Sleep/crate training

[Katyhicks]

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So, we've only had Hicks since last Sunday and he is not even 9 weeks yet, but this is our first puppy and to be honest im feeling a little bit lost with training. Apart from a few accidents he is doing great with toilet training, but I'm really struggling with crate training. During the day i leave his door open so he can go in when he likes, i feed him in there, i make a fuss of him or treat him for going in and i have been sleeping next to him on the living room floor each night. The problem is every time i shut the door he screams and cries, i think my neighbor's must think I'm torturing him! Each time after he's been outside on a night and i put him back he starts again. Is this normal or am i doing something wrong?

 

[JoanneF]

Please don't leave him to cry in the crate. Crying means he is distressed, and that means the crate is not the happy place you need it to be. Leaving a dog to cry is actually old fashioned advice and the dogs that stop do so because they have given up hope you are going to help them, not because they suddenly realise everything is ok.

It is an extreme example but in trauma victims it is the silent ones who are most damaged.

This is the best guide to crate training I have ever seen. It was written by Emma Judson who is a behaviourist who specialises in separation anxiety. Have a read and please come back with any questions you have.

Crate-Training.docx
Microsoft Word Document
1drv.ms

 

[JudyN]

Crates aren't essential - they can be useful, and they can help with toilet training - but you say he's doing well with toilet training anyway, which at 9 weeks is brilliant. So follow the advice JoanneF has given, but don't worry about it if it takes a while, or even never happens. My dog never took to his crate but I've never felt the need for one.

 

[Katyhicks]

Thats brilliant thanks, i will start with that today. The one question I have is until he will sleep in his crate happily is it ok for him to sleep with me or will this make training him harder? Thanks both for answering

 

[JoanneF]

It's fine for him to sleep with you, having you close to reassure him will help him feel secure and build his confidence. At this stage, it's fine to virtually wear your puppy (everybody wins).

 

[Katyhicks]

Thats lucky, as he is on me pretty much all the time i was just concerned that I would make him clingy or make him anxious to be alone.

 

[JoanneF]

Thats lucky, as he is on me pretty much all the time i was just concerned that I would make him clingy or make him anxious to be alone.

No, it won't make him clingy - knowing you have control will reassure him and let him see there is nothing to fear, and that will build his confidence so he will naturally become braver.

 

[JudyN]

You might be interested in how secure attachments are formed in human babies through being held and having their needs met - I think the same logic applies to puppies: Secure Attachment and the "Fourth Trimester" - Carrying Matters

 

[Finsky]

Thats lucky, as he is on me pretty much all the time i was just concerned that I would make him clingy or make him anxious to be alone.

I have always slept with my dogs. But it has always been dogs decision if they want it or not, and they've been free to sleep else where too.
Some of mine have turned out to be liking being in closer contact than others, sleeping all night next to one of us and some have come and gone or have been bed swapping through out the night. But it has never made them clingy and any possible separation issues are caused different reasons.
When I did occasional dog sitting for 'holiday dogs'...even they were invited to get next to me. Some had never slept with their owners and they were delighted! So much so that when we once came across during the dog walk, she must have been forced to ask me after witnessing her dog's warm and wet greeting with me...'does it always hug you...it has never hugged us!?' I let her into the secret...when ever her dog came to stay, I would make its bed next to me on the floor (I would sleep on the settee) and during night I when ever I could hear it moving on its bed and woken by it...I would reach out to touch it and say few quiet soft words. I don't that dog very often anymore, but even after few years last time having him over...when ever they pass by our house, I can hear the owner calling the dog away as it wants to come here and it sits waiting behind our gate. I don't think they ever forget happy places...

 

[Rinkydinkydo]

All mine have slept at the side of me in a puppy pen. Easy for a reassuring hand to settle them down. Besides it a great way of making that unbreakable bond between you and your pup.

 

[lurcherman]

Only my view, out of six dogs I’ve only had one problem and that was a gsd x that I was training, all mine was kept downstairs as dogs really should be, dogs should be treated as dogs firstly then pets 2nd, unless there in your handbag, my two in my avatar was a total pleasure and was happy downstairs, it was only when they got older I let them up , but hey I’m old school and handled them accordingly.

 

[Tinytom]

It is so different when you have a single dog ..when we have had a puppy or fostered we have always had multiple dogs to keep them company..my sister adopted a 12 week old saluki X girl who was terrified of the crate so they setup a bed beside theirs and that's where she has stayed for the past 6 months...she doesn't try and get on their bed either ....

 

[Katyhicks]

Ive been sleeping with him downstairs, my bedroom is in the attic so i don't think he would make it outside to the toilet in time. He may end up in our room at some point when he can hold his pee a little longer. Not that my husband is very happy with the idea.