Continuing on the post regarding 'playing with my puppy',the members went on to discuss bell ringing and toilet habits and letting us know when our dogs need to 'go'. Well my dog has suddenly started to bark in his crate. It is deafening and no one can bear it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I followed Ed's crate training and he was very good and quiet I might add, yet the last couple of days he's been awful. At first I thought he was letting me know he needed to 'go' but I was proven wrong there and he's started barking around his mealtimes too. His does 'go' on command and he's never left in his crate for more than 2 hours in the day, yet I still find his crate wet soiled on occasion. He's now 15 weeks old. Should I ignore the barking? Is he trying it on with me? Any suggestions on him wetting his bed?
Please help, before I have to start wearing earplugs- I'd describe it as a very very loud deep scooby-doo bark <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

If it were our dog it would spend more time not less time in the crate., With that sai we would be taking the dog outside every hour or so but when it came back inside it woulod go right back into the crate.

We would cover the crate with a sheet and turn a radio on.

I would still be using the crate, and you really can't let the pup 'win' by letting him out when he barks. But what I would be doing to help 'stack the decks' in your favor to win this LOUD battle is what's probably in the other posting, the EXERCISE thing.

If, when the pup is out (and not let out cause he's barking), you take him for car rides, long walks, some basic training/socialization, LONG LONG LONG games of tug/fetch, and activities along those lines.......... I'm sure he'll still bark a bit in the beginning, but when you are truly worn out, you just have to nap sometime.

I found a 'modified' crate training worked in my circumstances. By this I mean when I was home, I used closed doors and baby gates to keep my puppy in the room with me. So I could keep an eye on them, do an IMMEDIATE correction if they squatted to poop/pee and run outside with them to praise as they finish. And I could do a ton of tiny play and 'come/treat' sessions thru out the day.

The only time I use the crate is to put my pup in it (with a treat) as the last thing when I do have to leave the house. Or at night (and I always keep the crate beside my bed at night so they were comforted by me being near).

And then I also do tons of the tiny trainings, socializiations, driving in the car, visiting friends, tug playing, and EXERCISE.

Thanks Ed- will do that.

Jenn- Thanks for that. However, I do all these things already. Playing , training exercises, car rides etc but I also have other dogs who at the moment do not mix with him, so that is why sometimes he's in the crate for up to 2 hours. He never messes in the house, he runs straight to the back door to go out and will squat on command (even if it's just a trickle). That's why I was a bit bothered about finding his bed wet occasionally. He doesn't make a sound during the night, only daytime and evening and also when I'm sat at the computer-his crate is in the same room, so I think that is him trying to get attention, which I ignore.
I'll start letting him out every hour as Ed suggested.
I can't overexercise him at the moment with him being a giant breed puppy (which I'd love to do) as you suggested.
Appreciate your advice, thanks.