I wasn't able to find this in the previous discussion so I am sorry if this is a duplicate. I have a 3 month old gsd who cries alot when she is in her crate. She sometimes even gives me a really hard time in getting into the crate. I am going to purhcase some of the suggested toys from this site however is there anything else I can do for right now. We usually take her out in the morning, she does her duties, eats and hangs out with me for a little while until I can't watch her anymore so she goes into the crate. Oh boy than she barks from anywhere to 10 minutes to a hours. Help!!

Hi Sifa,
How are you getting her in the crate?

Do you ever let her out of the crate when she is crying?

Do you put something in the crate with her to keep her occupied, like a stuffed Kong toy or Everlasting toy?

Are you familiar with marker training?

Hi Sifa,

It will improve things quickly if you can inject some exercise/working/training time in the AM instead of having her hang around. A three month old pup has lots, and lots and lots of energy which needs to be expended in order for the dog to be ABLE to relax. It might require getting up a little bit earlier, but I highly recommend wearing this pup out appropriately for her age several times a day.

Also learn the marker training - it will be great for all her training.

There are some great posts on how to get a pup comfortable going in and out of her crate, but none of those are going to work on a pup not getting enough exercise.

2x everything said. Exercise that little cute rump big time, and the crate will be a lot easier. Guaranteed she'll at least settle down sooner.

The crate needs positive associations, and it can be done. Get her in with a piece of food--something that will last and she can work on while she's in there. During the day, when she's not near the crate, throw in a little treat. She'll smell it and go in and get it. Do it multiple times a day for a week of two if you have to. She'll start going in and out regularly.

My boys also thought to put in my puppy's best, best treat food that she'll turn herself inside out for (any Red Barn Roll meat), shut and lock the door. SHE BEGGED to go in. That helped a ton.

Also, don't let her out when she's barking or crying. If you start that, you're sunk. If it goes on for hours, and you want to let her out, you have to teach her "quiet," wait 3-5 seconds of quiet, then let her out. And that's just a real beginner increment--it needs to increase for as long as you need it to as she gets older. The crate, if you keep at it, is an issue that can be resolved and everyone is better for it.

I agree with them all. There is an eBook (free) on crate training. Read it. My pup literally screamed all night the first three nights he was in his, then he only whimpered and whined a couple of nights, then only two hours, then one day, 28 minutes and 40 seconds -- I know b/c I had started setting the timer. I would crate him, and within about thirty seconds of him STOPPING the whining I would let him out, treat him, and exercise. The eBook will walk you through it, it's great.

Now my pup readily goes into his crate at various times during the day and takes a lot of his naps in there, on his own, door open. We have a bedtime routine just like with my four little children, and he no longer even whines when I put him in the crate, he just curls up and goes to sleep.