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  1. #1
    Puppy
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    Nighttime Crate Issues

    Hey all. First post, and I've been around a little bit. I need a little help with our new 14 week pup, Gracie. We've been crate-training her, and she seems to enjoy her crate-she readily goes into it during the day (for play, for naps, etc.) , but night is a STRUGGLE.

    For the last 4 nights, when we go to bed at her scheduled bedtime, after her last time going potty, I'll bring her back, and she will refuse to enter the crate. She'll put her front paws in, but that's it. I can use treats, but she won't budge. Last night, it took almost an hour and a half to enter her crate. When she did, I praised her, and she was fine.

    At 3 am, I woke to take her out to potty, and we had a repeat. She wants to run, she won't enter the crate, and won't accept treats as a "trick" to get her to go in the crate. It was 45 minutes before she went into her crate that time.

    My question is, do I just put her in? I don't want to traumatize her to the crate. Also, I tried it once, and she ran out before I could close the door. More importantly, just getting her in is not going to fix the root of the problem. Why does she seem to love her crate during the day and hate it at night? I feel like I've done a good job with her crate training in the 3 weeks that I've had her, but this has me stumped. Any and all help would be appreciated. Thanks!

    Jimmy

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    I would just pick up puppy and put her in the crate without any fuss. Sometimes it also helps to find a super high-value treat that you only give at crate time.

    It sounds like you have done everything right if your puppy willingly goes in to the crate on her own. Continue feeding in the crate and tossing high value treats and favorite toys at random times throughout the day. Sometimes a puppy is just not ready/willing to go to bed and it may take a little effort to convince them it is bedtime.
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    kimbersmom (08-22-2015)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    I would just pick up puppy and put her in the crate without any fuss. Sometimes it also helps to find a super high-value treat that you only give at crate time.

    It sounds like you have done everything right if your puppy willingly goes in to the crate on her own. Continue feeding in the crate and tossing high value treats and favorite toys at random times throughout the day. Sometimes a puppy is just not ready/willing to go to bed and it may take a little effort to convince them it is bedtime.
    Hidden Content

    Tammy
    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

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    Annette47 (08-22-2015)

  6. #4
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    I'm with Maxx&Emma, since she goes in readily during the day and you have no problem then, at night I'd just put her in, close the door and that's it. If she sticks her front feet in, I'd shove her the rest of the way in and close the door. Just be matter of fact, not mean, just no babying or making her think it's her choice whether to go into the crate or not. It's time for bed, go in your room. I often give a small treat when I put them into the crate, through the bars of the door, if necessary, to keep her from running out. Since she likes it during the day, it's not as if she's afraid of it or unaccustomed to it, she just would prefer to stay out.

    If you try to keep bedtime about the same time every night, at some point she may learn when it's bed time, and some pups will retire to their crates or beds without prompting. Just like they know when it's time to eat if you have them on a schedule, they'll learn when it's time to go to sleep as well.
    Sue

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    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

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  7. #5
    House Broken Mom4four's Avatar
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    We feed Quincy in his crate and this has really helped with him being comfortable going in. When we first brought him home I wasnt really sure about doing it but I am really glad I decided to! At almost 6 months old I can get a treat and say Kennel and he will go in and wait for his treat. And of course as soon as he sees his food bowl he is in there sitting, waiting. We also give him his kong in his crate with a bit of peanut butter and he is more than happy to go in! Yes, typical lab he is VERY food driven!! lol

  8. #6
    Senior Dog zd262's Avatar
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    My dog has never loved his crate. I use treats to lure him in, say "go in your crate" and then throw 1 or 2 in with him.

  9. #7
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    if you've already done lots of crate desensitization and the pup is fine in the crate all day, then I would:
    - up the valu of the treats used at bedtime/middle of the night. use something super yummy. a new treat, stinky, something really fun.
    - throw it in, if the dog doesn't go gently put them in and close the door.

    Is this the same crate as during the daytime?

  10. #8
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    Why not consider an xpen during the day and use the crate only at night? I don't give the pups an option. Fortunately for me, Wrigs will jump right in her crate. Tickle needs a shove.

  11. #9
    Puppy lisa907's Avatar
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    I have 2 crates for Jackson -- one in the main living area for when I can't keep an eye on him or don't need him underfoot and one upstairs in the bedroom for night. He never made a fuss in his crate at night, but after about a month he started resisting going up to bed -- he wanted to stay up. I leashed him and he promptly set the brakes. I just sat on the stairs keeping a light tension on the leash until he realized I wasn't going to give in or negotiate. Since then he might hesitate for a second, but he will follow me up and walk right in his crate.
    Jake aka Puddy (DSH) born ~07/04/07 gotcha 11/10/07
    Fenian Murphy's Law (GSD), Murphy, born 09/12/10 gotcha 11/11/10
    Dornschatten Mr. Magik Read My Mind (Lab), Jackson, born 03/07/15 gotcha 04/24/15

 



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