Hi all, Just wanted a little advice about my little Ludo (who is 9 weeks), who I love to absolute pieces, but he is driving us a little mad with whining and barking! He has a pen in our family room which also has his crate in it. He is rarely in it except for the times we can't keep a full eye on him (going to bathroom, eating dinner, etc). He screamed all night for four nights, originally in my bedroom, then in the crate downstairs. He's settled completely every night now just in his bed in the kitchen, and I'm happy for him to keep sleeping there. My problem is during the day. Even though we have made a huge amount of effort to make the pen and crate a happy place for him (using lots of crate training advice) he whines and barks and screams every time he is in there, even if it is for two minutes while I use the loo! He even cries when I am in the room with him. I am careful not to give him any attention while the crying is in full flow, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better at all. Does anyone have any advice for trying to combat this behaviour before it gets worse and he gets older? Has anyone used the clicker training method for rewarding quiet? Any advice much appreciated!
Jake still moans and mutters if we crate him during the day while we eat, etc. we ignore him and he settles. He is only let out when quiet - although this isn't really a prob for him. Clicking for quiet does work - we use that in the car as Jake does moan in there still a bit (he is 13 wks).
I've had a barking issue with one of mine, although not the same situation as you're describing but excessive barking. @Pilatelover recommended Turid Regaas's booked titled Barking which I download yesterday & read this morning. It explains the different barks, whines etc & how to react... I put some of the suggestions into practice today & have already seen some results, I found it well written & an easy read
We had a crate and playoen set up with our pup. She would howl the place down though! So we changed tactics removed the playpen and made the crate super cozy and more den-like. We gave her meals and kongs in there. She still mithers a bit now (20 weeks old) but will tolerate the crate for a couple of hours here and there during the day. I think the play pen/crate combo was too big for her.
Thank you, I will have a look and give it a read! Hope you manage to get on top of the barking too. My eardrums feel battered!
I may have to try this. Did you work up to the longer periods of time in the crate? I must admit it is the schedule of it all that seems to be the issue for me, I have no idea how much to try in a day, a week, etc etc.
@Ludo's Mum not sure if this is an option for you but if possible get a nice cosy piece of fabric (I used an old fleece jacket) and get the breeder to rub it all over her mums back to pick up a lot of scent, then place it in the crate. She is really tiny so it should work. I did this with Mabel and she settled perfectly. Good luck.
@Ludo's Mum Don't worry about schedules as to when your puppy should be doing something. Your puppy is still a baby who has recently left the only source of comfort she knew (mum and littermates) and is still adjusting to her new life. It's perfectly normal for a puppy to cry when put in a crate and left. Dogs are social animals and like company - dog or human. Many of us take weeks to get our puppies happy and settled in a crate starting with leaving for literally a few seconds at a time and gradually building up. You could try just popping him in his crate and turning your back on him for a second or two and rewarding for being quiet. You can click and treat or just use a yes/good boy and reward, whatever is easier for you. Gradually extend the time to a minute or two with your back turned and quiet and then try leaving the room and coming straight back and again reward for quiet. Puppies do have to learn to cope with being left alone, that's life, and some find it easier than others
Thank you so much, I know this is a late reply, but I think I've just been driving myself a bit mad thinking that I was doing something wrong!!! I really appreciate your response. It's been getting better slowly, he's getting used to maybe ten to fifteen minutes at a time at home, and when I take him to work, he usually settles within about ten minutes and he's quite happy for about an hour at a time, within earshot, and in a covered crate. I think he is just a very 'people' centred pup and really just wants to be around us. We've received lots of good advice at the puppy party we went to tonight as well
Good to hear that you're making progress. Slowly, slowly does it for a happy puppy who has learnt to be left alone, which is such an important skill. Well done.
