Dog Section: Puppy's Whining -- it's gotten much worse. And another question...?

Wolf Femme

New member
Darnell, the pup, came crate trained. He knew what "crate" or "kennel" meant [three of us use one word, the other two use the other word] already, and he's finally learning that if we say "go to your crate/kennel" -- he'll get a yummy treat [generally it seems to be more in the form of regular dog food now; he doesn't seem to care].
He never whined a lot when we put him in the crate at night. It was a few short minutes of low whining; and then he was out and done until 3 am when he had to potty.
But lately; he's taken to higher-pitched whining and even short, sharp barks. It's lasted up to 40 minutes before as well [on average, it's 20 minutes until he shuts up].

We don't plan on keeping him in there at night for very long, though. We're doing a complete puppy proof this weekend [it's already puppy proofed -- it's just not where we'd need it for when he's not being supervised] - and we're going to at least experiment letting him sleep outside of his crate with Walker.
He loves the dining room floor; as it's a decently cool surface in the summer and it's the only place besides outside that's comfortable temperature wise for him -- so he has his favourite place to lay; and then his kennel as well.

But until we have everything completely finished and where we would like it to be for him to be able to free roam at night -- is there any way to get him to shut the hell up at night?
I do put the pillow over my head, and it does work until he decides barking is better 10 minutes later.
And 20-40 minutes doesn't *seem* like it's that long to wait for him to shut up; but I don't retire until I'm *real* tired, and everyone else is already gone to bed.

I'd yell through the wall [no insulation, so it's not that loud for me to yell anyway] to tell him to quiet; but not only does he not know the quiet command yet -- but I don't want him to think that his whining/barking will get me to give him what he wants every night.

Any other solutions for the following week to come? Thicker pillows, maybe? *sigh*


As per the second question.
He tries digging at the dining room floor. It's not full out "i want to find something down here" digging; it's light but meaningful digging -- like when a dog is trying to dig a little way into the dirt to find a cool patch to lay in during the summer heat.
Except there's no dirt and it's not outside.

It doesn't really bother us as it's linoleum [old, too, so that makes us even more careless] and he isn't trying to tear it up so there's no real issues -- it's just that we've never had a dog that's done that before; ever.
So is he trying to "make the ground cooler", or is he just trying to "gather the blankets before he sleeps"?



Cheers.
Responses:
-He loves his crate, it's not that. It's his third favourite place to sleep aside from the Dining Room floor and Walker's Dog House in our back yard.
-He won't be sleeping with any of us at all. Not only is he going to be a very large dog; but the only person with room on their bed is upstairs and that's forbidden territory.
-He doesn't have to potty, as I make sure I take him out before he goes to bed [and a couple of hours before that as well], and he always pees and defecates.
-I couldn't spray him if I wanted to, as I'm not sleeping on the floor or over the arm of the couch to get to him, thanks.
-No, my avatar is not my puppy. Chickoa is 2 years old, sleeps in my bed with me, and I'm more educated on her breed than anything else in the dog world; Darnell is about 17/18 weeks old and is of unknown origin.
-No squeaky toys are allowed in the house, as the two females go crazy thinking it's a rat/mole/mouse/etc.
Cont'd:
-His crate has one blanket in it. It's one that I used to use during the winter months; so that he has my scent [and even Chickoa's] with him in the crate.
-We keep a Kong, a Tennis Ball, and an Old Glove of my father's in there [don't ask, he gave it to the dog without us knowing].


And we'll just settle that the Digging thing is for nesting. =]
 
Hi

Try leaving the door to the kennel open. Once he has his freedom, he may well choose to go back in the kennel, and be quiet. I'm assuming you have something with your scent in his kennel.

