I want to crate train

**Canucks08** · 06-28-2011, 04:56 PM

So I have my new 8 week old lab Murphy, And last night was her first night in her new home. I introduced her to her crate a few times, playing around it and making it a happy, fun place for her. So when it came time for be (her crate is in my bedroom) I put her in and she immediatley began to cry, and it never let up. I eventually let her sleep in bed with me, and she slept a full 8 hours, no fuss. But I really want her to be crate trained, so when I eventually go back to work she has no problem going in her crate, and doesnt whine or cry in it. Any suggestions?

**Tanya** · 06-28-2011, 09:14 PM

how long did she cry for before you let her out?

You are going to have to decide. either stick it out and ignore or just give in. the more nights you bring her into the bed the harder and harder this will get - she already knows that if she cries enough she will get out, so this night will be important.

Try putting a shirt or somethig with your scent (say the shirt you wore that day) with her. Make sure to keep her busy in the evening before bed time as well. Make sure she is safe in the crate. at most you can put your finger in there but otherwise ignore her (don't talk to her). it is normal for the first few nights to involve crying and lack of sleep.

**Canucks08** · 06-28-2011, 11:56 PM

She was in there maybe 10-15 minutes the first night before i caved. Tonight is it though. I'm gonna do it right, even if I have to put my iPod on to drown out the crying. I have been starting to feed her in the crate and giver her treats in there to make it a positive place.

**javasmom** · 06-29-2011, 06:28 AM

You have to tough it out for a few nights and ignore the crying.
With Java, it only took 2 nights before she settled in and stopped crying.
With Moka, it took about 3 weeks before she finally stopped crying. I almost relocated her crate to the barn...lol

It's hard and it sucks, but it's the best thing...just let her cry. Don't give in and bring her in your bed because you can't stand the crying...you are only training her that crying gets results.

You caved after 10-15 minutes? Wow..you're in for a rough few nights!!

**kassabella** · 06-29-2011, 06:47 AM

Tough it out unless you want her to sleep in your bed forever. I do as you ae doing. Treats and make it a nice place. I adopted a new dog and I am determined not to let Tessa sleep on the bed.I am not sure how house trained she is so crate is best for now.
Each night I hear her cry, throw herself around, beg and whine. It is awful and I want to get up and let her sleep with us, but if I do it will be forever. Last night she settled in about 15 mins.

I toughed it out with Kassa and she loved the crate. Ernie took a few weeks and for some unkown reason I let him sleep on the bed and regret it. Many times I have gone through a week of howling, then he becomes sick and I let him on the bed. He is there forever now as it isn't fair to confuse him. During the day he loves the crate.
Some people love dogs ontheir bed, but I find I sleep better without him, and my dog fur allergies don't play up as much.

ETA. I put Tessa in her crate for the night about half an hour ago and not a peep from her. It has been a bit fiddly as she has been vomiting so left her out of the crate. She is used to being outside and never crated so doing very well.

**Canucks08** · 06-29-2011, 11:37 AM

Well I didn't have the best sleep last night, but I did it! Put her in crate at 1030, and went to bed. She immediatley starting crying and howling. I just laid there in bed and ignored her. Finally stopped about half hour after she went in. Woke up at 230 to her crying again, so I let her out to go pee, then back in the crate where she whined for another half hour before going to bed. same thing happened at 530, then after that not a peep outta her til i woke up at 8.

I'll continue to put her in the crate through out the day 15-30 minutes at a time while im doing things around the house, and well try it again tonight!

**javasmom** · 06-29-2011, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Canucks08

Well I didn't have the best sleep last night, but I did it! Put her in crate at 1030, and went to bed. She immediatley starting crying and howling. I just laid there in bed and ignored her. Finally stopped about half hour after she went in. Woke up at 230 to her crying again, so I let her out to go pee, then back in the crate where she whined for another half hour before going to bed. same thing happened at 530, then after that not a peep outta her til i woke up at 8.

I'll continue to put her in the crate through out the day 15-30 minutes at a time while im doing things around the house, and well try it again tonight!

You did good!!!
Just a couple more nights and she'll settle down!!

**dukesmommy22** · 06-29-2011, 05:25 PM

It took both of our dogs a week or so before they stopped crying completely in their crates. I used earplugs! Although the both sleep in bed with us now anyways, but we did it mainly until they could both go through the night without going to the bathroom.

**sassynsweet** · 06-30-2011, 06:49 PM

One thing that helped with my pup when we were crate training at night was to cover her crate with a blanket (we have a wire crate). I'm not sure if that made it feel more safe and cozy for her or she just wasn't as distracted by seeing me, but it sure seemed to help

**Canucks08** · 06-30-2011, 08:04 PM

Already covered her crate! She did even better last night. Whined for maybe like 1-2 minutes then right to sleep. She did have an accident when she woke me up at 130 to go pee, cause I think I didnt get to her fast enough, but that has been the only accident since the first day I got her. Hopefully she keeps getting better every night!