out that gradually, the method is still beneficial and pup should still adjust. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Lui Lui, For those who don't have time to gradually ease into the crate, how you are doing things is often how its done and pups tend to adjust just fine. As long as pup is being given enough potty breaks so they aren't being forced to have accidents in the crate, there isn't anything unsafe pup can tear apart and choke on, and pup is being given times to play and train to provide mental and physical stimulation, pups do tend to adjust well, and most puppies learn this way just fine. I would just make sure of a few things... 1. make sure pup is being taken potty frequently (a puppy probably can't hold its bladder overnight consistently and you don't want to force pup to have an accident in the crate. Check out the potty schedule from the Crate Training article I have linked below. Skipping to the steps where pup is in the crate with the door closed. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside 2. Make sure pup is getting a lot of breaks playing or training after going potty before returning to the crate, even if pup is sleeping and chewing a lot in the crate between. Young puppies will sleep a lot so many don't mind being crated more when really little once they adjust as long as you wear them out between with some play and/or training. 3. When you catch pup being quiet in the crate, sprinkle treats in occasionally to encourage that quietness. You can also feed pup part of their daily kibble in the crate via a dog food stuffed kong with a larger treat biscuit covering half of the opening - so only a couple pieces of kibble fall out at a time. Or make frozen kongs for more determined puppies. Place pup's food in a bowl with water the night before. Let the food turn to mush, poke a straw through the Kong's holes, loosely stuff the mush around the straw, freeze the entire thing, then remove the straw and give it to him. Add a bit of peanut butter or liver paste to the mush if he needs help being interested in it - don't pack it tightly or he won't be able to get it out. You can make several of these ahead of time to have on hand. Just subtract the food in the kong from his dinner kibble amount, to avoid overfeeding. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden