[chris.amdahl]

We have a 5 month old Mini Dachshund named Oliver. We have had Oliver for about 6 weeks, and he's been doing great on most fronts, including crate training! The typical whining for a few minutes at night time quickly turned into going to sleep. However, recently this past week, he started to regress. There have been a few nights where he gets into this frantic barking and just wont stop. He will go for an hour or more. When I've finally given in and gone down to let him outside, he'll go to the bathroom. After calming down for a few minutes while I hold him, He goes back into his crate and sleeps.

Am i don't anything wrong? How do I help him to self-soothe when he gets into the frantic barking? Should I leave him for longer?

I am starting to work with him more during the day - treats to go in, and come out of crate on command. Leaving him in there for short periods of time while I'm still at home, etc.

Anything else I should consider? Please help!! My wife and I would LOVE a full night's sleep.

Thanks!

 

[JoanneF]

Should I leave him for longer?

No, definitely not. If he is agitated, the crate won't be the happy place you need it to be, and you risk poisoning it altogether. Dogs that stop barking often do it because the are giving up, not because they suddenly realise everything is ok. Think trauma victims - it's an extreme example but the silent ones are most damaged.

Leaving dogs to 'cry it out' is old fashioned advice - see this for an explanation.

Self Soothing & Cry It Out Are Neurologically Damaging Here Is Why - Simply Behaviour - Applied Behaviour Analysis

The mechanisms that occur when ANY animal feels stress or anxiety is conserved across the way the nervous system responds. We are looking at the limbic system and basically under the hat we are all the same (according to Panksepp et al) This is why we use Rat models to draw conclusions about...

www.simplybehaviour.com

For the crate, we have an excellent guide here.

Emma Judson's guide to crate training

The following guide was written by the behaviourist Emma Judson and is shared with her permission. Crate Training - Step By Step Guide to A Distress Free, Force Free Crate Trained Dog or Pup Please sit and read this guide thoroughly before making a start, as it is important that every...

www.dogforum.com

 

[emeraldecho]

Your description reminds me a bit of kids who have to pee as soon as they're packed into the car - no matter how many times you ask if they need the washroom before you depart.

Have you tried pre-empting the barking phase by putting him in the crate for a few minutes to get him in the right frame of mind, then letting him out to pee before he asks loudly?

 

[chris.amdahl]

No, definitely not. If he is agitated, the crate won't be the happy place you need it to be, and you risk poisoning it altogether. Dogs that stop barking often do it because the are giving up, not because they suddenly realise everything is ok. Think trauma victims - it's an extreme example but the silent ones are most damaged.

Leaving dogs to 'cry it out' is old fashioned advice - see this for an explanation.

Self Soothing & Cry It Out Are Neurologically Damaging Here Is Why - Simply Behaviour - Applied Behaviour Analysis

The mechanisms that occur when ANY animal feels stress or anxiety is conserved across the way the nervous system responds. We are looking at the limbic system and basically under the hat we are all the same (according to Panksepp et al) This is why we use Rat models to draw conclusions about...

www.simplybehaviour.com

For the crate, we have an excellent guide here.

Emma Judson's guide to crate training

The following guide was written by the behaviourist Emma Judson and is shared with her permission. Crate Training - Step By Step Guide to A Distress Free, Force Free Crate Trained Dog or Pup Please sit and read this guide thoroughly before making a start, as it is important that every...

www.dogforum.com

Thanks for the great information and tips!

 

[chris.amdahl]

Your description reminds me a bit of kids who have to pee as soon as they're packed into the car - no matter how many times you ask if they need the washroom before you depart.

Have you tried pre-empting the barking phase by putting him in the crate for a few minutes to get him in the right frame of mind, then letting him out to pee before he asks loudly?

Thanks! Ya, We've been able to do that a few times. THe problem is that sometimes he'll start the barking just minutes after going outside, and then being put in his crate. Unfortunately, his barking is now rarely meaning potty...

 

[chris.amdahl]

Ok - Some good news - I think. I left today for about 45 minutes. I set up a phone on facetime to watch him. He whimpered for about 30 seconds, and then went to sleep and didn't make a peep the whole time I was gone.

