My parents have just got a cocker spaniel puppy - last weekend - and they are thrilled with her apart from the fact that she cries every time she is put into her "cage". She is only in there if they are hoovering or at night and she hates it. Apparantly she cries, or as my mum says "wails like a banshee" ALL night. I'm going up there this weekend to see the puppy and I'd love to be able to offer some advice to my parents about how to help the pup settle better in her "cage".

Please HELP!!!!!

Thanks,

Fiona

It sounds as if they are only putting her in there when something unpleasant (to her) is happening.

Would suggest that she is fed in there - with the door open - and all her bedding is there so that is where she can go to sleep during the day, but is able to come and go. A baby alarm so that they can talk to her when she wails without them having to get out of bed might help.

Is she inclined to make a noise whether she is shut in her crate or not?

Christine

I spoke to mum last night and she said that the puppy is fine as long as she's not in her crate - I knew "cage" wasn't the right word, but my mind went blank!!. The pup will happily sleep in her basket but avoids the crate at all times!! The breeder used a crate with the puppies and she was quite happy then. Apart from the crate issue, she's settled in fine and is already house trained. Not bad considering they've had her 4 days!!

Mum is going down at night and sitting with Ebony when she cries. (My dad's deaf so he doesn't hear a thing!!) Is she making the situation worse - should mum just ignore the pup? I suggested she tries the "controlled crying" solution as you do with babies, leave them for 15mins the first night, 20mins the second night, 25 mins the 3rd night etc, before you go and settle them again. Is this expecting too much from a puppy, or do they have the same sort of brain function as a baby?
Feed me, play with me, don't ignore me etc.

Thanks for your help and advice - I'll tell mum to feed Ebony in the crate and see how that helps.

Fiona

I think your mum could be making it worse by going to the pup when she cries as this is telling her that if she cries her new mum will come and give her attention, reinforcing her behaviour, if she can first make the crate a nice place for pup to be as suggested with lots of toys, treats and feeding in there etc, then she will be happier, but if she can resist the urge to go to her pup, it may stop her from crying as she will no longer gain anything from it!! It is very hard to ignore a sad new puppy, but it will benefit everyone in the end!! good luck to your parents
emily

Tell your mum to buy a Kong, and just give to the puppy when she is going into her cage, fill the kong with food, and get a cover for the cage , close the door put the cover over the cage and say "bed time" the pup will soon get used to being in her cage, but only give the kong when she is in the cage, m,y pup midget runs and jumps up when she sees me going to her cage to bring out her kong and she is in the cage and lying down before i've even got the food in her kong she is 7 months old now and I did this when she was 8 weeks old for the same thing she was crying at night. she has never wet her bed or cried since. the only time she is in her cage is when I have to go out shopping, and bedtime. hope this helps.

I have found the following advice helped with a puppy I sold that would cry. The pup crys for attention, go down to the room where she is, let her out to toilet, but do not speak to her at all, except to say go pee, and praise if she performs. After that ignore all attempts at interaction, shin pads might help! Put on the kettle make a cup of tea, all the while ignoring the pup, who should at some point go lie down, then quietly leave. Keep doing this, and she will get the idea that no matter what she will get no fuss after bed time. She will realise that even with your Mums presence after bed time it is totally unrewarding, so should go back to sleep. Leave crate open, and put basket in it, and lay paper down for accidents! Once she is happy sleeping in the crate again, you could try shutting it again.

Thank you all for your advice. I went up to my parents to see the puppy and she is gorgeous, very boisterous and playful - but very noisy. She wailed almost all night on Friday. My mum went down to her about 6 times all told. She tried using a Kong and Ebony just barked at it, and when she covered the crate she pulled the cover off. The main problem is not that she dislikes the crate, more that she doesn't like being left.

My dad has managed to solve the problem though - he took Ebony and her crate upstairs last night and she slept in her crate at the end of their bed. The little monster slept for 7.5hrs straight through. Oh well, we all know where the puppy will be sleeping from now on!!

Hi
Been busy so only just picked this up. I had the same with my first boy when he was a little pup. As soon as we brought a crate into our room he settled immediately. It's been the same with pup number two. My friend on the other hand had trouble getting hers to sleep in the crate on her room and they sleep great in the kitchen on there own - dogs 'ey!!

Good luck to them all