Cassandra D
New member
I know this is only the 3rd day we have had him, and some whining is to be expected. We have been taking him out 2 times every night in the dark to go pee (when hes been quiet for a few hours, then whines.)
The first night was surprisingly good. but over the past few days its getting worse. Hes got a chew toy in there, and theres a ticking clock next to him as well. We have the crate in our bedroom.
The first few nights he would quiet when I clapped loudly, or used a verbal correction. Slapping the top of the crate worked as well. Now none of these things are working, and we dont want to teach him he can ignore corrections, so we have been ignoring him, but he dosent stop, and if one of us gets up to hit the crate, he quiets before we get there (which I think is reinforcing the whining, because he thinks we are coming over to pay attention to him, and thats why he stops, which is bad.)
After going pee during the night he does settle down after a few minutes, and last night he had a marrow bone, which was highly recommended by our breeder.
We always feed him in the crate, and in the morning, I can't get him to quiet down so I can put the food in with him, he just becomes more frantic, and I don't want to put the food in to reward him for that, and I can't let him out, b/c that is also teaching him that whining works. So I'm not sure what to do here, I don't want to raise him incorrectly, but I just can't get him to quiet sometimes. and I can't have him learn to ignore me.
We just get frustrated sometimes, and thats not good energy for correcting a dog, its hard not to at 5:15am when hes going crazy b/c hes hungry. I am willing to get up during the night, and up early for a while, this is just part of the new puppy process, and he is not used to being away from mom, but I just cant get him to settle down to get fed!
Leaving him alone is another issue, we left for an hour to the grocery store, and a painter outside said he only settled down for a few minutes during that time, and I have not a clue how to tackle that. I know it was only his first time, but how can I correct a dog when I'm not there?
We are going to try the hot water bottle, and the spray bottle. Are there any tips? This is our first pup we have raised, and it was an educated choice we made to get him, but I need to find what works for my dog. other suggestions?
The first night was surprisingly good. but over the past few days its getting worse. Hes got a chew toy in there, and theres a ticking clock next to him as well. We have the crate in our bedroom.
The first few nights he would quiet when I clapped loudly, or used a verbal correction. Slapping the top of the crate worked as well. Now none of these things are working, and we dont want to teach him he can ignore corrections, so we have been ignoring him, but he dosent stop, and if one of us gets up to hit the crate, he quiets before we get there (which I think is reinforcing the whining, because he thinks we are coming over to pay attention to him, and thats why he stops, which is bad.)
After going pee during the night he does settle down after a few minutes, and last night he had a marrow bone, which was highly recommended by our breeder.
We always feed him in the crate, and in the morning, I can't get him to quiet down so I can put the food in with him, he just becomes more frantic, and I don't want to put the food in to reward him for that, and I can't let him out, b/c that is also teaching him that whining works. So I'm not sure what to do here, I don't want to raise him incorrectly, but I just can't get him to quiet sometimes. and I can't have him learn to ignore me.
We just get frustrated sometimes, and thats not good energy for correcting a dog, its hard not to at 5:15am when hes going crazy b/c hes hungry. I am willing to get up during the night, and up early for a while, this is just part of the new puppy process, and he is not used to being away from mom, but I just cant get him to settle down to get fed!
Leaving him alone is another issue, we left for an hour to the grocery store, and a painter outside said he only settled down for a few minutes during that time, and I have not a clue how to tackle that. I know it was only his first time, but how can I correct a dog when I'm not there?
We are going to try the hot water bottle, and the spray bottle. Are there any tips? This is our first pup we have raised, and it was an educated choice we made to get him, but I need to find what works for my dog. other suggestions?