Hello. We've had our puppy a week and a half, and she's 9 weeks old. In many ways, the crate training has gone wonderfully. She gets in it on her own to nap, she happily eats in it, and she sleeps in it just fine at night, as long as it's in our bedroom. BUT, we have two issues I'd love some advice on. 1. We'd rather not have the crate in our bedroom. The first several nights, we had it in the living room (only one room away), and unless I was on the couch sleeping, she screamed bloody murder. Like, for 1.5 hours at a time. I couldn't tell if she was just fearful or had to potty, so I'm sure I went to her more than I should have, and may have rewarded the barking. So a few nights ago, we moved it to our bedroom, and voila! No more barking or crying. She will shuffle around about 5 hours into bedtime and I'll take her out (usually around 3), and again at about 6, which is when we get up. So, on the one hand, it's working beautifully. She holds her bladder very well, and she knows she doesn't have to bark to get my attention to go out to potty. No crate accidents since we moved her in. But we want our room to be ours, and for the crate to be in the other room. Do you think slowly moving it back down the hall would work? Should we just put it back out there all at once and go for it? It has been almost a week since we moved her, so maybe we're past the "don't leave me in the other room!" issue? 2. I do need to be able to leave her in the crate for 2 hours at a time 3 times a week to take kids to lessons. I've done this twice so far, after potty outside and plenty of exercise, and with a kong and toys. I'm fairly certain she barks the whole time My inlaws live next door and heard her, and I've heard her from the driveway when we get back home. I hate that she gets herself so worked up and upset, but I do need to leave occasionally, and she can't always come. Will this just get better with time? I really appreciate any help you can offer! Angela
Welcome Your puppy is still VERY young My latest pup took a couple of weeks sofa sleeping on my part before he was anywhere near settling and he has another dog fir company. I think you'll be able to move the crate but I wouldn't rush to do so. An extra week or two now will pay dividends and be a distant memory before you know it. I also needed to build up the time Obi was alone in the day. Obi was awful at being left so I used to try and leave him for tiny amounts through the day gradually getting longer. If your in laws are at home would they watch her for you when you have to go out? Just while you build up the time she's happy to be left. You will get there but the more gradually you can build it up the more robust her confidence will be in my opinion. Best of luck
Welcome, I can't add to the advice that Barbara has given you but wanted to say hi from me and Dexter
Hi there, I sofa slept as well for a week, and the last couple of nights o slept on the sofa till the early hours toilet then came to my own bed, it seemed to work very well. Now the crate is just at the bottom of the stairs and she is as good as gold.
I definitely had to work up to leaving Duncan alone for 2+ hours - At first I only left for about 15-20 minutes, then 30, then 45, etc. and every time I would leave him with a filled kong or treat that he could occupy his time with while I actually left the house and closed the door for 15-20 minutes and after devouring his treat I am sure he cried a little bit, but I think it really helps with the initial leaving and them not freaking out that you are leaving them. Now I can pop him in and leave and there is never any crying (he is 16.5-17 weeks now), but at first when I would leave him for even 20-30 minutes I would stand outside and could hear him crying and upset that is why I had to work up to leaving him for longer periods of time and every day that I left the crying stopped after shorter periods of time and now he knows when I leave I will ALWAYS be back! they get used to you coming back to them and I do think leaving him with a treat really helped! try building up the time more and more each day and leaving the pup with a treat when you first pop them in the crate and leave and shut the door ... and when you come home or put them in the crate act like it is no big deal and don't fuss over them or say long drawn out goodbyes so they don't get upset this is what worked for me! and he definitely protested being left in the crate for the first few weeks until I built up the time to where he can now be left for as long as 3 hours (haven't tried longer, but he is in there from 8am-11am while I work in my office from home and I don't hear a peep out of him) It gets better! I promise! Every week is better! I hope it will be for you too!
