Stanley Coren once rightly said, “The greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you may not come back when you go out the door without them.” 80% of the root cause of your puppy crying in crate can be attributed to this quote. The other 20% may be need-based or physical discomfort or a health issue. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of dealing with your puppy’s crying behavior in the crate and understand how to help them to the best of our abilities.
4 reasons your Puppy won’t stop crying in the crate
There may be a multitude of reasons behind your dog’s whiny behavior in the crate. Let’s look at 4 most common reasons
1. They may be needing something
Puppies find a way to communicate with us whenever they need something. Some dogs may do it more subtly whereas some may be more expressive and vocal. Puppies have tiny bladders and a digestive system that is hard at work 24*7.
Frequent hunger pangs and the need to relieve themselves every now and then are common occurrences in puppies. Your puppy may be crying in the crate to communicate one such essential need. Pay attention and make sure to respond to it favorably to enable your dog to settle better inside the crate.
2. They are trying to gain your attention
Once you have met all of your puppy’s basic and essential needs for the time being and they aren’t suffering from any medical condition or pain, there is a high chance that they are crying to get your attention.
Puppies can be very smart for their age and are excellent at reading humans. They are quick to figure out what gets them rewarded and are likely to repeat those behaviors. They also have a major amount of FOMO and always like to be a part of everything that’s happening around them. Thus, crate can be frustrating for some puppies, especially when a lot is going on around them when they are in there.
3. They are anxious or/and in pain
Pain may cause your puppy to vocalize and get more anxious in the crate due to the inability to move around and seek comfort. Several puppies may also experience isolation distress and/or separation anxiety when left alone in the crate.
Separation anxiety is a serious behavioral issue and must be addressed early on. It is a complex subject that may require professional intervention. Separation anxiety is when your puppy gets severely anxious in the absence of a particular human(s) and expresses it through extreme behaviors, almost to the point of harming themselves.
On the other hand, isolation distress is the inability to cope and self-engage when left alone and does not have to do with separation from a particular entity. Do not confuse isolation distress with separation anxiety.
Pain and anxiety may cause your puppy to vocalize and get more anxious in the crate due to the inability to move around and seek comfort.
4. Negative association with the crate
Several puppies grow up with negative associations with the crate because of inappropriate training and association building. This may cause them to whine in the crate even when left for brief periods. Boredom, lack of stimulation, lack of ample exercise, bad timing and using the crate as punishment are all factors that add to negative association.
Another reason why your puppy may be crying is they have no association with the crate whatsoever and have no idea what it means to be locked up in it. This typically happens when there is no structured routine around crate training and is used only when pet parents need to step out of the house.
Boredom, lack of stimulation, lack of ample exercise, bad timing and using the crate as punishment are all factors that add to negative association.
How long to let the puppy cry in the crate? Should I let my puppy cry it out?
The duration you should let your puppy cry in the crate highly varies based on your puppy’s needs, age, and the stage of crate training they are at.
When starting with crate training, you must start with very short durations, give your pup company and let them out before they get uncomfortable. However, if they do start whining in that very short period too, make sure to let them out a few minutes after they manage to calm down. Doing so repeatedly will reinforce that the faster they calm down, the faster they’ll be let out.
While a puppy needs to learn to be alone and comfortable in a crate, it’s equally important to provide comfort items, positive associations, and a secure environment. It’s okay to comfort your new puppy the first few days and nights when they’re crying helplessly in the crate, but do not make it a habit.
However, if your puppy is crying because they need to go to the bathroom, are hungry, or have some other immediate need, it’s crucial to address those needs promptly.
It’s okay to comfort your new puppy the first few days and nights when they’re crying helplessly in the crate, but do not make it a habit.
An important tip to remember is even if your puppy may vocalize excessively in the crate in the initial training phase, do not get frustrated and give up. On the contrary, increase the frequency of crate time while reducing each session duration.
