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Crate training - great at night, bad during day!

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Sovellimo

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Hello all! I have an almost 9 week old labrador who we’ve had for a week now. From day one he has been pretty amazing at sleeping in his crate overnight without complaint.

My other half and I arrange to be at home for his entire first week and we will do the same again for the second but we are becoming increasingly concerned as he doesn’t seem willing to stay in his crate During the daytime hours without crying his heart out.

I have followed some basic crate training videos with little success. I’m struggling to understand why my dog doesn’t want to stay in the crate in the day when he is great at night.

Would really appreciate any help and advice you can offer. Apologies if this thread has been discussed before I can spot anything feel free to link.
 
I'm biased because I'm not a fan of crates at all- I've seen them badly used and abused. I think if your puppy sleeps in one at night without distress, okay- but why confine a brand new bright active little creature during the day? This isn't what a puppy was made for- he's meant to be exploring the world. If you have to leave him then give him space, toys and if possible visits from somebody. How long do you leave him for?
 
I would guess at FOMO - fear of missing out. At night everyone sleeps, but in the day, loads is going on that he wants to be included in.

Rather than the crate could you use baby gates so he feels less confined, and at the same time gradually build his independence by walking out of the room then immediately back in again, preferably when he is occupied with something like a Kong. Try to make no fuss, you don't want to prepare him into thinking "oh no this means they are going out" - the aim is for him to barely register you coming and going - ideally for him to have a 'oh, you're back, I didn't notice you leave' reaction.
 
We haven’t actually left him so far. Minor test runs of 1-10 mins. Ultimately we both go to work but intend to work our schedule so he shouldn’t be alone for single periods longer than 2.5 hours.

We’ve thought open space but slightly nervous about damage he may cause. Unsurprisingly teething quite a bit at the moment. He has lots of toys , but those skirting boards are like magnets.
 
What is the routine during the day with the crate, are you putting him in when you are around, and he can see what’s going on around him .

At night he will be sleeping and it will be dark and quiet, so no distractions , if as I suspect you are going about your daily business and putting him in his crate and expecting him to settle like he would at night, it’s not going to happen.

You need to find a routine, i.e, if let’s say you are at home all day ( for now) allow him free access with you, it let’s say, you need to go upstairs, take a shower, etc ...then put him in the crate with a chew , and allow him alone time , then when you come back let him out of the crate, if after play, whe he is tired, put him in his crate and let him sleep there, but when you are around. Allow him out, build up the time in the crate during the day, when you pop out. Go out of the room and so on, till he knows, going in there during the day. ok and down time.

Remember crates are not to be used for long periods of time, a few hrs at a time in the day is enough, night time is different as it is shut down time for everyone.
 
2.5 hours is reasonable to work up to for being left...but do try a puppy pen rather. Yes a puppy will do some damage- puppies do. Our last one ate an entire shelf of books while teething. I get over it by leaving things I don't mind losing- in this case books I hadn't enjoyed!

I know everyone's different but there's no way I could leave a puppy in a crate for hours on his own- it would break my heart thinking about him. And if he's teething what else has he got to do but concentrate on how much his gums hurt?
 
If your dog is sleeping at night, accept it and move one. Crates are great if you are not at home but when you are, your dog should be with you and learning.
Instead of trying to crate train, get your dog used to being playful and not feel neglected
 
So thought you all may be interested to know we’ve tried out a play pen rather than a crate and so far have had good results. He’s perfectly happy being it in during the day and sleeps just as well as he did before in his crate.
 
thats great news - out of curiosity - what playpen have you purchased?
 
Couldn’t say a specific make model as I borrowed it from a friend who doesn’t need it anymore!
 
Thanks for the feedback on the puppy pen. Bruce Fogle has written a couple of books on puppies and he is a great fan of crates and puppy pens. I think he must have shares in Kong toys too :)
 
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