My new pup does not like his cage! HELP!!!!!?

Question

I just got a puppy today. and i love him but as soon as i put him in his cage he cried as if he really didn't like it. even if i was right there.now it is not a normal dog cage, it is a traveling one, so he might not like how there is barley any holes and is very dark, but we are going to go camping and my sister says he will need a cage for the nights. I will try to keep him in the hamper and see if that works but if it doesn't do you think i could possibly let him sleep in my bed but not cuddled with me, just down by my feet.

Answer 1

Okay, first thing: remember that a dog is a den animal, so he will adjust to and probably even fall in LOVE with his crate; and as a puppy he needs to learn crate training to be well-adjusted and to help (majorly) with potty training.  So you are doing the right thing for your dog, and remember that when he cries!  Yes, it's hard, but you're not hurting him and crating is NOT cruel.  My dog is 8 months old now and he absolutely loves his crate - it is his place and his bed and his toys, blah blah blah.  

But, ohhhh, when we first brought that puppy home?  He cried every time we put him in.  He didn't want to go in.  He didn't want to stay in.  He hated it, with a whining, crying passion.

For about 10 minutes.  Maybe 15.  Then he forgot he was supposed to hate it and played with his toys or fell asleep.

Put the puppy in and ignore him.  He'll whine and whine, and those first 10 minutes feel like an absolute eternity, and the entire time you're wondering if you're a bad puppy parent, and then suddenly it stops.  And the next time he goes in his crate, he'll whine less.  The next time after that, even less. Eventually there will be no whining at all, and in a few weeks you'll probably notice him hanging out or napping in there all on his own.  

If he's young, only crate him for an hour or so at a time, and then slowly increase the time as he gets older.  Smaller dogs have smaller bladders though, and may need to be in for less time than a larger dog of the same age.  You can crate for 8 hours at night, because they are sleeping most of the time, but don't put water in the crate at night (DO put water in during the day if the dog is to be in there for 4 hours or more), and when he starts rustling in there in the middle of the night you need to get up and take him out to go potty.  Then put him back in the crate and go back to sleep.

Good luck!  Soon he'll love that crate, just keep with it.

Answer 2

Suck it up put him in it and he will get use to it. Do it a litte at first with the door open and you outside let him explore it and play with him and treat him there. increase the time each time and before you know it he will be ok with it. You have to do it for his own good.

Answer 3

you aren't ment to leave dogs in cages for a long time and there is no such thing as a "cage dog".

Answer 4

You just got him today.  It'll take him some time to adjust, both to his new surroundings and his crate.  Just keep trying it, he'll calm down.  Most puppies cry when they are first crated.  

Answer 5

If it is the right size crate he will get use to it.The pup must be able to stand up and turn around with ease.Make it fun,feed your pup in his crate but do not lock it-then after he has gone out side and gone potty,place him back in his crate for short periods of time make sure there is a chew in there with the pup like a nylabone.NEVER put your dog in a hamper it is not the same thing at all.As the pup grows so does the crate size.Tilks Mom

Answer 6

How would you like to be shoved in a small, dark cage with no holes?

Gosh.

Don't stick him in there.It's not nice.

I don't see what's wrong with letting him sleep in your bed.My little dogs have slept with me since they were babies.

Just be sure to not feed your dog water after 6 PM and make sure to take the dog potty right before you go to bed.

I don't give a s--t if you give me a thumbs down..I have happy well adjusted dogs that were not cage trained.If you believe that dogs belong in cages then you are messed up and it just indicates how lazy you are.

point blank.

Answer 7

the puppy is new and young.... he needs a mother or a sister to play with.... but when you are going camping, he needs a cage.... buy him a toy to play on so he'll get busy.... it's ok to let him sleep in your bed but there's a posibility that he might pee or poo.... so, buy him a little bed of his own.... like in the movie LADY AND THE TRAMP....

hope that helps....

Answer 8

hey' dude animals not love any type of cages because  they want to move freely if u will lock them they will became sad so its better to keep them out of the cage. :-[]

Answer 9

  If you can't take the 10 15 minutes of the pup acting like it's dying there is a trick I've used for a few pups so far.  Get a thick comforter, fold it up, toss it on the floor next to the crate.  Get a pillow & blanket, you will be sleeping next to the crate for about a week.

  After a week the pup will be used to going in, and seeing the comforter hit the floor.  This is when you leave the comforter, and sleep in your bed, the pup is none the wiser.

  The pup will get used to, and will really like the crate.  I have a couple of terriers, 16 months old, and 4 months old, who are sleeping in their crates with the doors open to either side of me.  They went in on their own accord, though they decided to switch crates for now.  Sometimes they squeeze into the same crate;  http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4342/...

Answer 10

Almost all puppy's don't like their crates the first time they go in them.

there is a process you can do that will help ease the puppy into thinking the crate is a comforting place. Some people believe that a crate is the same thing as a den to a dog but this is incorrect. There are many differences between a crate and a den the biggest being they share there den with their pack. But with time most dogs find their crate to be a comforting place to "hang out" and sleep in.

Take a look at these few websites on crate training they will help the puppy get use to the crate as well as teach you about proper crate training and what to do to get the best results.

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pag...

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content...

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content...

Answer 11

It is normal for your new puppy to cry, but he'll feel more safe and secure in his cage as he gets used to it.  It needs to be big enough for him to turn around in, but not too big because it needs to feel like a den.  I think you should just work with him.  Practice during the day with putting him in the crate.  Try putting him in it while you're doing every day activities like cooking dinner and such.  He'll get used to it eventually and he will find it much more comforting than a huge bed.

Answer 12

The crate should be a pleasant place for your puppy.  It is not a den (dens don't close up so you can't leave, and when adults dogs don't go into dens.)  It also shouldn't be the "safe place" for your dog, since that implies the rest of the house is less safe.  Instead, it should just be a pleasant place for your dog to rest and relax, often to have it's bed.  

If you're going to put a dog in a cage for longer than 3 hours, make sure it's a wire one since closed ones like you're talking about have been shown to cause developmental and eye problems.  

My suggestion would be to let him sleep in your bed, cuddled with you or on your feet but by YOUR invitation (ie, you get in bed then call him in and help him in, then when you get up you get him off your bed first and then follow.  If he only gets in your bed when you say and gets off when you say there's no problem with him sleeping with you.  In fact, it's much easier to feel when they wake up so you can take them out if they're close to you like that.)  If you need to restrict his movement, use a tie-down.  As long as you're right next to him.

With the crate, try putting very desired toys or treats in there and closing the door to make him annoyed that he can't get in there.  Then open the door and make sure the treats are tied to the inside of the crate so he can't pull them out.  This will encourage him to stay in the crate and also make the experience of hanging in there more pleasant.  

When camping, I'd use a leash or tiedown and keep him close.  My dogs always wore a leash that they dragged behind them when camping, even while in the tent.  It's just important to be able to grab them at a moment's notice and it works very well.  The crate can be used, but again I'd prefer to have my dog sleeping by me.  

When you DO put your dog in the crate, do not open the crate (or look at or talk to) while the dog is crying.  Wait until they're quiet for 5 minutes before opening it.  It's hard at first, but with time they learn you will not open the crate without them being quiet.  And it saves you so many issues later.

I hope this helps.