I've had my 10-week old puppy for almost 3 weeks and she also howls every time she's in it. At night, she calms down after 5-10 minutes, but during a mid-day break, she howls, barks, claws the bars, etc. for 10-15 minutes or so, then quiets down only to start again after a brief break - especially if she hears noise like the vacuum or someone walking around the house.

During the night, she always wakes up and howls at least 1 time (usually at 3-4 a.m.) so I take her out only to pee and put her right back, only speaking to her to say "do potty" and "good girl" after she pees. She does, however, manage to pee between the time she wakes up and the time I get to her for the trip outside. Then she pees again between her 1st howl and my getting to her at "wake-up" time at 5:30 - 6:00ish.

I give her a stuffed Kong, a chew toy, and she lays on a towel (which I change with each of the two accidents during the night).

During the day she usually has two kennel periods - 8:45 - 10:00 a.m. (when I take my kids to school) and again from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. In between kennel trips, we play a bit, she relaxes in a playpen with toys in our kitchen while I feed my children, we play a bit more, walk, then relax before kenneling her. This is basically the routine in the afternoon and the evening also. I think she's getting enough activity - she's usually exhausted by bedtime.

Anyway, sorry for the length - but am I doing something wrong, or is the howling and the peeing in the kennel just normal stuff?

Jennifer

Is she always alone in the crate in the daytime?

Is the crate near the traffic flow? Can she see stuff or only hear people from other rooms?

QUOTE: During the day she usually has two kennel periods - 8:45 - 10:00 a.m. (when I take my kids to school) and again from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. END

Is she associating the crate with being left alone?

She's alone in our laundry room (right off the kitchen where I usually am) during her afternoon time, at night an when I leave she's obviously alone. I suppose she does associate the kennel with being alone - but I can't be with her 24-7. Some articles/books I've read say to put the kennel out of hearing and sight and some say to put it near you. I do think that much of her whining is a need for my attention (and mine alone since she frequently whines if I have my children playing or resting with her and I'm out of her sight line).

Any advice?

 Quote: Jen Sommerfeld

She's alone in our laundry room (right off the kitchen where I usually am) during her afternoon time, at night an when I leave she's obviously alone. I suppose she does associate the kennel with being alone - but I can't be with her 24-7. Some articles/books I've read say to put the kennel out of hearing and sight and some say to put it near you. I do think that much of her whining is a need for my attention (and mine alone since she frequently whines if I have my children playing or resting with her and I'm out of her sight line).

Any advice?

I'd have her in the crate in the traffic area. I would want to get rid of her impression that crate equals all alone.

Should I continue to leave her away from me at night? I'm trying to make sure that (a) I can get some sleep and (b) my cat (who isn't all together thrilled by our addition to the family) feels comfortable in her place at my feet during the night.

I had a similar issue with my lab when I first got him-howled and cried and whined like a little baby... no sleep for me for about two to three weeks(not good when fiance is working nights and has to listen to this, eek)... finally brought the crate into the bedroom next to my side of the bed and wouldn't ya know it-silence, maybe a small whimper her or there, but other than that, it was better for my well-being as well as the rest of the household.

Jen, as Keleah and others have said, make sure the crate is near the traffic flow/activity center. We do that with our pup (5mo Maltese) and it's really working well. When we get my working dog (German Rottie), I imagine we'll have two crates for him; one near the "daylight activity center" and another in the corner of the bedroom.

Connie is 100% spot on with your pup possibly equating the crate with being "left alone." Canids are social animals, they are pack animals. If they are NOT within easy sight/smell of their pack, especially when they are pups, that is cause for great concern on their part.

It's not giving in, it's not letting the dog win. It's simply realizing and working with the way the dog is wired.

Luck!
-Jim

I've tried 2 nights with her in my room and I'm on the 2nd day with her kennel in the traffic flow. She whined every 2 hours or so for about 30-45 minutes - at 4:30 this a.m. I finally moved her out so I could get a little sleep. One of the whining spells I took her outside quietly so she did manage to keep her kennel dry (our only 2 nights without that mess). Will it just take some time for her to adjust to the kennel at night (she does better during the day when she's in the kitchen) or is there something else I should be doing?

Also, how much time should she be in her kennel each day. School's out so I'm not leaving in the morning as of tomorrow. Should I still give her some morning kennel time, or is it ok for us to interact with her or keep her otherwise confined (I sometimes put her in a playpen with toys during our breakfast and lunch to avoid accidents)?

Thanks for any additional advice and that received so far.

Look on the bright side -- you have had two nights with a clean kennel.

I only had one kennel when my dog was a pup -- I kept that one downstairs right in the middle of the traffic flow of the house. At night I would tether her to the bed with a 6 foot leash. This worked great as I could hear if she fussed. She actually became quite used to it. Now, at 21 months, she goes right to her bed and sleeps the whole night right at the side of the bed. I love that.

Tethering her to you during the day as you go about some household activity is an idea too.

Jen, here's an idea to help her adjust to the kennel at night. When you are getting ready for bed, she should already be in the crate. Keep talking calmly to her when she is quiet, but when she starts to whine, just be quiet yourself. When you are all set and ready for bed, take one of the socks you were wearing that day, and put it in the crate with her. I know, sounds gross, but the smell of you will help calm her, let her know you are nearby.

Also, she SHOULD be spending morning time in the crate as well. Should be as routine as anything. Like human babies, pups take a great deal of comfort from routine. Establish the pattern, and be consistent and fair. THAT is good pack leadership.

Luck!
-Jim