Leerburg / Ask Cindy / Popular / I’ve been trying to crate train my 4 month old d...

April 21, 2011

I’ve been trying to crate train my 4 month old dachshund puppy for a month and he won’t stop barking at night, what should I do?

Full Question:

HELP! I am at my wits end!

I have been trying to crate training a 4 month old male miniature Dachshund for 4 weeks now and I still have problems with him barking continuously at night. I do all the things the cd says to do but he still barks. I don't not keep him in a crate during the day since I am gone for nearly 10 hours to work. He is kept in a small doggy play pen. When I get home I play with him in the kitchen while I am working on Supper and then in his crate while we eat and back out for a little bonding with the family, outside and then back to the crate about 9:30 pm. He will last about two hours and the barking starts. Here is where I have the problem; does he need to go out? Or is he wanting out of the crate...? I don't get him out because your books says only when they are calm which might not happen for 1 to 2 hours. Can I just leave him in there??? If I waiting to take him out after he calms down then I am up for the night...

I am thinking of putting him in the basement garage but it is colder there, and do I need to set my alarm to get up a take him out in the middle of the night?

Please help.

Vickie

Cindy's Answer:

If you know he is going to last 1 or 2 hours before he starts barking, then let him out before he starts up. The key to successful crate training is to let the dog out BEFORE he gets to the point he won’t stop barking. If you are still having problems after one month, my guess is that he’s barked for a period of time and then you’ve let him out. He’s learned that if he keeps it up long enough he’ll finally get let out. Put him on a schedule and if that means you need to get up in the night, then that’s what I would suggest.

I’d also make sure he’s getting plenty of playtime and exercise so he’s ready to settle down in the crate. If he’s barking because he needs to go to the bathroom, then that’s one thing but if he’s just protesting confinement then letting him out when he does this will only reinforce that barking gets him what he wants.

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