another crate training question

jessac · 11-26-2012, 07:01 PM

I've read the million or so threads on crate training but still can't figure out what to do with my pup. He goes into his crate at night without a fuss, only waking at night to potty, then back in without a peep. Sleeps fine with one or two potty breaks during the night (he's 10 weeks).

My problem is during the day and in the car. He goes crazy when we lock the door then. He'll go in otherwise in and out. We feed him in there and have crate treats and have tried keeping special crate toys, but nothing seems to be working to get him to like it during the day. At some point we'll both need to leave the house but don't trust him to be alone without being in his crate. We've made sure he has just gone to potty also and he sometimes piddles in there when he's throwing his tantrums. Any suggestions?

**JakodaCD OA** · 11-26-2012, 07:06 PM

I would leave a radio on, give him something really yummy (safe) to chew on, maybe put his morning meal IN the crate with him right before you leave, and then leave while he's eating..You can also try covering the crate, altho if he is going bonkers, he may pull whatever you put over it, INTO the crate...

You can also put him in the crate during the day and LEAVE , just go outside where he can't see you, for a few minutes, come back when he's quiet, let him out, start extending your times..

**gsdraven** · 11-26-2012, 07:57 PM

When you put him in at night are all the lights and tv and sounds already off so that it's clear it's bed time? Can you recreate that when you put him in during the day?

Are you letting him out when he throws the fit in the day? If so, stop. Even if he urinates, you should only let him out when he is calm and quiet and then deal with the mess later (as much as it may stink).

Diane is also right. Put him in and walk away (or even outside) like it's nothing and again, don't come back into sight until he is quiet.

jessac · 11-26-2012, 08:26 PM

I do normally have the lights out at night and it's quiet at night. I don't let him out if he's crying, I wait until he's quiet for at least a few minutes. I'll try leaving the house and just stepping outside. Do you think that it will hurt his house training to let him continue having accidents in his crate?

**gsdraven** · 11-26-2012, 08:57 PM

I think it'll have to be a judgement call. I've known dogs who were smart enough to know that pottying in the crate got them out of it. If that's what he's doing, you might have to tough it out.

I have a dog that will pee in her crate to mark her territory if the other two dogs spend a night away, but she doesn't go any other time in the house.

jessac · 12-03-2012, 10:27 AM

So, update, we've been putting him in there during the day and then leaving quietly and hiding out. It takes between 10 and 30 minutes for him to calm himself, and he'll stay calm for about 1-2 minutes. We keep extending the time each time and hope soon we'll be able to really leave. He still pees almost every time we try this. Hopefully soon I have a better update...

jessac · 12-09-2012, 04:00 PM

Gah. He's such a turd sometimes. As I type this he's actually laying in his crate, sleeping, so obviously the problem isn't him hating the crate. He only freaks when I shut the door and walk away. But he'll go hang out any other time. Think it's just him trying to manipulate the situation? Still putting him in twice a day for naps, and then opening when he quiets for 5-10 minutes. Occassionally he'll fall asleep but that's rare. Do you think I should leave him in longer ( right now he'll cry for 15-45 minutes before settling)? Or keep taking baby steps?

footshooter5 · 12-19-2012, 08:45 AM

First post here (long time lurker

)

What worked well for our GSD, Toby, was that during the day, I would get him into his crate, close the door, and every 5 seconds he was quiet, I'd reward him with a high value treat, i.e. small piece of turkey, ham, string cheese, etc.

I'd let him out after about 30 seconds or so, so he understood that he was not in there permanently. And I'd do this and repeat it as many times as I could during the day - of course, this ideally works on a weekend, when you have time to devote to this training exercise.

Gradually, I'd increase the time interval, and start walking away and out of his line of sight, i.e. to the kitchen, downstairs to the laundry room, and come back up, and again, only rewards him for being quiet, and then walk away again.

He definitely figured it out after a couple of days

I hope this was helpful and that you get some relief soon!

TommyB681 · 12-19-2012, 09:15 AM

We keep a sheet over Pennys crate. When she goes in and gets mouthy I poke my head under the blanket and lay with her until she lays down (usually fairly quickly) I remove head and due to the sheet she cant see me physically leave the room. My gf leaves on her computer if its only for a little to keep her occupied. Shes becoming partial to Taylor Swift

11-26-2012, 07:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
jessac Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 264	another crate training question I've read the million or so threads on crate training but still can't figure out what to do with my pup. He goes into his crate at night without a fuss, only waking at night to potty, then back in without a peep. Sleeps fine with one or two potty breaks during the night (he's 10 weeks). My problem is during the day and in the car. He goes crazy when we lock the door then. He'll go in otherwise in and out. We feed him in there and have crate treats and have tried keeping special crate toys, but nothing seems to be working to get him to like it during the day. At some point we'll both need to leave the house but don't trust him to be alone without being in his crate. We've made sure he has just gone to potty also and he sometimes piddles in there when he's throwing his tantrums. Any suggestions?

