Crate Training Struggles

[ashleigh1994]

Hi,

I was hoping someone could help me.

I picked up a boy puppy last week (now 11 weeks old), and have been training him in a crate since. Noted it hasn't been very long, but I'm concerned when it comes to closing the cage. Every night, without fail, he gets distraught everytime the door is closed... We do everything for him to enjoy his space, and he constantly goes in and out throughout the day and evening (playing and sleeping). I was hoping someone could advise if they have had this issue before?

Our house rules are no upstairs so unfortunately we want to refrain from bringing him into the bedroom.

Thanks everyone.

[eeeefarm]

@ashleigh1994 said in Crate Training Struggles:

Our house rules are no upstairs so unfortunately we want to refrain from bringing him into the bedroom.

Well, there is your problem in a nutshell. Pups, particularly Basenji pups, like to be near their humans, and that means beside or in the bed at night. Of course the pup is distressed when you lock him away from you. He may or may not adjust to this, but my advice is take him and his crate to your room at night. Also, he needs to be warm, so if your house is cool, cover the crate to keep out drafts at night.

[tanza]

@ashleigh1994 - Fully agree with eeeefarm, pup/crate needs to be in the same sleeping room as you.... Keep in mind, you are now their family and they need to be close to you...

[elbrant]

@ashleigh1994 said in Crate Training Struggles:

Our house rules are no upstairs

Do you think that's realistic? Is upstairs off limits to little humans, too?

[JENGOSMonkey]

The good news is that soon you will have an awesome singer, who will entertain you every single night. You’ll enjoy multiple encores night after night because just like Broadway... this pup will be here for months!

I learned a long time ago that Basenjis don’t care about my rules. They care about what they want. For instance I have a rule... no Basenjis on the dining room table. I mean it. Stay off the table. Don’t get on it. They don’t care. They taught me that the chairs have to be pushed in and that anything important cannot be left on top of it because chair or not... hey... they have springs... they can jump.

Your puppy wants to be with you. Like it not, move the crate to the bedroom, or don’t. The pup will train you before you train it because... Basenji. There is another solution. Get another basenji to keep the first one company while downstairs and double your fun!

[Zande]

Rules go out of the window if they don't suit the Basenji. Why not try letting it up with you ? Better than a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.

If you must crate him, I hope it is a big enough crate so the dog can sit, stand, stretch out full length. 31 inch comes to mind and leave the door open. And this applies if you have the crate beside your bed or downstairs.

Basenjis need people, especially when they are young and need their confidence building.

Getting another Basenji @JENGOSMonkey is not that easy at the moment over here. I think @ashleigh1994 had quite a wait to get this pup.
If I am right, her pup's brother just emerged from under my duvet and is chewing Mku's tail.

[ashleigh1994]

Thank you for everyone's suggestions. We will try him upstairs, we just don't have a large bedroom so trying to fit the crate in will be a struggle. @Zande yes it's quite big for him, we wanted to ensure he can fully move without discomfort.

Also, @Zande you're correct, we have been looking for quite a while but we're lucky enough to find this little guy. We've named him Loki and we definitely feel it suits his mischievous side haha.

[ashleigh1994]

@elbrant said in Crate Training Struggles:

@ashleigh1994 said in Crate Training Struggles:

Our house rules are no upstairs

Do you think that's realistic? Is upstairs off limits to little humans, too?

This is only until he's fully trained️

[Zande]

@ashleigh1994 Welcome to the forum, Loki, and family. I used to sail a great deal and it was always said, if you change the name of a boat, you change the luck.

Loki will be able to settle with you now and brother Kito and half brother Mku send him every possible good wish.

[JKent]

Our now almost 9 month old puppy hated being confined to the crate too, so I trained her to like using treats but left the door open. Now often chooses to sleep or rest there during the day and takes stolen items or highly prized treats there

At night we encourage her to start off in her own bed next to ours, but allow her in ours during the night when she wakes. She usually comes and goes through the night as I think she gets too hot under our covers. A few times she has chosen to walk downstairs in the middle of the night and get in her crate but we have to make sure the kitchen is puppy proofed for that to work.

We have found being flexible has helped meet everyone's needs.

[ashleigh1994]

Thank you @JKent, I definitely think we'll be moving him to our room tonight. Other than bedtime and our dinner time he's been so good throughout the day! So if this makes him more comfortable I will give it a go!! Really appreciate your help.

[tanza]

@ashleigh1994 - My Basenjis sleep in crates in the bedroom, when they were small the door is closed, that way I know when they wake and can quickly take them out to go quick potty then back in the crates, now they prefer to sleep in their crates and the door is open. The only time that they choose to sleep in bed is if they are not feeling well. So for them, the crate is a happy place and they are happy to have their own space. Again it is their choice. However, that said, we all get a good nights sleep..LOL

[kittenishkat]

@ashleigh1994 I had the same issue with my male when I put him in the crate alone. I also have a female and I ended putting them in together.

I found that because they like to be in a “cave like” setting, I covered the crate with a blanket so it’s dark and put some inside that had my smell on it and he slept all night. When I tell them it’s “nite nite” they both go inside and know it’s bedtime.

I hope that helps!

Cheers!

[ChrisF]

I see that everyone thinks the crate belongs in the bedroom. Though
this may make him happier it worked for me not to have our pup in our room. Not every human you live with will go along with this plan. If the crate is large enough for a favorite dog toy and his own blanket he will eventually adjust.
Would he be happier in bed with you or in your room, sure. But it is your house and you are allowed to have some off limits rooms. The first few months can be rough. But it is worth it.

[Zande]

I don't use crates in the house at all, never have, but there are gates and the pack has always lived in the kitchen with access to the garden UNLESS invited through of an evening to sit on laps and watch TV or hinder crochet or knitting.

Now things are slightly more relaxed because Mku can open gates. I am trying to figure out a way to make them Mku-proof.

Away at shows, dogs have always been bed-dogs. It was part of their reward for spending a day crated at the show. But I no longer show and when Hoover crossed the Bridge, Mku was inconsolable on his own in the kitchen so came to bed with me.

And now we are three - Kito comes too.

[elbrant]

@zande said in Crate Training Struggles:

I am trying to figure out a way to make them Mku-proof.

zip ties?

[tanza]

@elbrant - Would be a bit difficult for the humans to open with zip ties.... so that humans can get through.... LOL, that said the Basenji could figure those out also!

[Zande]

What are zip ties ? We already have a large cabin hook on one side and a chain which locks into a ring on the other. The cabin hook he hits upwards till he gets it out. The chain is still posing a slight problem, it is on the side he isn't but he perseveres until it comes out.

[tanza]

@zande - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086H3R9MV/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?

Use the link to see Zip Ties...

[eeeefarm]

@zande said in Crate Training Struggles:

What are zip ties ? We already have a large cabin hook on one side and a chain which locks into a ring on the other. The cabin hook he hits upwards till he gets it out. The chain is still posing a slight problem, it is on the side he isn't but he perseveres until it comes out.

What about something like this?

You have to hold back the spring to pull up the hook....