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[bluekarin]

So, after a horrendous night and reading more into crate training I am a little confused. I was under the impression we should ignore Neela when she cries at night, but another website said I should get up every couple of hours to take her out for a wee. HELP!

 

Last night she went to bed at 11pm and was awake howling and crying at 2.30 for an hour, at which point I had visions of a soiled crate and went downstairs. Nothing was wrong so I took her out for her wee. I then sat with her for a bit to calm her down as she was manic, put her back to bed, and several go to beds later she settled down and I went back to bed. She was then up at 4.45am and I tried to ignore her but hubby got up and tried to settle her and ended up sleeping with her on the sofa, just to try and get some sleep himself. That didn't work, so exit one grumpy hubby off to work I know there were some things we did wrong there, but when you are tired, you do anything to get just a bit of sleep.

 

So today, crate training has started in earnest. When Neela woke up, I took her out for a wee, then put her in her crate. She wined and moaned, but I ignored her. When she was quiet for 10 seconds or so, I gave her a tiny treat and said good girl. Then when she'd been quiet for about 10 minutes, I took her out, fussed and played with her and then popped her back in with a carrot to chew. She has now fallen asleep. When she wakes, she will whine, and she will probably need a wee, but I am planning on letting her whine for a while and then when she is quite take her outside to do wee's.

 

I am sure you'll have some pearls of wisdom to share to make this work so we all start to get a good nights sleep

[shemybelle]

Hi

 

I was very lucky with my puppy. She slept in her crate with no crying at all, from day/night one. However, as a foster carer who looks after babies, I do sympathise on the lack of sleep thing and I know what you mean about feeling like you'd do anything to get to sleep!

 

I wouldn't get up for her during the night. If she soils her crate, she won't like it and she'll then start doing her best to hold in her business. That won't be easy for her at first, but as she grows she'll get better at it.

 

When she wakes up from her nap, I'd let her out right away. If you let her whine and then take her out, she'll get another lesson in how to get what she wants by whining. During your waking hours, i.e. daytime, I would make being in the crate as positive an experience for her as possible. Don't put her in it at all unless it's necessary. Put treats and toys in there to encourage her to go in herself. What she learns about the crate during the day, i.e. that it's a good thing, will help her adjust to sleeping there at night.

 

Good luck!

 

Lx

[bluekarin]

If you let her whine and then take her out, she'll get another lesson in how to get what she wants by whining.

 

Sorry, I meant once she is not whining and has been quiet for a short while, then I'll let her out to go to the loo, not whilst whining.

[LolaLayla]

I know we are only a week ahead of you and obviously things are different with different puppies but I will tell you what seems to work for us. I too was a bit confused about some aspects of the crate training and although I had a clear plan as to what I would do it changed due to tiredness etc. What I eventually did was to have her crate in the utility room with a small pen round it (with her water bowl in the pen). I have never shut the crate but often shut the pen. Initially at night I would take her out for final wee then put her in the crate, encouraging her by throwing in a treat. I would hover about but not speak or pay obvious attention (if she whined I would leave her until she stopped and then go in). If she came out quietly I would put her back in. She eventually settled. Now she has started taking herself to bed and when she does I close the pen door. Last night she went at 9.45 and then I heard her about 5.30 (just whimpering not full scale yowl). I went down and hardly speaking at all took her out when she did 'the works'. She was a bit annoyed at going straight back in the the pen/crate area as she thought it was time to get up and play. She yowled for a few minutes but as I didn't respond she settled. I have been really strict with myself about not going to her when she yowls. When she is in her crate I often go into the utility to use the washing machine etc but I do not talk to her and she will close her eyes again. I also go past the door without looking in so that she know folks are about but that she will not always be spoken to. I am aware that poodles can suffer from separation anxiety so I am doing a lot to hopefully avoid any problems. She also tried to bark for her dinner as I was making it. As I don't want her to start barking I just left the bowl on the surface where I had been preparing it and walked out the utility without looking at her. She seemed confused and was quiet so I turned round straight away and finished making her meal as she was quiet. I know it seems horrible but I don't want her barking too much.

Usually if she goes out for a wee I play ball games with her or do a bit of training stuff so she is tired and settles well in the crate. My reason for leaving the crate door open into the pen was that I had read it distresses them to soil their crate and if she cried I would not know if it was for toilet or attention. She has only wet the floor in the pen twice and is obviously trying hard to hold on for as long as she is able.

I do not know if this will help you. Good luck

[Cheeky Chooky]

With Lola, the last meal of the day is 8pm, she's not interested in having a drink of water after this time, even though the water bowl is available; the last trip to the garden is about 11pm and then straight in the crate, door closed, lights out and sweet dreams No mess in the morning either. We did the same with Eddie (3 in November). He is fine to be left with the run of the downstairs while we're out during the day and even though we're going to be around all the time for the next 6 weeks, Lola is still crated for a time in the morning and afternoon to get her used to having time on her own.

[LolaLayla]

How are things today Hope you had a better night

[bluekarin]

Last night she slept from 11pm ish until 5.30am Woohoo!! Took her out for a big wee, 2 of, and a number 2, which she never does that quickly so she must have been busting. Popped her back to bed, where she whimpered for a while and then settled down again until hubby went downstairs at around 7.15am. Feel almost human today Lets just hope its the same tonight.

[LolaLayla]

Good Looks like you can see light at the end of the tunnel. I know it feels so harsh to ignore them at times but I have found it has helped Lara stay calm. When I go down in the morning to her. I just glance at her and open the door through to the kitchen. Then I open her pen door and ask her if she wants to go outside. She (so far) calmly walks out and follows me outside and once there I start talking to her more and telling her what a good girl she is. I have tried this as I don't want her getting excited and weeing the floor as she hears me coming down the stairs. Also if she started whining at this stage I would then be rewarding her by going to her but would have to go to her as she would need out Nice to share all these things with someone who is experiencing the same thing! Yesterday Lara refused her breakfast and I was really worried but she ate all meals after. I phoned the vet nurse and she said that if all else was ok she was probably holding out for tastier food Could my little darling be that manipulative

[bluekarin]

Could my little darling be that manipulative

 

Oh never, they are angels surely Neela was after my Marmite on toast this morning, but she did eat all her brekkie up in less than five mins, which is a record for her.

 

Oh, and she slept from 11pm till 6.05am WooHoo!

[The Dogmother]

LolaLayla is doing it right from what I can read. It is important to completely ignore any negative behaviour and to reward good actions, rewards can be treats, games or just attention and strokes. Ignoring means turning away, no eye contact and doing something else until the good behaviour appears then rewarding straight away. Lots of people do clicker training for this but Ruby hates the sound of the clicker and to be honest I just can't be bothered with it.

 

If you take her out for night piddles then don't make any eye contact nor say anything apart from praise when she performs. Just like when you put a baby back down after a night feed.

 

I've always crate trained with treats and hide and seek games amongst the blankets, only using crates for sleeping, naps or when the house was full of kids. Ruby no longer uses hers but will happily hop into one.