Whether you have a new puppy in your home or you have an older dog that you are trying to train to use a crate, you will have to deal with a certain amount of dog crate training whining. This can be very annoying for you, however, you should keep in mind that some whining is normal and you can speed up the process by helping your pet to adjust.
Inside the Crate
When you put your pet into a crate, he may dig and scratch in an attempt to get out. He may bite at it or he may just whine, bark and howl. Why does he go crazy?
First, you must understand that though rumors indicate that some dogs like the crate because all dogs have a natural desire to be in a den, though this is not always true for all dogs. The truth is some dogs are afraid of being confined inside their crate. They can get frustrated by it.
The first thing you should do is introduce him to the crate gradually, while you are near home before leaving him for hours on end. Weekends work the best if you have a job that takes you away from home for several hours. You should try to make it a friendly place for him meaning try not to force him into it and try to make sure it is not noisy when he is near it. Do what you can to eliminate noises from the crate such as cardboard under it or a cushion around the door so it does not clang when you close it. Add in a few toys inside the crate also. This will give him a distraction while he is inside.
For an older dog you should allow him near the crate, but do not force him inside of it. Let him grow curious about it and wander into it. Let him sniff it and check things out. With a puppy you may have to encourage him to check it out and may even need to place him inside of it.
When he does go inside, leave him for a short time and let him out only when he is quiet. Make getting out a reward for good behavior and gradually leave him inside for longer periods of time.
Make Your Pet Comfortable
If you want to successfully help a dog overcome the dog crate training whining stage, there are a few tips such as make sure he is comfortable before you put him into the crate. Has he been fed and has he been taken outside to relieve himself? They should be fed about an hour and a half before you crate them and then taken outside immediately before being put inside the crate. You may also want to make sure you have given him the chance to exercise before you crate him. Dogs and puppies that are full of energy are not going to relax just because you put them inside the crate. This is especially true in the crate training stage. You may want to wear them out to allow them to rest inside the crate to cut down on the noise.
Dog Crate Training Whining Rules
* Do not talk to him when he is making noise or remove him from the crate for going insane. If he figures out that he will get attention from you by acting in a certain way to get it then it will continue to be an issue for a much longer time. This behavior could also interfere with other areas of his life and you may find that he makes noise when he wants food, playtime or just attention from you.
* His treats are for inside the crate only. If he is too upset to eat it while in the crate, do not let him have it outside of the crate. If he learns that the treat can only be his to enjoy while inside then he will be more likely to settle down and enjoy it while there.
* If all else fails and nothing has worked you should learn voice commands such as “No” or “Quiet” and teach them to your dog so that they know that it is punishment when they are doing bad. You will have to determine how firm you need to be with them. Sometimes it may take more than your voice. You can use other noise distractions or a spray bottle. Do not hit your dog for being bad.
Crate training is sometimes a very difficult processes, but you may find it is a great thing once the dog crate training whining stage is a thing of the past.
