Crate Training For Bed Time - Puppy

[Eve Davis]

Hi guys

Please can anyone help at all or give some advice on the best way to get our puppy used to sleeping on his own at night. We have a miniature dachshund who is just over 8 weeks, he came from a litter of 3 and has always been with either the litter or the mother. He is really not taking a liking to sleeping in his crate for bed time, in fact is whining, crying and sounds incredibly distressed then ends up going for a number 2’s multiple times in the cage. The cage is next to our bed as thought that would be best so he knows we are close. In the end I put him in bed with us and he slept right through but I know this can’t continue as will probably create more issues down the line. Any tips on how I can get him used to the crate and being in there for bed time?

 

[JoanneF]

Does he need to be in a crate? How would he be in a bed next to your bed?

And how is he with the crate in daytime?

 

[Pam99]

Oh dear that sounds similar to us re putting him in bed!! I have a nearly 9 week old boxer puppy, this is her 6th day with us. She sleeps in her crate from 12 until 6am, i let her out at 3 and she goes outside but after that she struggles to settle. My boyfriend put her in bed with us at 4.30 this morning and she slept till 8. So I'd lije advice too! Is this really bed practice? Should we be more strict in keeping her in her crate?

 

[JoanneF]

Is this really bed practice? Should we be more strict in keeping her in her crate?

No, not bad practice. Letting her stay unsettled would be far worse because that only reinforces, in her mind, that the crate isn't the awesome place that you need it to be. The number one rule of crate training is that the dog should never feel upset, anxious, distressed or frustrated in there.

Remember at this age she is an infant and needs to know you are there for her. Meeting her emotional needs is just as important as meeting her physical needs at this age. Letting her be with you won't make her clingy, in fact it will help her confidence develop as she learns you are there for her.

 

[Eve Davis]

Does he need to be in a crate? How would he be in a bed next to your bed?

And how is he with the crate in daytime?

We were going to put him in his bed at night time instead of the crate but was concerned about him roaming around the bedroom at night? Apparently he was fine in the crate when he was with his litter but not now he’s on his own!
He was so distressed last night it was so sad to see! He avoids the crate in the day like doesn’t like to go near it!

 

[JoanneF]

Ok, if he doesn't like the crate in daytime, he isn't going to like it at night. And I'm afraid leaving him to cry will only confirm to him that it is a scary place and that even if he is distressed you don't help him. Please don't leave him to ”cry it out”, that is quite an old fashioned approach and the puppies that stop crying don't stop because they suddenly realise everything is ok, they stop because they have given up. It's an extreme comparison but in trauma victims it is the silent ones who are most damaged. This article explains the science behind it. Self Soothing & Cry It Out Are Neurologically Damaging Here Is Why - Simply Behaviour Dog Training Courses

Can you block off part of your bedroom so he only can access part of it?

And if you want to crate train him, you will need to devote a bit of time - more than normal because apart from training that the crate is good, you also have to overcome his belief now that it is bad.

This is a long read so get a cuppa. It was written by Emma Judson who is a behaviourist who specialises in separation anxiety and is shared with her permission.
Crate-Training.docx

 

[Pam99]

No, not bad practice. Letting her stay unsettled would be far worse because that only reinforces, in her mind, that the crate isn't the awesome place that you need it to be. The number one rule of crate training is that the dog should never feel upset, anxious, distressed or frustrated in there.

Remember at this age she is an infant and needs to know you are there for her. Meeting her emotional needs is just as important as meeting her physical needs at this age. Letting her be with you won't make her clingy, in fact it will help her confidence develop as she learns you are there for her.

 

[Pam99]

Awesome thanks for your reply, i read such conflicting advice online. Shes such a good little girl, now pooing and weeing outside on command so i think ill consider a baby gate for the top of stairs and put her bed in our room. It just feels like a quick move as shes only been with us 6 days but my instinct tells me maybe is the right thing to do?!

 

[JoanneF]

Awesome thanks for your reply, i read such conflicting advice online. Shes such a good little girl, now pooing and weeing outside on command so i think ill consider a baby gate for the top of stairs and put her bed in our room. It just feels like a quick move as shes only been with us 6 days but my instinct tells me maybe is the right thing to do?!

There is a lot of conflicting advice out there but if you are unsure of anything, please just ask. We support reward based, force free training and there are always people here who can help.

 

[Hal]

Pippa Mattinson advises training for quiet during the day (rather than late at night) and suggests using clicker to mark brief pauses in the noise (even if they are just pauses to take a breath!). Risk, if you always 'rescue' the dog if its making noise is that you will actually train it do do so. On the other hand you may be very happy to have a dog permanently share your bed - lots of people are and the dog probably won't object

Mattinson's advice (to be tried early morning not late at night)
Have your clicker ready, and some treats. 1. Place the puppy in his crate, and leave the room, closing the door behind you. 2. If the puppy does not start howling within three seconds, press the clicker and return to him. Still return to him even if he has started crying again because the click identified for the puppy that it was his silence that earned him the reward of your return. 3. Tell him what a clever dog he is, then leave the room again and close the door. 4. If the puppy starts howling after you leave him, and he probably will, listen to the pattern of howls and wait for a break. 5. Press that clicker in a moment of silence, and go straight in to him. 6. Give him a treat and tell him how great he is. 7. Then leave the room again, closing the door behind you. Repeat ten to twenty times. Click and return to the puppy if he stays quiet for three seconds after you leave him. If he cries after you leave him, click and return to him when you hear a break in the howling. When you have completed at least ten repetitions, the next time you return to reward him, take him out of his crate, give him some time and attention, and an opportunity to go to the toilet.

