Reply to Crate training...is it bad if I stop?

Forum Index » Pets

Reply to "Crate training...is it bad if I stop?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We've had our puppy for a month; she's three months old. We also have an older dog and they're getting along well.

We have been attempting to crate train the puppy and it is not going well. She will eventually settle in the crate for naps (recommended by trainer) and at night, but will not stay in it for longer than 90 minutes without whining to come out, and it often takes 30+ minutes for her to settle down. I have not slept in my own bed since getting her. When I leave the house, she will bark and howl in the crate until I return. My nerves are shot and I cannot deal with the barking, whining, and drama associated with this F%&%cking crate: it also seems to make no difference in terms of house training. I know she can 'hold it' for longer than 90 minutes as she's slept with me on the couch for several hours with no accidents.

FWIW, we've been working with a trainer and practicing with Susan Garrett's 'crate games'. At this point, I'm inclined to just get pee pads and leave her out with the older dog: having her semi-relax in the crate for a few hours a day doesn't really help me.

Has anyone else ditched the crate? [/quote]

Who is this idiot trainer recommending "naptime" for dogs? It's mentioned on the other puppy thread, too... This is nonsense, and if your trainer suggests it, fire them immediately. Everyone knows the sleeping puppy is best for snuggling. Puppy should be "napping" at your side while you post to DCUM. Forcing the puppy to "nap" in a crate is going to get you exactly this.

Crate puppy overnight. Wake up as needed for potty breaks (depending on age). Take puppy outside for potty, then feed/train (kibble should be used as rewards, not just free-fed from a dish at this age), then back out to pee, then puppy should be pretty sleepy and crate for a bit. Then out, then play/train/feed, then out again, then crate (unless you play too hard and puppy sleeps on/near you, in which case, success!). Repeat until 'last call' walkies, then crate overnight (again, waking up to take puppy out as needed, depending on age).

But the idea of "okay, it's nap time" is garbage. Naps are the result, the "natural consequence" of proper training; we don't train naps.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics