Strong Will Pup......lil advice please

[Rick]

Totally ignore him when he is acting like that in the kennel. If you don't, he'll learn that causing the commotion will get him the attention he wants.

At that point,you may never be able to break them of the habit.

[Hornseeker]

Totally ignore him when he is acting like that in the kennel. If you don't, he'll learn that causing the commotion will get him the attention he wants.

At that point,you may never be able to break them of the habit.

Makes good sense.

[BallisticsNut]

I have had my fair share of pups over the past seven years.  Thankfully, my youngest is nearly 18 months ATM and only gives me trouble because she has so much energy. 

A lot of really good points here, Ill add a couple that have worked well for me even if they have already been mentioned. 

First off, find a treat that your dog really really loves!  When your ready to kennel, take that treat and place it in the kennel prior.  Dont tell her/him or let them see you do it.  They will find it on there own.  You want them to feel this is a place of comfort.  Second, do you own any "kong" toys?  If not, go buy a few.  Get the small puppy kong for now.  Its shaped some what like a peanut with a hole in one side. Made up of old tires, from what I hear, pretty durable.  For starters, try a spoonful of peanut butter.  Once the pup goes in, give them the kong.  Should keep them busy for 20 minutes or so.  This should get them past the seperation anxiety.  Next, always feed the pup in the kennel.  They have to relate the kennel is not a bad place but a good place.  lastly, if the whinning continues... someone mentioned a can full of pennies.  Better description.. take an empty soda can, place a couple nickles and half a dozen pennies inside and tape the top closed.  Now, take the can (or a couple if needed) and place on top of the kennel near the edge so that it will fall if the pup jumps on the door.  After placing the pup in the kennel, stand in the adjacent room with a second can.  After the pup finishes his kong treat, if he starts to get out of hand, reach around the doorway (without exposing yourself) and shake the can.  He will stop!... when he starts up again.. do this again... he will stop.. He will learn eventually that the crying gets the can.. they dont like the can (its the loud noise and type of noise they have issues with).  The purpose of the first can on top of the kennel, they will learn from you shaking the can, that when they jump on the door or sides of the kennel, this will knock over the can and "stun" them.  They dont like this either. 

This has worked with all my dogs and has taken less then a month to train each one.  Oh yea, ALWAYS keep the kennel door open when not in use. Always try and keep some treats, toys or food inside.  This will get them to go into the kennel and try it out on their own.  Once they realize this is a safe secure place, they will take to sleeping there on there own.  Eventually, when you say KENNEL... it means to them TREAT!

Good luck, let us know how this goes. 

[huntnfmly]

Totally ignore him when he is acting like that in the kennel. If you don't, he'll learn that causing the commotion will get him the attention he wants.

At that point,you may never be able to break them of the habit.

thats what we did with our springer when we first got him and started to crate train him he freaked the first couple times.Dont let him out when he is going crazy wait till hes quite then he can come out.It will take less time than you think hang in there

[Happy Gilmore]

more exercise. You've got a big roaming field dog, not a lap dog. He's got too much energy for his current lifestyle.

[Hornseeker]

Good stuff, thank you much!

LMAO... last night I wore a sweatshirt in the shop for a couple hours and before putting him to bed I turned it inside out and balled it up in the front of the kennel. He was BUSHED because my FIL's springer pup is at our house right now and they play Non Stop...

Anyhow, I didn't get up and get him out early enough I guess.... oops... tonight I will get up and get him out after about 4-4 1/2 hours... anyhow, this morning at 4:30 when I got him out, My Sweatshirt had pee on it... nothing else...just my sweatshirt! "Piss on You!" he said... I will not make that mistake again. i read where at 12-14 weeks they can pretty much spend the night without peeing... sound right? If I put him in about 10-1030 and get him out at about 5:30?

Thanks all!

and oh, Ballisticnut, thanks. Thats a great idea about just putting treats in there for him to find now and again.... I'll get a can set up....

[vandeman17]

It took my pup until a few months old before she could go all night without having to pee. Just have him pee right before you put him in, set your alarm for about half way through the night and then you should be fine. Before you know it, he will sleep all night and you won't have to worry. 

[SpringerFan]

What size crate are you using? Too big and they will pee / poop in it. My Springer would wake up once or twice a night whining. I would carry him to the backyard. Put him on a leash. Let him pee / poop and carry him back to the crate. He learned real quick and still goes to his kennel when he is tired at just over a year and a half.

Lots of good advice. NEVER let him out when he is throwing a fit. NEVER punish him for being a puppy. The crate needs to be a safe place. Not a place for time out.

Stick with it. Be very patient. They pick up on your frustration. Above all, be consistent.

[Hornseeker]

Puppies are fun....

This morning I took him out of his crate and put him on the deck... instead of going down the stairs and peeing in the yard, he walked over to his outside bed and PEED on IT!! WTF?

Anyhow, I will continue to take him down the stairs for now on!

he slept in his kennel yesterday early evening for like an hour with the door open!!! Yay!   

[BallisticsNut]

he slept in his kennel yesterday early evening for like an hour with the door open!!! Yay!

Thats great.  Thats very good progress.  This means he is not afraid of the kennel of being locked up.  Good job!

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Kids don't grow up in 2 weeks and neither do pups. You may have a few long nights but it will pass and they will love the crate. Ignoring them let's them know whining accomplishes nothing, just like kids! Ignore him all night and he will learn it's bed time and not play time.  Also 2 dogs is easier than one if you want another. I put my pup out side from day one with the 6 month old and he didn't whine once cause he could sleep with his sister.  Just be patient, they are very similar to a newborn kid. You won't know if he is hard headed till he is big enough to outrun you ; ) so get him to learn sit stay and come now. I used game dog, it's a great training book. No shock collars or force training. Basically start early and work with them often.

[Hornseeker]

I used water dog for my lab so was familiar with that and have read game dog twice now in the last month..

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I used water dog for my lab so was familiar with that and have read game dog twice now in the last month..

Its a great set of books to train your dog, it's like my dog respects me and doesn't
Want to disappointment me by not listening.  It's crazy, I would reccomend it to anyone, you just has to start early and your golden!

[Hornseeker]

Things are getting better every day... last night he did not freak out when I put him to bed NOR when i put him back at 230....  This morning I put him in  his kennel to eat and when he was done he let out about 5-10 whines and that was it... then I let him out for being a good boy!

[rasbo]

if the pup loves you and you feel he wants to be with you wear a shirt,and then put it in the crate.my pup stopped whining immediately,she still sleeps in the crate,when I get ready for bed she walks in and hits the hay,