From Pride to Annoyance

[POPTOP]

How about crate training? It would be important for more than just sleeping at night (and you getting a good night's sleep). If/when he has to go to the vet and maybe stay for a few hours or a day, you want him to be comfortable with being in an enclosed situation. I strong advise it. And if, heaven forbid, he gets loose and is picked up or there is some type of catastrophe in your area where he would need to be crater, there would be much less stress for him.

[Yolie]

How about crate training? It would be important for more than just sleeping at night (and you getting a good night's sleep). If/when he has to go to the vet and maybe stay for a few hours or a day, you want him to be comfortable with being in an enclosed situation. I strong advise it. And if, heaven forbid, he gets loose and is picked up or there is some type of catastrophe in your area where he would need to be crater, there would be much less stress for him.

I use to keep his food dish in his crate so that he would get use to going inside of it. But now, whenever I close the crate door, he flips out! I was trying to put him in his crate while I bathe my son because he tries to jump in the tub. But like I said, he flips out, barks and chews up the crate pad...and he was only in there for maybe 20 minutes at a time. So I stopped...
He didn't seem to get use to being in there...We're starting one on one training sessions next week so I'll make sure to bring up crate training with our new trainer.

[greagre]

So cute!!

[POPTOP]

I use to keep his food dish in his crate so that he would get use to going inside of it. But now, whenever I close the crate door, he flips out! I was trying to put him in his crate while I bathe my son because he tries to jump in the tub. But like I said, he flips out, barks and chews up the crate pad...and he was only in there for maybe 20 minutes at a time. So I stopped...
He didn't seem to get use to being in there...We're starting one on one training sessions next week so I'll make sure to bring up crate training with our new trainer.

Please do. He does not need a pad or blanket in his crate for safety reasons. When you crate, be sure to use zip ties, two per side, top and bottom, to keep it more secure. He's pushing your buttons with the "flipping out". He can learn.

[ZoeysMommy]

Yep sleep time is no time for fun no matter how cute it is

[TuMicks]

I endorse what PopTop said. Your dog needs to be crate competent in order to be a safe and trustworthy dog. Riding in the car, for instance. Staying over at the vet if necessary... things like that.

I'm sure you could do a thread search on crate or crate-training and go cross-eyed. Flat out, it's the best thing for your dog.

BUT... about sleeping. There may be another way until your pup is more comfortable with the crate. The thing is, you want the dog to sleep in his/her space, not yours. So, make a cushy sleeping place by your bed, then leash pup to the leg of the bed near your head. It contains him and keeps him off your bed while at the same time avoiding the panic for now.

Of course, pupster will complain. You might have a fairly sleepless first night. You might have to teach "HUSH" and "OFF" and other things like that. You might consider making sure pup is really exhausted at bedtime. But... either you own the dog, or the dog owns you.

[CraftHer]

I remember when Mocha was too little to jump off the couch. Then one day he did and it was so cute! Then he could jump on, then off on off on off! We used this opportunity to teach him "off" and to "ask" (put his chin on the couch and look sweet) before jumping up.

[Yolie]

Thanks everyone. Onyx is my first pup and I have so much to learn. I'll be sure to read up on crate training and re-introduce him tonight!

[AlexS]

Thanks everyone. Onyx is my first pup and I have so much to learn. I'll be sure to read up on crate training and re-introduce him tonight!

Look up crate games to play with him. Then try and do some of those this evening before bed so he has a chance to get used to it some as well. See if you can tire him out playing before bed. If you put the crate in your bedroom he wont feel so alone. The first night or two might be rough but you cant give in. Good Luck.

[TuMicks]

Good point, Alex... when my kids were very little they would cry at dinner because they were hungry (and cranky) but didn't like what was on the menu. My mother told me no child has ever starved to death looking at food a plate full of good food. It made dealing with the whining and sniveling easier. She was also of the opinion that no child ever died from crying after being put in a crib for a nap. She was right about that too. Puppies are canine babies. They don't die from good puppy care practices.