There is no way around it, crate training your puppy is one of the best things that you can do. It allows your puppy to have a safe place to stay when you aren’t around to keep an eye on it. You don’t want to have to worry about what your puppy is doing during the night or during times that you aren’t at home to spend time with the dog. However, it isn’t uncommon for a puppy to cry when they are put in a crate. There are several reasons why this might be happening. Blitz K9 Club is here to talk about what you can do if your puppy is crying when you put it in a crate.
Why is My Puppy Crying in His or Her Crate?
Following are some of the most common reasons why your puppy might be crying when it is placed in a crate:
– Fear: If your puppy has never spent time in a crate, there might be some fear involved in the crying that you’re hearing.
– Separation: You will find that your puppy is a social animal. If it is separated from you, there might be some anxiety there.
– Discomfort: When your puppy is hungry, needs to go to the bathroom or thirsty, it will likely let you know by crying.
– Boredom: While a crate is a safe place for your puppy, you don’t want to have it spend so much time in there that it is experiencing boredom.
– Trauma: If your puppy has had traumatic experiences with a crate in the past, it could be bringing up that post traumatic stress.
How Do I Make My Puppy Happy in Their Crate?
You want your puppy to know that the crate is a safe place for it to be. Here are some tips to make the crate a comfortable place for your puppy and help avoid any problems with crying:
– Size: You need to make sure that the crate is the right size for your puppy. It should be able to turn around, stand and lie comfortably while inside of it.
– Positive Association: Make sure that when you puppy is placed in the crate that it is a positive experience. This can be done by allowing them to play with something like a Kong treat while they are in the crate. Don’t just put them inside of it when you’re leaving or going to bed or they will associate that with separation.
– Expend Energy: You need to make sure your puppy is getting enough energy out before putting it in the crate.
– Meet Needs: Also, make sure your puppy’s basic needs are being met as far as food, water and potty are concerned.
– Comfort: Place an article of your clothing in the crate to help them feel close to you while you’re away.
Dog Obedience, Socialization & Behavioral Training in Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Pontiac, Commerce Township and other areas within an hour of our home base of Waterford, Michigan
If you’re having a difficult time training your puppy, you can turn to Blitz K9 Club for help. We will help with things like crate training so you can enjoy your time with your puppy. Call us today!
