Puppy crying while in the crate
 

I give her a treat when she goes in the crate, and there is a comfortable blanket for her to lay on and enough room to stand up, turn around and lay down. But whenever I put her in to leave the house she cries and it breaks my heart.

Is this normal? This is the face I had to look at when I left this morning http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/frown.png

http://www.pitbull-chat.com/attachme...717820&thumb=1

Yep, it is perfectly normal. I'd get a kong and fill it with yummy stuff (peanut butter, kibble, yogurt, etc) and then freeze it overnight. When you leave in the morning give her the kong and it will keep her occupied longer.

The best thing you can do though is totally ignore the whining and crying. If you give in it will never stop. Do you put her in her crate off and on throughout the day when you're home? Make it a fun place to go by feeding her in it, giving her treats, etc. She will get used to it and probably start to go inside on her own when she wants a quiet place to be.

We let her out of the crate when we are home so she has some freedom. But thats a good idea with feeding her in it and making it a safe/fun place for her. Thanks!

Just make sure that you feed and water the pup before you leave with enough time for her to poop and pee before crating and that you DO NOT give in to the whining or she will learn that whining = attention and freedom and will never stop!

Just remember, if you feed her a MEAL in the crate, they very often have to "go" a few minutes later!

A small snack, fine; regular meal -- get in the habit of taking her out soon after she eats it. Puppies are just that way!

How long is she in the crate?

Carla

shit, mine are 1 year old, and 8 months old, and they still act like I'm abandoning them every morning. lol I'm not sure it's something they grow out of, the puppy face just kills though, you're right. lol

She is in the crate during night time (sleep) and about 5-7 hours during the day depending on what time my fiance or I get out of work.

I went through this with Amy when I first adopted her. She stays in her own small room, not a crate, but she used to whine and scratch like nobody's business when I left. Like everyone said, do not respond to it. The other thing is to make sure it's not a big deal at all when you put her in. Just act like it's as normal as putting on your shoes. Pup in crate, off you go. Don't stick around to give her attention while she's in there. If you don't act like it's a big deal, she won't know it is.

I try to look at it from the pup's point of view -- that's 13-15 hours a day confined in a crate.