Hello, Since you just brought puppy home and they are new to this, know that what you are experiencing is most likely completely normal. The older the puppy when you first start crate training, the louder and longer they tend to protest at first. Pup is getting used to sleeping alone and that's an adjustment. Usually the first five days are the worst. It typically takes about two weeks for most pups to adjust completely; however, you can help that adjustment be as smooth as possible by doing the following. 1. When pup cries but doesn't have to go potty (like after you return them to the crate when they just went potty outside) be consistent about ignoring the crying until they go back to sleep. The more consistent you are the quicker the overall process tends to take even if it's hard to do for the first couple weeks. 2. When pup does truly need to go potty (when it's been at least 2 hours since pup last peed), take pup to go potty outside on a leash to keep pup focused and things calmer. Don't give treats, food, play, or much attention during these trips - boring and sleepy is the goal, then right back to bed after. This helps pup learn to only wake when they truly need to go potty and be able to put themselves back to sleep - helping them start sleeping longer stretches sooner and not ask to go out unless they actually need to potty. Pup will generally need 1-2 potty trips at night even after trained for a couple months though due to a small bladder. 3. Wait until pup asks to go potty by crying in the crate at night before you take them - opposed to setting an alarm clock, unless pup is having accidents in the crate and not asking to go out. This gives pup the chance to learn to start falling back to sleep when they wake in light sleep if they don't really need to go potty, instead of being woken up all the way when they could have held it a bit longer. 4. Practice the Surprise method from the article I have linked below to help pup get used to crate time during the day too - so that there is less crying at night due to pup adjusting to being alone. This step is very important. You don't want to give treats at night so you need to proactively practice during the day, even if that means doing it for an hour after dinner before bed, so pup has some time to be out of the crate after you get home, and time out after practicing after dinner before bedtime...On the weekends practice multiple times throughout the day, giving at least an hour break between sessions. If you are home during the day during weekdays practice throughout the day then too. Surprise method - only give treats during daytime practice, not at night though: https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Aug. 25, 2023

Hello, While awake in the crate is he barking or scratching to get out, or lying in there quietly. If lying quietly, I would give it some time, for the fixation it decrease and work on ensuring its harder for foxes to get into the garden if you can - so it doesn't smell like one the next morning when he goes outside. If he is keeping you awake barking or scratching, I would teach Quiet, then correct when he makes noise in the crate. 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 he 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 him during the day for 1-3 hours each day that you can. If you are home during the day, have lots of 30 minute - 1 hour long sessions with breaks between to practice this, to help pup learn sooner. Whenever he cries in the crate, tell him "Quiet". If he gets quiet - Great! Sprinkle treats in after five minutes if he stays quiet. If he continues barking or stops and starts again, spray a quick puff of air from a pet convincer at his 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. Surprise method: https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Repeat the rewards when quiet and the corrections whenever he cries. When he cries at night before it has been 8 hours (so you know it's not a potty issue), tell him Quiet, and correct with the pet convincer if he doesn't become quiet and stay quiet. If he is completely quiet when crated during the day, skip to just correcting at night. Ideally you would be able to practice Quiet and rewards for quietness during the day too, so that he understands that you want quietness INSTEAD of the barking or scratching, but you don't want to practice with treats at night because the treats may keep him awake, so only do treats during daytime practice, and just correct at night. A little bit of this will also be time - for the memory of the fox to be less fresh and no new fox smells to be in the garden every morning if the fox is still coming around, but you can address him keeping you awake while he learns to settle again. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Oct. 3, 2022