11-26-2012, 07:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 17,506	I would leave a radio on, give him something really yummy (safe) to chew on, maybe put his morning meal IN the crate with him right before you leave, and then leave while he's eating..You can also try covering the crate, altho if he is going bonkers, he may pull whatever you put over it, INTO the crate... You can also put him in the crate during the day and LEAVE , just go outside where he can't see you, for a few minutes, come back when he's quiet, let him out, start extending your times.. __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

11-26-2012, 07:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
gsdraven Moderator Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mont Co, PA Posts: 5,416	When you put him in at night are all the lights and tv and sounds already off so that it's clear it's bed time? Can you recreate that when you put him in during the day? Are you letting him out when he throws the fit in the day? If so, stop. Even if he urinates, you should only let him out when he is calm and quiet and then deal with the mess later (as much as it may stink). Diane is also right. Put him in and walk away (or even outside) like it's nothing and again, don't come back into sight until he is quiet. __________________ Jamie Raven (GSD) - December 8, 2007 Kaiser (GSD) - November 2009 Holly (GSD) - March 24, 2011 Best Paw Forward Life's Abundance

11-26-2012, 08:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
gsdraven Moderator Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mont Co, PA Posts: 5,416	I think it'll have to be a judgement call. I've known dogs who were smart enough to know that pottying in the crate got them out of it. If that's what he's doing, you might have to tough it out. I have a dog that will pee in her crate to mark her territory if the other two dogs spend a night away, but she doesn't go any other time in the house. __________________ Jamie Raven (GSD) - December 8, 2007 Kaiser (GSD) - November 2009 Holly (GSD) - March 24, 2011 Best Paw Forward Life's Abundance

11-26-2012, 08:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
jessac Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 264	I do normally have the lights out at night and it's quiet at night. I don't let him out if he's crying, I wait until he's quiet for at least a few minutes. I'll try leaving the house and just stepping outside. Do you think that it will hurt his house training to let him continue having accidents in his crate?

12-03-2012, 10:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
jessac Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 264	So, update, we've been putting him in there during the day and then leaving quietly and hiding out. It takes between 10 and 30 minutes for him to calm himself, and he'll stay calm for about 1-2 minutes. We keep extending the time each time and hope soon we'll be able to really leave. He still pees almost every time we try this. Hopefully soon I have a better update...

12-09-2012, 04:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
jessac Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 264	Gah. He's such a turd sometimes. As I type this he's actually laying in his crate, sleeping, so obviously the problem isn't him hating the crate. He only freaks when I shut the door and walk away. But he'll go hang out any other time. Think it's just him trying to manipulate the situation? Still putting him in twice a day for naps, and then opening when he quiets for 5-10 minutes. Occassionally he'll fall asleep but that's rare. Do you think I should leave him in longer ( right now he'll cry for 15-45 minutes before settling)? Or keep taking baby steps?

12-19-2012, 08:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
footshooter5 New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 4	First post here (long time lurker ) What worked well for our GSD, Toby, was that during the day, I would get him into his crate, close the door, and every 5 seconds he was quiet, I'd reward him with a high value treat, i.e. small piece of turkey, ham, string cheese, etc. I'd let him out after about 30 seconds or so, so he understood that he was not in there permanently. And I'd do this and repeat it as many times as I could during the day - of course, this ideally works on a weekend, when you have time to devote to this training exercise. Gradually, I'd increase the time interval, and start walking away and out of his line of sight, i.e. to the kitchen, downstairs to the laundry room, and come back up, and again, only rewards him for being quiet, and then walk away again. He definitely figured it out after a couple of days I hope this was helpful and that you get some relief soon!

12-19-2012, 09:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
TommyB681 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 491	We keep a sheet over Pennys crate. When she goes in and gets mouthy I poke my head under the blanket and lay with her until she lays down (usually fairly quickly) I remove head and due to the sheet she cant see me physically leave the room. My gf leaves on her computer if its only for a little to keep her occupied. Shes becoming partial to Taylor Swift

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