Mattinson, Pippa. The Happy Puppy Handbook (p. 223). Ebury Publishing. Kindle Edition.

 

[Eve Davis]

Ok, if he doesn't like the crate in daytime, he isn't going to like it at night. And I'm afraid leaving him to cry will only confirm to him that it is a scary place and that even if he is distressed you don't help him. Please don't leave him to ”cry it out”, that is quite an old fashioned approach and the puppies that stop crying don't stop because they suddenly realise everything is ok, they stop because they have given up. It's an extreme comparison but in trauma victims it is the silent ones who are most damaged. This article explains the science behind it. Self Soothing & Cry It Out Are Neurologically Damaging Here Is Why - Simply Behaviour Dog Training Courses

Can you block off part of your bedroom so he only can access part of it?

And if you want to crate train him, you will need to devote a bit of time - more than normal because apart from training that the crate is good, you also have to overcome his belief now that it is bad.

This is a long read so get a cuppa. It was written by Emma Judson who is a behaviourist who specialises in separation anxiety and is shared with her permission.
Crate-Training.docx

Thank you so much for your reply! That really helped as I was getting conflicting messages about leaving them to cry and eventually they’ll fall asleep and realise it’s not a bad place but I wasn’t so sure on that approach and your reply confirms my thoughts.
I’m going to try put him in his bed tonight and block it off, hopefully that does the trick after a while!!

thanks again!

 

[JoanneF]

I think it's important to remember though, these are 8 / 9 week old infants who have just been taken from mum and littermates to a new place where they don't understand the rules, or speak the language, and night time is scary as they are alone for the first time in the dark. At that age, it is important to reassure them so they become confident and self assured.

 

[Pam99]

Joanne - totally agree with you, this week has been the most draining week of my life but ive watched ruby damned near 24/7, shes changing day by day, we took her in the car today for her nails clipping and she was good as gold,groomer even commented how settled she was having her paws and nails touched. Id like to think its due to the fact that ruby really trusts me now....hope im not being naive!!! Anyway tonight is night 6 with us, she has had a huge playing session this evening and is still doing her business outside on command so tonight we have decided to take her upstairs, put her in her big girls bed (which she has been laying on and playing with all day) next to our bed and see how she gets on . Can someone advise how i can post a picture of her? Cant seem to figure out how to do it in my mobile. Ta!

 

[JoanneF]

Hope you had a good night. To take a picture,you should have the option under your reply box to ”upload a file”. Select the picture you want to post. Then, you might be told the file is too large (I always am) so someone gave me the tip to take a screenshot of the image, it's a far smaller file, and it should upload.

Finally you are given the option to post as a full sized picture or thumbnail (little picture).

 

[Pam99]

Yes we had a good night thank you, toilet trips at 2, 4 and 6. She settled so well inbetween breaks too, absolutely no whining or crying not a peep!! I just have another random question...how much activity is too much? The breeder said too much is bad for a young pups joints. Shes active probably about 2 to 3 hours per day and 1 hour of that is hyperactive, springing around etc plus in the night after s loo break she whizzed ip the stairs!@ should i be stopping her from doing that? Shes a big girl...6.5kg, 9 weeks old tomorrow. Id never let her even attempt downstairs and we have a baby gate upstairs. Thanks so much for the guidance!

 

[JoanneF]

The photos worked!

The exercise recommendation is for walking, 5 minutes per month of age twice a day.

But, although it is sensible advice I am not aware of any decent research to back it up. That doesn't mean we should disregard it though. And it is more important for bigger dogs until their growth plates have closed.

And it refers to ”enforced” exercise where we, not the dog, control it. So playing, especially on softer surfaces like grass rather than concrete, isn't so harmful. It isn't a bad idea to encourage some quiet time doing things like licking out a Kong with frozen food in it, but - you have a boxer puppy, so good luck with that!

 

[JudyN]

It would be a good idea to try to stop her bombing up the stairs - maybe put another gate at the bottom (you can get freestanding ones, that are really useful). And if she's in the habit of leaping on and off the furniture, you could place thick cushions on the floor in front of them to reduce the impact. But it's very much a case of doing what you can, and not worrying about what you can't!

 

[Pam99]

It would be a good idea to try to stop her bombing up the stairs - maybe put another gate at the bottom (you can get freestanding ones, that are really useful). And if she's in the habit of leaping on and off the furniture, you could place thick cushions on the floor in front of them to reduce the impact. But it's very much a case of doing what you can, and not worrying about what you can't!

 

[Hemlock]

Having the type of dog which does tend to wall-of-death round the house when very young, I would buy cheap duvets from the charity shop and place them next to furniture for softer landings.

 

[Pam99]

Yes i think a second baby gate will be going up, ive got some thick cardboard sheeting up right now but its not practical in the middle of the night! She is not jumping on the furniture yet but only because shes too tiny, its only a matter of weeks before that starts