Puppy Crate Training? Showering & Dressing??

[BreatheAndFocus]

Hi,

I’ve been searching through old threads here and a number of people have mentioned online Crate Training and given a link. However, I can’t find a link that works, presumably because they’re old threads.

Does anyone have a link to crate training for puppies? I think some of the ‘not working’ links were to Facebook but I’m not on Facebook, if that’s relevant.

I’ve got a new 8 wk puppy. He’s fine in his crate if I’m in the room. However he’s crying hysterically if I leave. I’ve been trying to leave him for brief periods, not return till he’s quiet, etc, but I’d really like a Plan to follow.

My main problem is I’m a single Mum so need to shower and dress without puppy. Do people take their puppy in the bathroom?? How do you manage? I desperately want a few minutes to feel human but I don’t want to mess things up with puppy.

Any advice, please?

(This isn’t my first puppy, but I don’t remember screaming issues like this with my previous one many years ago).

www.peta.org/about-peta/why-peta/crating-dogs/

thepetshow.com/the-case-against-crate-training/

We're taking our puppy everywhere at the moment. We've had her two weeks and the crying is getting a lot better (she cried at first if you didn't pay her attention, she couldn't see you in the same room etc but that has stopped now).

We're crate training, and are feeding meals in the crate and spending time actively training by giving treats in the crate while still in the room but out of view / further away from the crate.

Everything I have read has said to take it slow, and leaving them alone to cry can make it worse. We're also practising 'flitting' between rooms and letting her follow but ignoring, which is teaching her being alone is sometimes more interesting than following.

The following link is pretty much what we're doing, and there's loads of YouTube videos
www.paws.org/resources/how-to-crate-train-your-dog/

Can you give him something fun to eat whilst you pop him in the crate to shower? Mine gets a yummy Kong full of food to attack when I lock her in to pop in the shower etc? (She's not a puppy, just a very destructive rescue)

LadyFelicia, I appreciate you taking the time to reply and posting links. But my puppy is crated not to housetrain him but to keep him safe. I take him out every 20-30 mins during the day and that is how I housetrain him. I appreciate we didn’t used to use crates but life was different then and I think that’s important to consider. If I had a house that was perfectly organised and puppy friendly then I might not use a crate. It will be used for the minimum time necessary - unless puppy wants to keep using it, which some adult dogs do by choice.

Thank you so much for that link @SuperrHann 😊 I’m hoping puppy will become more secure like yours has. Good to read that 😊

@Lurchermom Thank you for the idea 😊 Adding a Kong to my list. I’ve only had puppy a few days so am still buying things . I do give him a treat when he goes in the crate, as advised by his breeder, but he gobbles that in seconds 😀

[quote BreatheAndFocus]@Lurchermom Thank you for the idea 😊 Adding a Kong to my list. I’ve only had puppy a few days so am still buying things . I do give him a treat when he goes in the crate, as advised by his breeder, but he gobbles that in seconds 😀[/quote]
Kings are really great. You can get specific dog peanut butter which they love and keeps them busy for a while if you smear it inside the Kong. Alternatively soft meat and some kibble squished inside. As he gets older you can freeze it and it takes them ages to eat.

With the crate training in general, have you got it covered? They really like it being a den - so blankets over the top and lots of nice blankets and cushions inside. I then spent quite a bit of time sat in the crate with the dog, with the door open, feeding treats. Then with the door pulled shut, then with me outside etc. It can take a while but we'll worth the effort! Obviously depends on the size of the crate if you can sit in it haha, but if not just lots of treats with puppy inside but door open, then with door shut and feeding through the bars etc. Good luck!

My pup is 1 now and I still shower at night (once he's asleep) so in the morning I just have to wash my face and pull my clothes on and go downstairs. I do this because when he was tiny, as he'd been in the crate all night, I didn't want to put him back in the crate to go up and shower. I then do my teeth and makeup downstairs after breakfast while he mills around. (We did crate train him but he sleeps upstairs with us now and I haven't had to leave him alone since lockdown so haven't used the crate since March).

Take it really slow.

I also posted on here in February with a 9 week old pup and saying she just couldn’t be left while I had a shower or went for a pee.

It was like that till she was about 3 months. She’s six months now and will still sometimes pop her head round the door while I’m having a shower. But basically she just bobbles about fairly happily.

They also need much much more sleep than they think they do. So teaching the puppy to settle is really important and the crate is grea5 for that...I understand...we never cracked crate training in the day!

Thanks for those really helpful Kong contents tips, Lurchermom. Really appreciated. I think I could probably get in the crate but it might be a bit claustrophobic 😀 I’m trying to do things slowly and always give puppy a treat when I put him in. He did drop off to sleep in there yesterday afternoon so I was really pleased about that. He’s got his blanket in there and some toys and it does have a cover.

MrsEricBana, I’m going to try putting my make up on downstairs as you suggested 😊 Obvious really but I’m just a bit head-spinny with how full-on puppy is. I can’t remember my previous puppy crying like this, so I was a bit unprepared. I’d assumed I could pop upstairs for a few minutes. Of course, he’s still young so I understand he’s a baby.

I’ve managed to wash my hair today by taking puppy in the bathroom with me, so don’t feel quite so awful.

I also posted on here in February with a 9 week old pup and saying she just couldn’t be left while I had a shower or went for a pee. It was like that till she was about 3 months. She’s six months now and will still sometimes pop her head round the door while I’m having a shower. But basically she just bobbles about fairly happily

Thank you so much for that. You have no idea how much that cheered me up to read. I was feeling quite useless yesterday and that light at the end of the tunnel gave me a big boost. Thank you 😊

@BreatheAndFocus

Thanks for those really helpful Kong contents tips, Lurchermom. Really appreciated. I think I could probably get in the crate but it might be a bit claustrophobic 😀 I’m trying to do things slowly and always give puppy a treat when I put him in. He did drop off to sleep in there yesterday afternoon so I was really pleased about that. He’s got his blanket in there and some toys and it does have a cover.

If he's falling asleep in there, that's absolutely great progress! Just stick with it! Sounds like he's got a lovely little nest, well done. It makes a big difference to them I think. And every puppy/dog is totally different so even if your last didn't cry etc it will just be that this one is a bit more needy/attached in some way. Not that you've done something wrong or missed anything out.

honestly it's a phase. She is so very little, work on creating a confident little dog who knows where she can have a rest and a sleep and the crying when you leave the room will stop and she'll be a happy wee thing.

Ours loves a toilet roll with a treat in it and the ends folded down or an empty egg box with a bit of bacon fat in - that'll keep her occupied for a bit while you do something else. Kongs are very good too. Also ours loves an empty cottage cheese tub or yoghurt tub to lick out. Just keep an eye on them getting their snout stuck. Empty plastic water bottle and lots of chews appropriate for puppies.

Lambs tails went down well as did frozen raw chicken wings. Another really good thing was taking the meat juices out when I'd roast a bit of meat (adding salt to ours after) and freezing it with a bit of water in a container she could get her tongue in. That kept her quiet for ages.

Great ideas, Dangercake 😊 Thank you!