Best of luck,
Rebel
 
if your picture, is a picture of your puppy, then I understand the problem. That particular breed love attention and starves for it. If they are not getting the attention they need then they can become a nuisance. He probably does not like being confined neither. Section off a bigger area for him like the hallway or the bathroom until you get things situated better. Give him some squeaky toys to play with,mine loves them. The digging is in there breed, nothing you can do to change that. designate a spot where he can dig, maybe make him a sand box. With the whining and barking you need to be firm and reforce the no. Reward him when he listens. Heis a puppy and it takes time just like any other baby. patience .
 
Ugh, boy, does that sound familiar!!

Make sure that he goes to bed tired -- and I mean seriously tired. You shouldn't let him catch a moment's sleep for a few hours before bedtime. (If he's an especially energetic puppy, you might need to make it even longer.) Do whatever you have to to keep him awake! That way, when bedtime rolls around, he'll be a zombie and fall right asleep.

What's his crate like? We had a soft, comfy pad in our new puppy's crate so it'd be nice and cozy. But, when he kept trying to leap out of the crate, over my lap, when the door was open, I noticed that all he did when he managed to get by me was to lay down on the cool floor. So, we took the pad out, and he's a lot happier just sleeping on the tray.

If he isn't a zombie when he's in his crate, make sure there's something to entertain him. After ignoring my puppy long enough when he yelped (though he's only done it a few times), he'd redirect his attention to a stuffed toy, piece of cardboard or puppy Nylabone in his crate. He'd grumble and groan and play with that, and fall asleep doing it. Do you think your puppy would be trustworthy with having stuff in his crate? If so, try keeping fun things in there to occupy him. At this moment, my puppy has a toilet paper tube, stuffed moose, stuffed raccoon, baby blanket and durable puppy-sized Nylabone in his crate.

You could try placing a blanket or sheet over his crate when it's bedtime. With our first dog, who never took well to the crate, I remember that this was effective for a little while. I guess it's kind of like how bird owners cover the bird when it's time to sleep.

What's he doing when he begins to dig? If he has a toy or bone with him, he might be "digging" instinctively to bury his treasure. Digging is just a very deep-set, natural instinct. If he has no treasure to bury, he might just be entertaining himself by "digging." It's just, you know, a way to occupy himself. Or, does he do this right before he falls asleep? If so, yeah, he's probably making his "nest."
 
Digging he is "denning" trying to make a comfy spot that is his. Like his ancestors did.
At night crying..can he have to potty..I am thinking not as you seem to have it together with going out before bed and once at night already (GOOD JOB) It may be he is just lonely and wants you and hollering is getting your attention..try a radio outside his crate on low soothing station..a wind up clock or his favorite toy in crate with him.
ADD: I believe you know better but please do not take the advice of spraying him wiht water it is cruel and detremental to his well being and trusting you as his person. I agree it does not physically harm it mentally harms while breaking a bond you are forming with your dog.
 
I don't have an answer for your first question as my husband and I broke down when our puppy started this behavior and let him sleep with us. (Never had an accident in bed either!) As for the second question, My pup does that, and I believe that he is just trying to both make the spot cooler and gather the non existent blankets. I wouldn't worry about it unless he starts damaging something. Good luck and I hope I helped.
 
spray the puppy with a water bottle it doesnt hurt them and say be quite it just scares them a little bit it works i do it with my dogs
 
I think Marcie has a good suggestion with trying to put him to bed before you go down so the whining is done by the time you get to bed. I agree with you that yelling will only reward (and, as you said, he doesn't know the command anyways).

One of our dogs has always done that same digging whether it's hardwood floors, travertine tile or my mother's carpet. She seems to be "gathering the blankets before she sleeps."
 
Put the pup to bed before you go to bed so that it's quiet by the time you go to bed.
My pup is now 15 months and she LOVES her crate.... so I don't take it away from her. When she was younger the crate is for her safety. I went through three different sizes as she grew.... She really likes the security of it and kept her from chewing on an electric wire or such.

Also. My pup does the walking in circles, kind of digging to lay down. It's instinctual. No big deal.
 
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