New puppy, need some encouragement

[Anonymous]

We adopted an 11 week old puppy last week. He is great, typical puppy as best as I can tell. Sweet, energetic during the day, sleeps through the night, chews a lot! We're working on the crate. He will go in when I toss treats in but is screaming as soon as the door is closed. I know the crate is the key to my personal freedom, which has taken a serious hit and thus the reason for needing some encouragement. I'm beginning to feel the "what have I done?" feelings.

[Anonymous]

When you put the treat (and a favorite toy!) in the crate, get in the habit of saying "good crate" and always associate the crate with a positive. If it is one of the wire mesh ones, you might drape a towel or light blanket over the top to make it more den-like. Leave the door to it open during the day so that he can go inside to explore. As he gets older you may find that he will go in on his own to sleep or de-stress because he will see it as a haven. It's only a week and he is still getting used to the routine. If you are consistent and continually use positive reinforcement it will all get easier. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

In addition to the PPs good advice, two other crate training tips I received were:

1) Never remove the puppy when he/she is crying. They come to associate crying with getting let out. If your pup cries and you want to get him/her out, wait til there is a lull to remove.

2) Any time you see your dog enter the crate during the day, make sure to praise with good words and treats. This helps to build positive association with the crate.

[Anonymous]

in addition to a treat, give a special toy that's only allowed in the crate. Ideally, something that can occupy the dog for a while. We used a Kong toy that looked like a manicotti noodle made of silicone and would smear a bit of liverwurst, cream cheese, or peanut butter inside. The dog was busy for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a doggie bed in the crate? Some toys? Our cockapoo has a doggie bed, a bowl of water, and a couple of toys.

[Anonymous]

A spot of calming spray in her crate, with lavender and calming pheremones. All of the above posts are great especially a treat filled Kong and covering the crate with a towel or blanket.

[Anonymous]

His crate is a calm, safe area for rest. So try to put the puppy into his crate after he has had some romp around time, has been outside to go potty and is ready for a nap. Put the puppy into his crate with a Kong stuffed with a little bit of peanut butter (not a lot otherwise he'll need to go right back outside to go potty). Let him rest for a while and then it'll be time to go outside for a potty brake, romp time. Then back to the crate. Repeat.

[Anonymous]

What breed of puppy is this?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the tips. We offers treats every time we give the "crate" demand and he goes...willingly may be much, but he is very food motivated. He's ok for an hour if we are not home. I've ales put him in the (smaller) travel crate when I take a shower, he quiets done much easier there.
He's a poodle/Havanese mix

[Anonymous]

Fill up a kong with peanut butter, freeze it, and put that in the crate with your puppy. That can keep him/her distracted enough to settle down in the crate.
Keep at it! Our puppy cried and cried. Don't give in! Only take them out when they quiet down.
It gets better.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and make sure the crate is small enough. we noticed that our pup calmed down a LOT faster in a smaller crate. She could still stand up and turn, but not much else.

We never did get her to be ok with being in the largish pen we had up in our kitchen, where she could jump and pace. She would endlessly bark and whine in there.