Our 8 week old lab does great in the crate at night. She goes in at 10:30 and gets up about 7:30. She has goes to pee at 4:00 a.m. This has been consistent for 5 days. The problem is during the day. She refuses to sleep in the crate for her naps. She eats in the crate and I can shut the door then. She brings toys in and out, will gets treats too while in the crate. She freely walks in and out of the crate during the day. She just won't stay there so I can practice shutting the door for longer periods of time. I put her in there when she is sleepy and she walks right back out. What am I doing wrong? It is the same crate I use at night. Do I just need to give it more rime? I feel like I have failed her. She will need to be left alone for 1-2 hours in 5 weeks due to work schedules. Any advise would help. Thank you!
Have you read the crate training guide on the main site? http://www.thelabradorsite.com/crate-training-your-labrador-puppy/ I used this for Xena, starting at 8 weeks - it works! You just have to build up duration so, so slowly. Xena was a massive widdler, couldn't hold her bladder for longer than 20 minutes until 12 weeks, so I had to build up duration even slower than recommended (I know the theory is that they won't soil their dens, but Xena didn't get this memo). I left her for one hour at 12 weeks and had built up to 1.5 hours by 14 weeks. At 8 weeks you're barely even supposed to close the crate door. And when you introduce the Kong, make sure it's not frozen - read the Kong thread in the pinned posts. Frozen comes once you've created your Kong addict Edit - Xena was in the same crate at night, but I approached day training as a completely different task. What you can expect at night you can't expect during the day.
Thanks for the advice. I had read the article. I think I was expecting results too quickly since she is so good in her crate at night. After the first night there have been no problems. I guess I just expected the day time would be easy also. It makes sense to treat day and night differently. I will take it slowly. Thanks again.
Hi there, I think we've all fallen into the trap at some time of expecting too much too soon ,especially when you've got a good little puppy who is doing really well like you seem to have.Her nights sound great x
I have used the puppy Kong and after a couple of times she got the hang of it. They are wonderful! I am taking the advice of others and getting more. I believe I read that when she is really having some biting issues I can give her one and it will help.
OK I scaled back my unrealistic expectations. (Haha. Humor is helping). We have practiced the last 2 days on eating in the crate with the door shut. After eating she will usually stay in her crate for 5-10seconds before I open the door. Also when she goes in for treats I shut the door for a few seconds (sometimes for several seconds). Doing well. I have always manage to open the door before any crying. I can see progress and I feel better about this. Thanks!
Just a quick update. Daisy is doing very well in her crate now. She will go to her crate with a command most of the time. She will nap in there and let me take a shower. Thanks again for the advice.
