We have had our 9 month old Brittney now for 2 weeks, most of which either myself or my girlfriend were home with him. For the first week we only crated him at night when he was really tired because he would go crazy barking and digging at the crate if not ready to just fall asleep, and living in an apartment building I can't really just let him bark the whole time or our neighbors wouldn't appreciate it. We bought the tri-tronics bark limiter collar hoping that would keep him quiet since we eventually would have to both be gone for work. The first few days we worked him slowly and the collar only went off twice in about four days. We would leave him in the crate for up to about 3 hours (some times while at home, some while gone) and there hadn't been a problem.

Yesterday, both of us had to work, so we put him in the crate with the collar and headed out. He was in the crate for 7 hours total and had peed the crate, I don't blame him for that, he hadn't been in it for that long ever and hasn't had to hold it that long except for overnight (which he does fine). I was disturbed though when taking off the bark collar to see its counter displaying that it corrected him 23 times. My guess is that it was probably when he was needing to pee and tried to make noise to get out.

I have a few days in a row now off, so I want to try to work him up to holding it longer because there will be times in the near future that he will have to do 7 hours again!

Sorry for the long back story, but here are the questions...

1) How can I tell if he is panting/whining/barking to get out to use the bathroom or if he is just doing it because he doesn't want to be in the crate?

2) He never seems comfortable in the crate, He will go into it reluctantly and will usually lay down and sleep, but he won't take any treats while in it and will not play with any toys, bones or even eat pieces of meat while closed in (he will let it just sit there in front of him, but when the door is opened, he will go back in to get the treats). Is this just something that may change as he gets more used to being in it for longer periods of time? I do feed him in the crate as well.

3)I seem to see people say to not leave the dog in the crate too often and to tether him to you when not in the crate so he doesn't make a mistake in the house. I am going to try this, but is there a certain amount of time I should leave him out of the crate? I can take him out to use the bathroom every hour, but if I do, will that not help him learn to hold it?

Thanks for your help!
Rob

When Maggie was 9 months old, I was still coming home at noon from work to let her out of the crate (or laundry room). Even though she was sleeping through the night without having to go out, she seemed to need to go out still after about 4 to 5 hours during the day.

As for the crate, keep trying. 2 weeks isn't that long. I don't think I would use a bark limiter, but would just take some cookies to the neighbors and explain that you are crate training and there may be a ruckus from time to time. Leave him in there for longer periods and tether him to you when he is not in there so you can keep track of him and there are no accidents.

 Quote: Rob Capstraw

1) How can I tell if he is panting/whining/barking to get out to use the bathroom or if he is just doing it because he doesn't want to be in the crate?

If you have taken him out recently and he did his business, then he doesn't want to be in the crate. Also, if he hasn't been out for a pee for a while, once he is quiet (DO NOT take him out if he is carrying on) take him straight outside. He'll start to get used to a schedule.

BTW, there are lots of crate training strands, have you done a search?