how to beat anxiety without drugs
My 9 week old puppy HATES his crate… HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!?
My puppy HATES his crate!!!! I’ve tried EVERYTHING!!! the clock in the blanket, covering it, his favorite toys.. leave the radio on… I don’t know what else to do. I put him in a night when I go to bed and he just whines/yelps/barks ALL night. I know people say to praise him when he is quiet in the crate but he never is. And I know people say not to go to him if he is yelping and such because then it just encourages him to yelp until someone comes. I really don’t know how to get him to like it. Its been over two weeks now and Ive been trying everything! I feed him in there, I put him in there when he falls asleep and close the door, I play with him until he passes out and nothing works! PLEASE HELP ME!!!!
( I think he might have separation anxiety so if anyone knows how I can crate train him having that (without using drugs) I would really like your thoughts!)
And I do not want to be beating/hitting him as a method to stop him from barking!
Thanks!
dog trainer 30 plus years -
Okay love…first off this is not the opinion of every dog trainer and it is not gospel…it is what has worked for me all these years. I hear what you are saying because last night my new client decided to have me keep her pup for a while in the evenings as well as doing training during the day because of sleep deprivation. I told her what I do…but at this point she is just too tired to try it herself.
First, I only do the crate at night when it is time for bed. This crate I only make big enough so that the pup can move around and stretch out and be comfortable. I start the night with some wild playtime fun… whatever works best for your pup (I usually walk). Make this interaction time at least an hour – 1 1/2 hours. Next see if your love needs a drink or want a bite to eat (not too much, just enough to not make them famished in the morning). Snuggle about 10 min./take your pup for a last potty run/ then snuggle – watch tv with them on your lap…whatever for another 20 min. Make a ritual – you don’t have to follow this by the book. The ritual is what you need.
When a pup is so small/young I do not make them be separated… they are babies. I set the crate on my nightstand and turn on my noise maker. It sounds off for about 30 sec. before I pick the pup up for “night time” – which I use when I snuggle them up, kiss them and put them in. Until they are settled I leave the tip of my fingers in. Also when they wake in the middle of the night when they wake up afraid. (I have a fleece bed inside so it is soft/warm-but there is no way they can accidentally suffocate). Use the “shhhhhh” sound when calming them. Make it easy/soft/soothing. You will find this will help potty train them faster because they will cry and become restless when they have to go. Since it is dark out…when we get back inside (last night was 12am/3:30am/7am/10am) I snuggle while bringing them inside – held in submissive baby style…it also helps them to stay calmer. I put them directly inside the crate…fingers in…shhhhh, each time the settle time becomes less and less. Just last night at midnight it too about 10 min. and went down to about 2 min. They just need to know you are there and they are okay – security. With time I eventually move the crate to the floor so they are not eye to eye with me…then creep it further away each night so they relate the crate as time to rest quietly.
While I use a larger cage when I am gone for something during the day…it’s large enough for me to sit in. You don’t have to go that large, but it’s big enough they can get up and really stretch move and get comfortable on the other side. I put their bed, chew bone & leave easy listening music on so that no strange voices scare them like sometimes they will if the radio is on. (not all will react that way)
I want to commend you on not beating or hitting your pup…it’s a dumb idea and only brings on confusion/fear/and at times aggression. I hope this works for you love…you have really been trying so hard and I am sure you are over tired because of that. If it doesn’t work write again and I will get together with some other trainer friends of mine and see if they have any other suggestions. Peace to you.
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