I know you've all been there....New Puppy

[4score]

We just picked up Walter this weekend. Walter is 8 weeks old. We have the crate. Ended up getting a full-size Vari-Kennel and we have the back half blocked off. We put a little dog bed in the usable front half. We tried putting some of his toys in there to get him a little used to it....but how used to it can it be on the 1st night? I put him in there the 1st night after he fell asleep on the floor in the family room. I closed the door and we retreated to our bedroom in hopes of sleeping a little too. A couple hours later he was screaming and screaming. Now here's one problem....I know these little guys have to get up frequently to go out and "go potty". So, I am not sure if he's crying for that or just because he's in his locked crate. We probably did the wrong thing and went straight to him and whisked him outside. He may have peed, it was dark so I wasn't sure. We have a flashlight now. So, this whole "close the door and don't open it until you're ready AFTER they calm down" theory......Questions:

1. Does this apply to a brand new 8-week puppy or do they get a pass for the 1st week?

2. If he's stubborn, and keeps on crying (screaming) - won't this run into normal events like feeding time and/or potty time....so how do you only come when calm if they are going long into these events?

3. I want to do some practice event during the day, but I'm afraid of a lengthy cry-session that will keep me from opening the door - is there a good time to try this?

Last night I slept on the floor in the family room and he nearly slept the whole night? At least 5 hours before getting up and wanting to play. Maybe he was just too tired from the crate experiments the night before. .

I know many of you have been there and have some great suggestions.

Thanks all!




Mark & Walter

[Harley0312]

im not sure if its correct or not, we kept the crate in our bedroom next to us, i believe the puppy wants to know your there at all times, plus when he cries now its because he wants to go out as puppys need to be let out every hour or so. he slept nicely when you were there because he could see you and went back to sleep. the crying and whinning will stop with some time crate training. I dont think you did wrong by going to him right away to take him out.

[Josie/Zeus]

What a handsome pup you got!

[GSDBESTK9]

He is adorable!

[1sttimeforgsd]

Very cute puppy, and they do need to go out a lot at that age. I am a light sleeper and if I heard my boy moving around I took him outside for a potty break.

[bocron]

First off, great pic and what a pretty boy!
All of mine have been crated in the bedroom right by the bed (at least for the first few weeks). When mine wake up in the middle of the night I don't try to make them quiet down before opening the door, I quickly carry them outside and put them down to go potty. I do not play or make it fun, I don't want them thinking if they wake me up in the middle of the night they get a play period, I just am matter of fact. I carry a flashlight so I can hopefully see if they go. Once they do, it's back in the house and back in the crate. Usually I carry them back in just so they get the idea it's not the time to go off exploring. Most of mine get put in their crates around 11pm(after a bedtime potty break) and usually last 3-4 hours and then need to go out. They seem to outgrow the middle of the night potty break in a 4-6 weeks.
I do make sure mine do not nap all evening, because just like a toddler, they will wake up raring to play at 2am. Luckily I always have a few adult GSDs around who will take over play duties for a bit.
If you want to do some practice crate time during the day, make sure he's had a good play session so he'll be ready for a break. Possibly fill a kong toy with spray cheese or peanut butter to give him something to work on. I have a pic somewhere of my latest pup asleep with her tongue still in licking position, pretty funny.

[BR870]

We've had Ezra for about a week and a half now. He's 10 weeks old now. Believe me, a week ago was pretty difficult. So bear with it, and it will get better...

For us, I put he in his crate at 10 or so, and no matter how much he cries I'm not coming back out for a few hours. Now if he starts crying sometime after a few hours, I assume its because he needs to go and will take him out. As soon as he's done outside, he gets put back in until morning. He still might fuss for 5 minutes or so, but he has learned that prolonged crying isn't going to get him attention.

[4score]

Thanks all....I know we're going to just have to jump in and do this crate training right. Today I fed some reward treats to him in there. He's still not comfortable staying in there yet. I'll try taking the bed out and feeding him in there tonight. If he's not had much practice time in the crate yet, would you still recommend crating him tonight?

[chelle]

Originally Posted by 4score

Thanks all....I know we're going to just have to jump in and do this crate training right. Today I fed some reward treats to him in there. He's still not comfortable staying in there yet. I'll try taking the bed out and feeding him in there tonight. If he's not had much practice time in the crate yet, would you still recommend crating him tonight?

Let me start by saying many people will say I'm an idiot for what I did.

I never crated in the overnight. I took the crate in the bedroom every night and left the door open or usually took the door off. (It was a small travel crate and you could take the door off easily.) At first, I actually put the crate ON the bed with me. He'd go in and out at will, but he liked to go in it knowing he could come right back out.

Maybe a week later, I moved the crate to the floor. Again, he'd go in and out at will. He was either in the crate or under the bed.

Keep in mind, my boy was 11 weeks when he came home, so he had a bit better bladder control, but he would wake me around 3-4 AM for a potty. He'd whine and pace and call it mother's instinct, it woke me.

We'd do a quick no nonsense potty and back to bed. He'd settle right back down.

Many people don't like their dogs on the bed, but Bailey has never been a bed-guy. Sure, he'll come snuggle a bit, but when he's really sleeping, he wants his bed or under my bed.

All I can say is it worked for us. He never once had an accident. He never chewed a single thing.

If you're not comfortable with that, though, I totally understand. In that case, I'd bring the crate in the bedroom for a little while. I'd take the soft stuff out, though. If he cries in the middle of the night, it's probably only needing to pee, so I wouldn't worry about that - just get him out to do business and back in he goes. If you're sure he doesn't need to go at other times and he's screaming, you have to ignore it until he calms. No puppy pass there.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!

[Anastasia]

As you know your Walter and my Jack were born on the same day and came home on the same day.
On Jacks first night home I carried him upstairs and put him into his crate right next to my bed at 10:00 and he whined and cried for a few minutes. I never said a word the room was dark and I just waited him out. He settled after about 5 minutes and slept until 3:30 AM. Last night was about the same. When he wakes I hear him moving before he really starts winning so I can scoop him up and out the door before he gets worked up. I take him out with a flashlight and as soon as he goes I pick him up and carry him back in and up to the crate without a word and he sleeps for another few hours.

Good Luck tonight!