So, it seems that his only time of real anxiety is when he knows we're in the house, but just in a different room or upstairs...

 

[JoanneF]

And at night, which is a scarier time. Is there any way you could have the crate in your room for a bit? It doesn't have to be forever, but it would let you reassure him and settle him. Once he is doing better, you can gradually move him back downstairs, by a foot or two at a time with two or three nights in each new spot.

 

[chris.amdahl]

And at night, which is a scarier time. Is there any way you could have the crate in your room for a bit? It doesn't have to be forever, but it would let you reassure him and settle him. Once he is doing better, you can gradually move him back downstairs, by a foot or two at a time with two or three nights in each new spot.

thanks - ya, I've read the suggestions that say that. I guess it's hard to know, because I've read other suggestions that advise against it.

 

[JoanneF]

As a baby (which he is) anything you can do to make him feel secure and safe will teach him two things; one, that he can rely on you to be there for him, and two, that there isn't actually anything to fear. And that's how puppies develop confidence. It's a long time since I've seen anyone say it isn't a good idea. I accept it's not for everyone though.

 

[MaisieAndGem]

Some great advice already, but just some little tricks of the trade if you haven't tried these already.

Try having a decent play session or training session before crate time to tire out that busy little mind so he's more inclined to nap when you put him away. Putting him away with an interactive toy stuffed with something yummy, or a puppy safe chew (NOT raw hide) can also keep him occupied and help him associate the crate with good experiences. The last thing I have to suggest is partially or totally covering the crate with a towel or sheet for a sense of security, like a little den for him if he likes that kind of thing.

Best of luck!

 

[chris.amdahl]

Success! I hesitated to try this, but everywhere I was reading recommended putting his crate in our room... So, we did. At first, it was rough for a few minutes, but then I laid down on the floor next to his crate and offered a, "it's ok" every few minutes. Quickly, he quieted down and went to sleep. I got up 2 times for potty breaks in the night, followed by a few minutes of laying next to the crate... and it seems to work!

Now, hopefully after a few nights of "shhh-shing" he'll be able to do it without that... we shall see.

 

[CachetheBC]

Good you gave it a try!

This article is well worth taking the time to read.

Kidnapped From Planet Dog - Whole Dog Journal (whole-dog-journal.com)

 

[Laco]

Maybe once you get him house trained, you can eliminate the crate. Ours hated the crate when she was a pup, and got to the point that it was impossible to even get her into it. If we tried, her legs all went out sideways, and there was just no way to get her to go in. We changed to closing her into the kitchen and family room, which could be closed off from the rest of the house. After several weeks, with no accidents and no damage to anything, we just let her have the run of the house, which has been the case for many years now. Now she is fourteen and has NEVER damaged anything in the house, and has no accidents. I may be a bit biased, but we think she is the 'perfect' dog.

 

[alexthompson]

No, definitely not. If he is agitated, the crate won't be the happy place you need it to be, and you risk poisoning it altogether. Dogs that stop barking often do it because the are giving up, not because they suddenly realise everything is ok. Think trauma victims - it's an extreme example but the silent ones are most damaged.

Leaving dogs to 'cry it out' is old fashioned advice - see this for an explanation.

Self Soothing & Cry It Out Are Neurologically Damaging Here Is Why - Simply Behaviour - Applied Behaviour Analysis

The mechanisms that occur when ANY animal feels stress or anxiety is conserved across the way the nervous system responds. We are looking at the limbic system and basically under the hat we are all the same (according to Panksepp et al) This is why we use Rat models to draw conclusions about...

www.simplybehaviour.com

For the crate, we have an excellent guide here.

Emma Judson's guide to crate training

The following guide was written by the behaviourist Emma Judson and is shared with her permission. Crate Training - Step By Step Guide to A Distress Free, Force Free Crate Trained Dog or Pup Please sit and read this guide thoroughly before making a start, as it is important that every...

www.dogforum.com

I also recently bought a puppy! He also barked at night, now the barking has decreased! And useful information, I think I need it!

 

[forgotten]

Just out of interest.
How much time in any 24 hr period is it considered reasonable for a puppy or dog to be kept in a cage for safety ?

.