Screams in Crate

[LILYLARUE]

Lily is out of her crate now, but she never had any issues with it. Now my two rescues chewed through/bent up and out/destroyed a crate the first time I put them in. I guess rescues have a lot more emotional baggage to being "boxed in".

Some dogs just don't like it. I guess it's like some people who have claustrophobia. Some dog's have it too. I have a fear of being restrained.......even scotch tape stuck to my fingers can bring on the anxiety. I suppose some people, as well as dogs, all have their issues with one thing or another.

If you can't relieve them ~ then modify. If they won't survive a crate visit, then maybe an open, but secure, room would suit better.

[JohnS]

I'm sorry, I stated that Maggie was 17 months old in my previous post - she's only 17 weeks old!!!

[esabbott]

Our Maggie is almost 11 months old now. In the beginning we tried the enclosed kind of crate with the windows. She absolutely hated it, cried and cried. So I went out and got the kind of crate that is all see thru(wired) and she loves it! I think she just likes to see what is going on all the time. Have you tried a different kind of crate? It may be worth it! It was for us! We also used to put a shirt in it with one of our scents on it. Good luck!

[jimandthom]

Most all of the differant pups have done some wailing in the first few nights, but Bailey(our deaf girl and first experience with a Boxer) put up the most god awful, lenghthy, finger nails on a chalk board wail we every heard. She was being crated in the mudroom with one of our other dogs who preferred sleeping there rather than roaming the house. Wolfie the top dog would sleep in our bedroom. One night while trying to get to sleep- the sounds of torture echoing through- we brought her into the bedroom she laid down next to Wolfie on his cushion and that was the end of the nightime problems. After a bit we realized that as a puppy she would always lay next to him regardless the time of day. Guess in her case she just needed to know that a warm/friendly body was nearby.

[DMHyankees]

My boy screamed bloody murder for a few nights and when we would leave him for an hour or two....the hardest part is ignoring him! I promise it stops. Be strong.

[boxerzoe]

Originally Posted by DMHyankees

My boy screamed bloody murder for a few nights and when we would leave him for an hour or two....the hardest part is ignoring him! I promise it stops. Be strong.

I have to agree, the first week or so is the toughest. I slept next to the crate the first 3 nights we got Zoe while she was in her crate. She would calm down and I would then lay on the couch for a few hours until she cried again. After the 1st week we had her I ended up sleeping in my own bed and let her cry. She cried for 2 hours at a time for maybe 2-3 nights. It is the most hardest thing to do, but it worked soooo well. It stopped the 4th night of her crying and now she loves going in her crate. We have fed her a few times in her crate too, to get her familiar with it. Another thing that we did that you could try is to put a t-shirt of yours in her crate to sleep with. ONe more thing is that you can give the puppy a treat after the pup is in the crate. We still give Zoe a treat every time she goes in her kennel, by us saying kennel. She hasnt cried for months now when we go to bed. Again stay strong and let the little one cry, it will work.

[Sansal]

I had the same problem with my boxer puppy sky (now 15 weeks old). I tried everything, feeding her in the carate, hiding treats in there, I took some days off from work so I could get her used to it very slowly - didn't work. She still got extermly upset, barked and cried for hours. I was worried about her developing serious seperation anxiety. Finally I gave up, puppy proofed the living room and let her stay there with my older dog. (Thankfully she is already pretty much housetrained). Now she is totally fine with me leaving for work and still calm and relaxed when I get home from work. I think there are cases where crating just does not work.