Will this behaviour calm down eventually? 11 week old pup.

[MultipleMum5]

Hi everyone.

So our 11 week old pup is settling in a treat. She is now sleeping 8 hours at night in her crate, barely any toilet accidents in the house (usually my fault for not keeping a hawk eye on her), is learning some tricks and starting puppy classes on Monday. I’m so smitten with her

Just want a bit of advice really (she’s my first pup)- when she goes in her crate at night, she barks/whines for a few minutes then settles to sleep and stays settled all night.

She is crated for 30 minutes each morning when I do the school run. I make sure she’s fed and watered, played with and tired out before she goes in there. However she barks and cries for about 10 minutes, then settles to sleep ( I have a camera so can check on her while out).

I feel awful knowing she’s distressed for this short time- will this settle down eventually though? I give her a kong in the crate with a high value treat when I go.

She also barks (but not constantly) whenever I leave the room to go to the toilet and is very attached to me.

[Delatron]

She’s well cared for and you are not leaving her too long so she will settle down.

I agree that separation anxiety will be far worse if you never leave their side! Then suddenly do. They need to learn to be happy with their own company. They will learn that you return. You just build up slowly.

Some people don’t want to sleep with puppies in their beds so that advice isn’t great. It’s not safe for them and doesn’t help with toilet training.

[Boatsnack3]

I was the same it was really stressful at first but it didn't take long for him to get used to our routine.

[MultipleMum5]

Thankyou to the recent posters for the reassurance (how do you tag people?). I just hate hearing her unhappy, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

[Boatsnack3]

He's gorgeous.

My boy was the same at first, he's now 16 weeks and goes in his crate no problem while I do the school run.

We put him in his crate when he sleeps during the day too. Lots of treats, lots of praise, he'll get there.

[Topseyt]

I think it sounds as though things are settling down nicely, and the rest should come in time.

Very cute puppy, by the way.😃 I hadn't heard of the breed before now either and would have guessed at some sort of a husky mix if you hadn't explained.

With regard to the trying to follow you to the toilet etc., my elderly labrador still sometimes does this. He used to do it a lot, and I would come out of the toilet to find him firmly parked inches from the other side of the door. Now that he is 14 (so old and creaky, I'm afraid) he only does it if he can be arsed to haul himself off his bed. He doesn't bark or whine though. Labs often aren't as big on that sort of thing as some other breeds (not saying that none of them ever do it though).

[Bamchic]

No help, but I can’t even walk three paces without my pup, so I am here in solidarity and to steal any tips

[MultipleMum5]

Thankyou atrainseat.

I agree with you. They need to get used to short bursts, this was also the advice of my breeder.

For consistency we left her for a very short period this morning, she barked for a few minutes and then slept. Left her a lickimat and put the cover over which I think definitely makes her feel more safe and secure. It’s when I’ve not put the blanket over that she seems to cry for a bit longer.

[ATrainSeat]

Our pup used to cry when left even to have a shower but we gave him a carrot or whatever and built up the time. He’s totally fine now. I personally think separation anxiety is more likely if they’re never left, as they don’t get used to it.

We also found that our preferred being in a pen in the kitchen rather than a crate if left alone for time during the day. He had a few toys and a bed in there and seemed to prefer it.

[MultipleMum5]

She isn’t having problems sleeping single. She sleeps 8 hours separate from me quite happily.

I was asking if the barking/crying that happens when I leave to do the school run will soon settle.

[Singlenotsingle]

Until I joined MN I'd never heard of putting a dog in a crate! Various friends have had dogs and I've got one ATM. She sleeps on the bed. And your dog is still a child, so of course she has problems sleeping, cries and wants to be with you all the time.

[FurrySlipperBoots]

Crated not carted!

[FurrySlipperBoots]

Does she have a good game to exhaust her, followed by a wind down period s she isn't over stimulated before she's carted for the school run? If not that'll help.

[Wolfiefan]

They can only have VERY short walks at that age. It is part of the problem. Walking is less about exercise and more about socialisation and gaining experience/confidence.

[MsMustDoBetter]

Ok, can you okay enough to tire her out first thing? Obviously don't treat her like an army cadet, but enough for her to need a rest while you do the school run.

[Wolfiefan]

You can’t do a big walk with a young pup.

[MsMustDoBetter]

Our puppy needs to get used to be left frequently, but not for long. We have decided to start as we mean to go on.

We don't restrict to a crate during the day - she has safe space within the kitchen with lots of chews/hidden treats/toys.

I've heard a lot of people say that exercise solves a lot of problems. Can you give your pup a big walk first thing?

[MultipleMum5]

Yes I think you might be right Delatron.

I have popped her in there for sleepy time today so she gets used to relaxing in there during the day.

I’ve also bought her a lickimat which she LOVES, so will give that a test run tomorrow too.

[Delatron]

I’m currently crate training a 10 week old puppy.

I agree you need to be able to leave the
puppy whilst you’re out for short periods.

The crate needs to be a happy/safe place.
Do you feed him in there?
We built up leaving ours 1 min/ 5 mins etc.
We got to an hour today. Sorry if I’m stating the obvious but you may need to take a few steps back and do a bit more crate training.

We left ours with a frozen Kong today with food in and it worked a great.

[lorisparkle]

When we had our puppy we were recommended the 'dog training advise and support' group on Facebook by a lovely mumsnetter. Best thing we did. It has files on crate training, separation anxiety, etc etc and experts will answer specific questions as well. Gorgeous puppy by the way!

[ApolloandDaphne]

My dog preferred her crate covered all the time. We bought lovely crate covers after a while but an old blanket worked fine in the early days. It seemed to make her feel more secure.

[MultipleMum5]

Thanks Vet

[Veterinari]

Yes keep the blanket over. She’s also more tired at night so that helps

[MultipleMum5]

Diddley we chose a Eurasier as they were bred to be companion dogs, their temperament is meant to be ‘calm and even tempered’.

I would say she is definitely that- but also shows a stubborn streak which is typical of the spitz breed

[MultipleMum5]

Ok Thankyou. It’s just strange that she’s so settled on a night, with door closed and blanket over, but barks and cried more during the day? During the day I don’t put the blanket over- maybe I should.

[Veterinari]

You really need to make the crate a positive safe place that she chooses to be. If she already has negative associations with it then that may be an uphill battle. Perhaps try a different style of crate eg fabric and start with positive associations and by never locking her in
This fact sheet is helpful
www.apbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Advice_Sheet_4_-_Using_an_indoor_kennel.pdf