Hi all. This is my first post, though I've been reading the board for a few days now. I'm really impressed with the knowledge and experience shown by most of the posters here.

I have a 10-month-old spayed female terrier mix (mostly Norwich, I think) that I adopted from Animal Rescue. She's generally quite affectionate and well-mannered, although not fully trained. I've ordered the Basic Obedience video to try and fix that.

The problem I'm having with her is with crating at night. When I put her in the crate for the evening, she howls, barks, whimpers, and makes such a variety of sounds. She sounds like she's being tortured. This goes on for 15 minutes to an hour before she quiets down. I've had her for about 2 months now, and it's better than it used to be at the beginning, but this behavior doesn't show any signs of going away.

I usually give her a Kong with some peanut butter frozen inside, and that keeps her quiet for the first ten minutes, and then the torture begins. I have the crate in the kitchen, and I sleep upstairs in the bedroom. Then around 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning, the barking starts, about once every ten seconds and less painful sounding than at the beginning of the night. It doesn't stop until I let her out.

If I put her in the crate during the day and I'm close by, she's quiet. I was considering moving the crate to my bedroom, but I've read on this website that this could cause dominance issues. By the same token, I've read many posts from people who sleep with their dogs in the bed and have no rank problems whatsoever.

What would you suggest I do to help quiet her down at night? I suppose an electronic bark collar would help, but I only want to do that as a last resort.

Sleepless in El Paso...

E.

Alright let me see.

When I first got my puppy, I was advised and read in many places that it is crucial that the first couple nights spent with the dog, that they be put in a kennel. If they are not they will never be able to do it.

So what I believe this boils down to is, perhaps your dog is used to sleeping with previous owner or was not put in a kennel at night. She might not be comfortable with this. This could be the reason because, as you have said, the barking/cryig is getting better over time. I know at night my dog sleeps in my room, wherever she pleases. I don't have any problems with her of this nature what so ever, if I could just fix the running away and counter bandit <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I hope this helps, this is not a very educated guess. However it is based off logic. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your reply, Mark. By the way, I've offered some humble suggestions to your post about bolting and counter jumping <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I tried one night to let the dog sleep in the bedroom without the crate, but she just wouldn't settle down. I was trying to sleep and she was pacing from one side of the bed to the other, standing on her hind legs to see what's going on. After about 15 minutes I gave up and put her in the crate. Maybe I should try this again and give her a couple of nights to adjust?

I keep a crate in the bedroom, and my puppy sleeps there every night happily. She doesn't make a sound until the need to go out arises.

Perhaps your dog is lonely and would feel more secure in the crate in your room, knowing that you are nearby. I would also add an article of your clothing ( that you wouldn't mind getting shredded in case that happens!!)in the crate or next to it so he can feel that you are even closer! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Good luck!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

It doesn't stop until I let her out.
When the whining and carrying on stops getting results, it will stop. The worst of four Malinois pups that I crate trained took three days to settle in. If your not doing it already, you might try placing a towel over the crate at bedtime to block out all distraction then buy a nice set of earplugs and get some sleep. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Jeannette and Scott.

I think I'll try covering the crate tonight to see if that helps. I'd rather give that a shot before moving the crate to the bedroom.

Covering the crate works for me every time. But it may take a week of this before you see the results esp. if the habit is formed. No lights either. Also do this through the day (several times)for 15-30 min intervals BUT NEVER let the dog out unless it's quiet...if that means waiting another hour then so be it. I think you'll see some results after a week or so of consistency. Also you may wish to give it a buscuit/treat when going into the crate and when it's quiet and comes out of the crate and then spend a few min. playing one on one with the dog once it's released out of the crate. You also want a positive association with the crate.

Good Luck!

Brigita

Well, here's an update...

I tried BOTH methods last night.

Covering the crate resulted in even more and longer whining than before. This time she was at it before I even got up the stairs, even with the Kong in front of her.

Finally at 1:30 in the morning, I brought the crate up to my room. Once I put her in there and turned out the lights, she was whining just like when she's downstairs. The only advantage of her being there is that I could tell her "NO!" or "QUIET!" or bang the crate when she started getting noisy. Then when she was quiet I could tell her she was a good girl.

This seemed to quiet her down, although she was still getting me up at least once an hour with whimpering. Then I'd have to tell her to be quiet again and try to get back to sleep.

It sounds like a minor annoyance, or maybe even a humorous one, but this is really starting to take its toll on me. I haven't had a decent night's sleep in almost two months.

I can't do anything with her during the day, as both me and my wife are at work. During the day she's outside in her 6x8 chain-link kennel with a dog house.

So next step? Should I continue with the crate in the room? Or continue covering the crate downstairs and hope that the situation improves with time?

we've always had good luck with a "big" knuckle bone....something they can work on for a long time and music - something soothing, easy listening, classical, country.

This is NOT a suggestion for Eric, but a question for the board members that has to do with this crate behavior <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
I was told by someone that covering the dog's crate, sneaking in, and then banging on the crate when it starts to whine or bark will startle the dog ,and it will stop whining/barking. Supposedly the dog will associate his own whining/barking with his crate being banged on and being startled.
I did try this on my persistant pup, and it did NOT work! Later it was suggested that she was too young for the "crate banging" and that it only works on older dogs.. How does the board feel about this? anyone else try this or something similar , and get any results?
Anyway, I went back to ignoring her and putting ear plugs in to get some sleep and she finally settled down. To this date she is on my sleep schedule and won't wake me up until about 9am+ or so <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I think just being patient and waiting 'em out is the way to go.. It took her a few months to stop her whining. She still isn't perfect in her crate (still barks if I have her crated during the day and she can hear me upstairs doing housework etc..), but she's getting there..