Springer Spaniel

[BATTLEBORN]

Another question guys...... Crate training is not going so hot. Every time I put him in the crate and close the doors he starts whining like crazy, this includes at night, which obviously makes it impossible to sleep . I have the crate right next to the bed so I can talk to him while I am trying to get him to calm down. I have left the door open during the day and tried to get him comfortable with his crate by being near by when I put him in it. it's not working to well. Do you guys have any suggestions? He has not been alone since we got him. I'm thinking my next option will be to put him in the crate and leave the house for about an hour, hoping that he will eventually calm down, and build some trust when we return. Thoughts?

 

[kpk]

I've always had labs but I've been around quite a few springers. All of them I've spent time with seem to be smart, hard working, and very loyal.

I had an ex-gf that had one....miss the dog more than I ever missed her.

 

[DenRuyter]

Is he in one of those wire crates or the plastic tub type crates? If he is in the wire crate use a sheet over it except for the door. If he can see or hear you he's always going to whine. I'd put him in another room or downstairs away from or you can't hear each other. Get up in the middle of the night once to let him out and as soon as you get up. After 2 weeks or so he'll run right into the kennel. I also feed my dogs in their kennels starting out so they associate going into it with something good like eating. Giving him a treat after willingly going into it also helps puppies make the association easier.

Also, pick a spot for the kennel and leave it there until he's used to going in and out. You don't want to move it around on him because it's his "home" (personal space) and he should feel safe there. If it's moving around on him and his food dishes are moving around it makes it harder on him to again make that association.

 

[kpk]

Another question guys...... Crate training is not going so hot. Every time I put him in the crate and close the doors he starts whining like crazy, this includes at night, which obviously makes it impossible to sleep . I have the crate right next to the bed so I can talk to him while I am trying to get him to calm down. I have left the door open during the day and tried to get him comfortable with his crate by being near by when I put him in it. it's not working to well. Do you guys have any suggestions? He has not been alone since we got him. I'm thinking my next option will be to put him in the crate and leave the house for about an hour, hoping that he will eventually calm down, and build some trust when we return. Thoughts?

We've always thrown some of OUR dirty clothes into the crate with pups. Something like a sweatshirt. It's "supposed" to help them mellow out and not feel lonely. Whether it works or not - I don't know - but I've never had a dog that threw a fit about being in a kennel either so there may be something to it.

 

[BATTLEBORN]

Thanks, ill put an old shirt in there. Hopefully that helps.

 

[BroodBuster]

The shirt is a good idea. Also a good place for toys. I've never had this issue but I'd also place him in there, and leave for an hour or so, after play/training time. That's a pretty common practice amongst trainers. Allows them time to process what they learned. Most importantly stick with it. He'll eventually learn that sleeping is the best way to deal with stress.

A Kong toy filled with peanut butter is usually a winner for pups burning excess energy or dealing with stress.

 

[209hunter]

Good advice on the crate training has been given above, one thing I'll add is NEVER let him out of the crate while he is crying. He'll begin to realize that all he has to do is whine and cry to get out of the crate and thats the last thing you want. My springer took about 2-3 weeks before he was going in his crate on his own. Crate training is annoying while you're going through it but it's invaluable once it's established

 

[BATTLEBORN]

Well back to square one. I tried all of the suggestions above except feeding him in his crate. We put him in it last night at bed time and put the crate in the livingroom. He cried for a good half hour, when I went to tell him to lay down I discovered he pooped in the crate. I left in there today at for about 45min while I left the house, when I returned he was still barking and whining and had pooped again. I waited for him to calm down then let him out and fed him. Whats with the pooping in the crate? Do I keep on this track?

 

[KurtR]

If he is pooping in the crate it is to big. It takes time but he will get used to it just can't give in and let him out when crying.

 

[2ski]

Don't talk to him to tell him to lay down if he's wining. And as was mentioned, leave the kennel in one room. Don't move it into the living room when you go out bed. Leave him in the kennel and leave for a period of time each day. Gradually get longer.

 

[BATTLEBORN]

Thanks for the advise everyone. We have gotten to the point were he is sleeping good in his crate. I believe he is starting to see it as his respite area. Now we need to work on the kennel area I have set up for him in the garage, he still hates that.