Dog crying in crate all night -- help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to Humane Society
“Crate training takes advantage of your dog's natural instincts as a den animal. A wild dog's den is their home—a place to sleep, hide from danger and raise a family. The crate becomes your dog's den, where they can find comfort and solitude while you know they’re safe and secure.”

Dogs and humans are different. My dog likes to roll on dead things, I don’t. Just because you wouldn’t like to sleep in a crate doesn’t mean your dog doesn't like it.

What den has no opening that the animal can leave from? A dog house serves the purpose of a den - a cozy space to sleep - they don't need or want a closed door. Where are there dogs in dens that take away all freedom, movement, and ability to relieve themselves at will?

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t work for everyone to sleep with a dog. It’s fine to confine a dog somewhere at night so that it won’t come wake you or others up or get into trouble in the house. A crate is a safe place to confine the dog. It’s humane as long as it’s the proper temperature and the dog can turn around in it. Crating a dog for the 6-8 hrs the humans are asleep in no way implies that the dog is inappropriately confined for 20 hrs/day. Crate training makes traveling with dogs sooo much easier too; it has a safe space that smells familiar.

As for OP’s question, we don’t know why the dog is crying. It could have issues related to toileting. It could have separation anxiety. Both are best managed by moving the crate into the master bedroom and reading up on training methods and/or consulting a trainer. It’s a little bit like sleep training a baby; one has to be very careful about what one reinforces and when. Intermittent reinforcement is also the riskiest strategy and most difficult training mistake to undo. So don’t bring the dog into bed, for example, unless you’re ready for that to be its permanent nighttime spot.

[Anonymous]

You should also leave your dogs in hot cars because it helps to recreate the warm heat that is in a dogs den on a hot summer day. They will feel comforted knowing they are in a confined hot space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to Humane Society
“Crate training takes advantage of your dog's natural instincts as a den animal. A wild dog's den is their home—a place to sleep, hide from danger and raise a family. The crate becomes your dog's den, where they can find comfort and solitude while you know they’re safe and secure.”

Dogs and humans are different. My dog likes to roll on dead things, I don’t. Just because you wouldn’t like to sleep in a crate doesn’t mean your dog doesn't like it.

Then leave the crate door open to mimic the den entrance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t work for everyone to sleep with a dog. It’s fine to confine a dog somewhere at night so that it won’t come wake you or others up or get into trouble in the house. A crate is a safe place to confine the dog. It’s humane as long as it’s the proper temperature and the dog can turn around in it. Crating a dog for the 6-8 hrs the humans are asleep in no way implies that the dog is inappropriately confined for 20 hrs/day. Crate training makes traveling with dogs sooo much easier too; it has a safe space that smells familiar.

As for OP’s question, we don’t know why the dog is crying. It could have issues related to toileting. It could have separation anxiety. Both are best managed by moving the crate into the master bedroom and reading up on training methods and/or consulting a trainer. It’s a little bit like sleep training a baby; one has to be very careful about what one reinforces and when. Intermittent reinforcement is also the riskiest strategy and most difficult training mistake to undo. So don’t bring the dog into bed, for example, unless you’re ready for that to be its permanent nighttime spot.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/271890.page This old thread contains a bunch of posts about a JRT that is only out 6 hours total a day. Owner wondered why the dog had issues. Lots of people don't consider how long total these dogs are spending isolated. If you want an animal that truly enjoys that kind of confinement and isolation, I suggest a ball python.

[Anonymous]

What’s weird is that she was fine with the crate for 2 weeks and then started crying. What changed?

Some rescues are really scared of crates because of past over-crating it the trauma of transport. But that doesn’t sound like the case here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s weird is that she was fine with the crate for 2 weeks and then started crying. What changed?

Some rescues are really scared of crates because of past over-crating it the trauma of transport. But that doesn’t sound like the case here.

She has gotten attached to the family and doesn't want to be separated from them.

[Anonymous]

Can you let the dog sleep with you (no crate), and set an alarm to take the dog outside for a potty break in the middle of the night to help reinforce potty training? Give a dog a treat immediately after she goes potty outside.

[Anonymous]

It’s just like sleep training a baby! Nobody can fracking agree and both sides think the other is evil.

At this point, I’d make a reasonable decision based on your gut instinct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to Humane Society
“Crate training takes advantage of your dog's natural instincts as a den animal. A wild dog's den is their home—a place to sleep, hide from danger and raise a family. The crate becomes your dog's den, where they can find comfort and solitude while you know they’re safe and secure.”

Dogs and humans are different. My dog likes to roll on dead things, I don’t. Just because you wouldn’t like to sleep in a crate doesn’t mean your dog doesn't like it.

Then leave the crate door open to mimic the den entrance.

+1 exactly - if OP's dog loved the crate experience so much she wouldn't be crying all night

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t work for everyone to sleep with a dog. It’s fine to confine a dog somewhere at night so that it won’t come wake you or others up or get into trouble in the house. A crate is a safe place to confine the dog. It’s humane as long as it’s the proper temperature and the dog can turn around in it. Crating a dog for the 6-8 hrs the humans are asleep in no way implies that the dog is inappropriately confined for 20 hrs/day. Crate training makes traveling with dogs sooo much easier too; it has a safe space that smells familiar.

As for OP’s question, we don’t know why the dog is crying. It could have issues related to toileting. It could have separation anxiety. Both are best managed by moving the crate into the master bedroom and reading up on training methods and/or consulting a trainer. It’s a little bit like sleep training a baby; one has to be very careful about what one reinforces and when. Intermittent reinforcement is also the riskiest strategy and most difficult training mistake to undo. So don’t bring the dog into bed, for example, unless you’re ready for that to be its permanent nighttime spot.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/271890.page This old thread contains a bunch of posts about a JRT that is only out 6 hours total a day. Owner wondered why the dog had issues. Lots of people don't consider how long total these dogs are spending isolated. If you want an animal that truly enjoys that kind of confinement and isolation, I suggest a ball python.

That thread was heartbreaking.

[Anonymous]

I can't bear to read that JRT thread.

OP, your dog wants to be with you, and especially if you are out of the house all day, you should have him in your bedroom at night. Put the crate in there with the door open and give him the option of sleeping in his bed or in the crate (with the door open). Sleeping in the same space counts as time for bonding, which as a new dog owner you need (and so does he).

[Anonymous]

Experienced dog trainer here:
Your dog has been “good” for 2-3 weeks because new. Now expressing her real feelings. But keep on with crate training. It’s a necessity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Experienced dog trainer here:
Your dog has been “good” for 2-3 weeks because new. Now expressing her real feelings. But keep on with crate training. It’s a necessity.

Crate training is by no means a 'necessity'. Crate training is a new-ish trend, its really taken off in the last 15 - 20 years, but people have kept pet dogs for much longer than that and they were really fine. I have no objection to the use of a crate as a temporary measure for housebreaking a puppy or as an 'indoor doghouse' with the door open for an older dog, but neither is really a need. A lot of well-meaning people have been mislead into thinking that a crate is where a dog lives and where it should spend most of its time. That is a real problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you putting a one year old dog in a crate? She's not potty trained? Let her out. You put puppies in crates.

Stop weighing in on subjects you clearly know nothing about.