Okay, so, I just got a new puppy. He’s super cute, but man, does he hate his crate! It’s been a real struggle, to say the least. I knew that crate training was important, so I did some research before bringing him home. Everyone made it sound so easy! But when it comes to my puppy, let’s just say I didn’t expect so many tears.
The first night was rough. I put him in his crate, all cozy with a blanket and a toy. I thought that was a good idea. As soon as I closed the door, the waterworks started. He whined, he cried, he howled. It was heartbreaking! I felt so bad for the little guy, but I also knew I needed to be strong and not give in.
- I made sure the crate was the right size – not too big, not too small. Just enough room for him to stand up, turn around, and lie down.
- I put the crate in my bedroom so he wouldn’t feel so alone, especially at night.
- Before bed, I made sure he went potty. No accidents in the crate, please!
I tried to make the crate a positive place. I threw treats in there, fed him his meals inside, and praised him whenever he went in on his own. The first few days, he’d go in, grab the treat, and bolt right back out!
Gradually, we made some progress.
He started to stay in the crate for a few minutes at a time, especially if I was sitting right there. I would increase the time little by little. But the nights were still tough. He would cry for what felt like hours. I tried ignoring him, like all the articles said, but it was so hard! I was exhausted, and I’m pretty sure my neighbors were starting to hate me.
Then, I tried a couple of new things. I covered the crate with a blanket, leaving the front open so he could still see me. I also started playing some soft music, hoping it would calm him down. I even added one of my old shirts that I had worn into the crate so my smell would be there and comfort him. I don’t know why I didn’t do that earlier! He still cried, but it seemed a little less intense.
After about three weeks, things started to click. He still whined a bit when I first put him in, but he settled down much faster. Now, he even goes into his crate on his own sometimes! He is starting to love it in there and I’m glad I kept trying. It’s his safe space, his little den. We still have some work to do, but I’m so relieved that we finally turned a corner. It was a long and tiring journey, but I didn’t give up. Crate training is definitely a test of patience, but it’s worth it in the end.
