As a pet owner, one of the biggest challenges of puppy training is crate training. You must have faced a guilty situation when you place your puppy in a crate but it suddenly starts to whine and cry. When your puppy suddenly starts crying, it is obvious to wonder if you are doing the right thing by placing your beloved furry in a crate.
However, if crate training is done right, it not only makes your puppy well-behaved but also saves you from various troubles and hassles. It provides your puppy with a safe and secure place when they come across threatening or unfamiliar situations. So, even though your puppy cries in the crate, this habit should gradually be minimized and make your puppy habituated of the crate. So, let’s figure out what are the reasons behind puppy crate crying and what can be done to stop it.
Is it Normal for Puppy Crate Crying?
During the initial phase of crate training, it is totally normal for your puppy to cry. Your puppy is not used to settling down in the crate and may think that you are trying to confine them. So out of fear and anxiousness, your puppy can cry. Moreover, when you leave your puppy alone for too long while crate training, then they may cry. Hence, this is a normal behavior shown by your puppy.
However, puppy crate crying can be a problem when they use crying as a way to come out of the crate or seek your attention towards them. When they figure out that crying can gain them extra attention then, they will use this even if they do not have any real need.
Why Do Puppies Cry in the Crate?
Lack of Proper Crate Training
A crate is a safe place for your dog. However, if crate training is not done right or you have not given your dog proper crate training, then your pooches can make a negative association with the crate. They may take the crate as a scary place. For instance, if you do not associate the crate with any positive reinforcement but punish them for not settling down in the crate while training them, then your puppy shall take the crate as your way of punishing them. So, they may cry whenever you place them in the crate.
In addition to crying, other signs of inadequate crate training include, refusal to enter the crate voluntarily, an instantaneous panic attack upon entering, or fearful body language such as trembling or crouching.
Separation Anxiety
When you bring a puppy home, it is totally a new and unfamiliar place for them. They are separated from their mother and littermates, and on top of that, you are placing them in a crat,e which can be a pretty scary situation for them. So, they may develop a fear of being left alone, and as a way of expressing themselves, your canine friend may cry, whine, or bark.
Likewise, during the initial crate training phase, your puppy can associate the closing of the crate door with you leaving them or being left alone. This can directly induce separation anxiety in your dog.
Hunger or Need for Bathroom Breaks
Puppies, especially when they are young, cannot hold the bladder for too long. So, if they need to pee or poo, then they may whine or cry to express that they are getting nature’s call.
Likewise, dogs thrive on consistency. It is better to establish and maintain specific schedules of meals, exercise, playtime, and rest for your dogs. So, when you leave your puppy in the crate door for a longer time without giving them meals, then they may cry asking for food.
Discomfort
Another reason for your puppy to cry in a crate is discomfort and pain. For instance, when your crate is too small for your puppy to stand, move, or turn around correctly, then the puppy may cry to show discomfort. Likewise, when your puppy feels pain or stress while staying in a crate, then they may cry, indicating you to take them out.
Boredom
Usually, puppies are high-spirited and full of energy. So physical and mental stimulation can burn off their energy and tire them out. However, if you keep your puppy just in crate without giving them any physical or psychological stimulation, then they can quickly get bored and become restless. Hence, out of boredom and restlessness, they can cry as a way to seek your attention towards them.
Related Read: Why Does Your Dog Stare? Understanding Their Intense Gaze
What Can You Do to Stop Your Puppy Crying in Crate?
Ignore Your Puppy Crying
When you hear your puppy crying and immediately let them out, then they can take crying as a way of coming out of the crate. So this can be a learned behavior developed in your puppies. Hence, when you hear your puppy crying, you can ignore them for a brief moment before opening the crate. Make sure you do not ignore it for a longer period. Ignoring for a longer period can create a negative association with the crate.
Adequate Crate Training
Before completely leaving your puppy in a crate on their own, it is very important to properly train them. You can start introducing the crate by associating it with either treats or their favorite toys. Then, you can slowly feed meals inside the crate. As they are habituated to eating their meals in the crate, you can try leaving them for a short period and gradually increasing the time in the crate on their own.
Consistent Routine
Having a consistent routine for meals, rest, play and exercise will establish a predictable mindset in dogs. This will reduce confusion and make them feel secure about their needs being fulfilled.
Similarly, it is important to make a consistent routine for crate training too. You can either train them during or after meals or before bedtime. This will make crate training playful and your dog will take this training as a way of bonding rather than a means of punishment.
Enough Physical and Mental Stimulation
A well-exercised and tired puppy can rest in a crate better than a bored and restless puppy. So you can try burning off your furry friend’s energy by using various physical and mental stimulation games. You can play fetch or tug of war for physical activity. Likewise, puzzle games and dispensing treat machines can mentally tire them off. Enough activity before settling them in the crate has less chance of crying or whining.
However, when your pooches develop a negative association with the crate, then no physical or mental stimulation can stop them from crying. Desensitization only works when your puppy develops fear or anxiety about being in the crate.
Provide Comfort
The crate is a place where your dog can retreat to make them feel secure. So the crate should be comfortable and inviting. You should choose a crate where your dog can easily move, turn around, and rest. Moreover, you can add comfortable bedding and favorite toys to make the crate more inviting and full of warmth.
Conclusion
Crate training is an effective way to raise your puppy right. However, it requires lots of patience, consistency, and a positive approach. Watching your puppy cry can be truly heartbreaking. However, you have to find the right reason why your puppy is crying in the crate. Then only you can find appropriate solutions for calming puppies. With your effort and patience, we are sure that your crying puppy will take the same crate as a place for a safe retreat. So stay consistent and in no time, your furry friend will stop crying when you place them in the crate. If you find this blog helpful, then stay tuned with Littlefurr for more helpful and informative blogs.
FAQs
- How long will my puppy cry in a crate?
Since every puppy is different, a puppy crying in a crate can vary. Usually, if crate training is done right, your puppy can cry for the first few days. However, if your puppy has a negative association with the crate ,then crying can last for a few weeks, too.
- Can I place their favorite toys in the crate?
Yes absolutely. Placing their favorite toys in the crate can create a positive association with the crate. It may encourage your puppy to enter the crate voluntarily.
- Why does my puppy cry every time I place them in the crate?
If your puppy starts crying every time you place them in the crate, then it can be due to separation anxiety, discomfort, or negative association with the crate. You can try gradually introducing the crate with positive reinforcement for a shorter period initially. Then, you can increase the time as your puppy gets comfortable in the crate.
- What can I do to stop my puppy from crying in the crate?
You can try giving your puppy adequate Crate training before leaving them. The crate on their own. Likewise, you can make a consistent routine and give them enough physical and mental stimulation.
- Can I let my puppy out when they start to cry?
You can ignore your puppy crying for a short period. However, if the crying persists for a longer period you can let them out.
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