HI, CAN ANYBODY HELP ME. I HAVE AN 8 WEEK OLD SCOTTIE PUP AND DECIDED TO BUY A CRATE FOR NIGHT TIMES AND WHEN I HAVE TO GO OUT. THE PROBLEM IS SHE WHINES & CRIES WHEN I PUT HER IN SOMETIMES FOR HALF AN HOUR SHE ALSO GOES TO THE TOILET EVEN THOUGH I PUT HER OUT BEFORE I CONFINE HER. I KNOW SHE IS VERY YOUNG AND THESE THINGS TAKE TIME I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
THANKS STEPH

My puppy used to whine when he went in to his crate so first I would feed him in there so that he associated it with good things and put all his toys and chewy things in there so that he had something to occupy his mind on rather than whining to get out.
Leave the door open and while you are playing with her, throw a toy in there so she can go in to retrieve it, without closing the door behind her, so that she knows nothing bad is going to happen and that she isn't being punished. Soon she will get used to being in there and whenever she gets shut in, give her treats and toys. Just give it time. I hope this makes sense and helps you.

P.S. Don't use the crate as punishment and don't lose your temper when she won't go in, otherwise she will never like it.

Agree with Freeway, Also try putting her food bowl in there when feeding. It all helps to add to the happy assocation with the crate

John

As others have said the key is to make the crate a happy place. If your pup is a foodie, try putting dinner not only inside the crate, but SHUT inside so that the pup is desperate to get in!!! Only for half a minute and then open the crate.

It's important too not to expect too much too soon; for example don't put the pup in the crate for more than a few moments to start, or he/she will be scared. Gradually build up the time and before long the pup will start to go in there of its own accord; then you will have cracked it.

People have different ideas as to whether to get up at night for a young pup; personally I would, because each time a pup goes in the house, it starts to think that that is OK. Some people do have small dogs and allow for paper at the opposite end to the sleeping quarters and just take the dog out i the daytime.

Do persevere. I use crates for my dogs and they are fine. At first they were a little wary but eventually it became 'their space' and now when the household gets too noisy or they just want to sleep, they take themselves off. We can quite often search and find them asleep there. Having the crates reduce any stress involved with small puppies - they don't eat things bad for their digestion. I think if the crate's big enough, I mean space for a bed and a paper, as their need to relieve themselves so much reduces as they get bigger, the problem of her messing in there will solve itself.

Hi

Please do persevere with the crate following the advice already given. They don't work for some dogs though and only you will be able to judge that - but generally they are great for giving the pup their own space.

Ours goes toddling of to his big puppy pen in the morning when we are about to all go out and sits waiting for his chew with a huge grin on his face. When he is really tired - he takes himself of upstairs to my bedroom and puts himslef in his night-time crate. The number of times we have been searching for him thinking somehow he must have got out - only to find him sparked out in his crate.

They are a big help with house training as they try to hold on as long as they can. But at 8 weeks that is not very long - so you still need to be vigilant and take him out at all the usual times.

Good luck with your new pal - have a great time together

My little pup (9 weeks old today) doesn't like the crate very much either, we bought a large crate (second hand) and also borrowed a smaller one - which will be outgrown over the next few months. She seems to prefer being in the smaller crate at the moment (doesn't love it though), but when we tried her in the larger crate she howled and howled and would not let up - in fact she rubbed her nose sore on it! I decided to kip on the settee with her and at least got some kind of rest - hope I'm not making a rod for my own back though!!! Ava goes into the little crate when I have to take the kids to school and pick them up, and the last few days when I've listened at the door she's been quiet on my return - I'm hoping I'm making a bit of headway with her, she's still just a little baby though and I know as she grows things will improve (hope so anyway!). I feel happier knowing Ava can't get into any bother while I'm out, - the other day I decided to try leaving the cage door open but confining her to the kitchen with the safety gate closed, but when I came home, she appeared from my living room, she must have squeezed herself through the bars of the gate somehow, I cringe to think that she may have fell down the stairs or over the balcolny if she'd decided to go upstairs!