Reagan is 8 weeks, just got him 4 days ago. He was "free range" at the breeders, we have a crate. He crys and frantically paws at the door so bad I worry about the construction holding up. He eventually stops only after an hour of so. We always take him out prior to placing him in. I'm a stay at home husband (retired military doing online clear on GI Bill) and I find it difficult to study with all the screaming. Right now he's asleep at my feet, but I guarantee as soon as I place him in his crate he will awaken and scream. Having trouble slipping into a routine with him and studying...
Put yourself in his place. So far he has known a life of mum and litter mates. Rolling around with them and falling asleep in a bog heap of puppies. Then suddenly mum and litter mates are gone and you can no longer wander around at will and fall asleep wherever and when ever you like. Wouldn't you protest? I used to pop kibble in through the bars to tempt Molly into the crate. It made it seem like a good place to be for Molly. Try just putting him in for short periods and then letting him out. When Molly barked I would wait till she drew breath then bounce up to her, all smiles telling her what a Good she was. The first few weeks with a puupy are hard, the lack of sleep doesn't help one little bit.
It usually takes a few weeks to get into a nice routine, you need to get to know your puppy first and gradually get him used to the crate. Make sure he is fed, watered, pood and peed and had a really good play. Once he's tired pop him in with a Kong and sit by the crate while he falls asleep. Then open the crate before he wakes so that he doesn't have to shout to get out - straight to the toilet area when he does. We did this with my Tatze and she soon settled in there. In my view an hour or so is much too long to leave him crying during the day. But I didn't have a crate for the next two pups, I found it easier with a puppy pen
Hi there and welcome to the forum, you have come to the right place for help! First of all, I think you need to be realistic in your expectations - you are not going to get a lot of studying done with a small puppy around. He is like a toddler at present, and you cannot expect him to be quiet for any period of time in his crate just yet. You will need to look at things from his side, and build up slowly. He has been taken away from his home and siblings, and now he relies on you for everything - food, water, love, company. Without you, he fears he might be lost and in danger. Seriously. In order to succeed at this, you need to make the crate a safe and happy place for him, where he goes for calm rest. Do not lock him in there for any length of time, you are only making him feel the crate is a prison, which is not what you want. Play with him, feed him in his crate with the door open; make him feel it is a good place, give him little treats in there. Once he is happy enough with it, you can close the door for a few seconds, then let him out again before he gets upset. Slowly build this time up, to a minute, then a couple of minutes, five minutes, and so on. Leaving a puppy to scream in his crate is counter-productive, and upsetting to him AND you. Do remember he is just a baby. Time you spend bonding with him now will repay in dividends over the many happy years you have with him ahead of you. And in a few months he will be happy to settle, either in his crate or just under your desk, while you study. But for now it is too much to expect of him, and of yourself.
Welcome from me too , I agree 100% with Karen , he must be so confused right now , baby steps with him please .
Hi and welcome, you have had some great advice.Typically folk take time out of their life to settle a new puppy in. As already said he really is a baby and locking him up in the day for such long periods is too much of a shock for him. Could you study when he falls asleep, and move your routine around his naps. I totally agree with others and would not allow a pup to cry in a crate for an hour, its counter productive and he will never settle in it. Have you the Happy Puppy Handbook. Its worth a read to learn about what pups should and can be doing at different ages. Hang in there you will develop a great routine and friendship
Hi and welcome When I got Harley I wanted to crate train her. Unfortunately it didn't work for us. The only time she would settle in the crate was when we were all out. If we were in the house she would whine and whine, even if we sat next to her feeding her treats. For me I decided only to crate her when I was at work. It wasn't a problem as we kept her in one room at a time. Whilst I was home she was always in the living room or with me in the kitchen or garden. She would settle happily on the floor in my office when I worked from home. Might be worth going back to basics with crating or train him to settle in the room you are in.