How do I get my puppy to stop crying in his crate? 5 tips for immediate help!
1. Build a Disneyland in there
A crate is essentially your puppy’s bedroom. Your bedroom is your personal sanctuary. You take pains to make it comfortable, cozy and inviting. Why treat the crate any differently?
A wired metal crate with just a mat in there may not be as inviting as a crate that has a puzzle toy with some tasty treats in there, a chew toy attached to one of the crate-walls, a snuggly toy with a heartbeat, and a cozy resting space that emits the scent of calming pheromones.
NEVER use the crate as punishment. One negative incident can override 100 things you may have done to create a positive association towards the crate for your puppy. Puppies have a tender and impressionable mind.
Going shopping for a variety of toys every now and then can be expensive and tedious. A subscription model that will home-deliver toys and treats customized to your dog’s needs – now that’s smart pet parenting! Bark Box is a modern-day solution for every puppy owner out there who is invested in their pooch’s well-being.
They include a variety of toys in each box, such as plush toys, rubber toys, interactive toys, and more. This variety helps in keeping your dog’s interest by offering different textures, shapes, and play experiences.
2. Your puppy should never feel isolated in there
Yes, a crate’s main purpose is to keep your dog safe and out of trouble in your absence. But, that is always the end goal in the process of crate training. The starting point for it is to never make your puppy feel like they will be isolated in the crate.
During the initial training phase, keep your dog company every single time they step into the crate, regardless of the amount of time they’re in there. Play, interact, reward and be seen.
Gradually, as your dog starts settling in, start walking away and coming back soon to give your dog some assurance. It would help to set up the crate in a spot that makes it easy for you and your puppy to see each other from different corners of the house.
For a puppy that has major FOMO, it would help to set up the crate in a spot that makes it easy for you and your puppy to see each other from different corners of the house.
3. Build a routine that works for both of you
Puppy crying in the crate can be frustrating for us as pet parents, but it is even more confusing for them. Hence, the reaction! A routine would build predictability, which would build a habit, which would in turn provide security and confidence for your pup. A secure and confident pup is quick to settle in a variety of situations, including the crate.
Keep crate times short and fixed after certain activities throughout the day for your dog such as post walks, post meals, post play and so on. Practicing this every single day will teach your dog to eventually step into the crate willingly and settle down faster in there.
The timing is of the essence here. Rather than putting your puppy in the crate in the evenings, when they’re going to be at the peak of their energy levels, consider putting them in there in the afternoon for a good nap, when they’ll naturally be in a calmer state of mind.
CHECK OUT EASY WAYS TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR DOG IN 14 DAYS
4. Know when to ignore
If you are confident that your puppy doesn’t have immediate needs, it is fine to ignore your puppy crying in crate to avoid reinforcing attention-seeking behavior. Catering to every whim and cry that your puppy lets out is a classic way to spoil them, and not in a good way!
More than half your battle is won if your puppy is well exercised, well fed, ready to sleep and doesn’t have to pee when they are about to step into the crate. You, my dear pet parent, need a break too! Don’t be hard on yourself for letting them cry for a few minutes inside the crate.
One of the things that goes wrong while trying to ignore your pup’s cries is giving them attention after several minutes of attention-seeking vocalization. Doing so only teaches them that they have to whine for a longer time to get your attention.
Don’t be hard on yourself for letting them cry for a few minutes inside the crate.
5. Ensure plenty of healthy stimulation – before, during and after
A well-stimulated puppy is always a healthy balance of physically tired and mentally calm. Several times, a puppy crying in crate is a result of boredom and lack of proper stimulation.
You may spend a great deal of time playing tug or fetch with your dog and yet end up with a puppy that cries like all hell breaks loose when in the crate. This is probably because your puppy needs a good mix of mental as well as physical activities. Pure physical exercise may lead to momentary exhaustion but underlying overstimulation.
A healthy dose of stimulation before, during and after crate times will keep things fun for your dog and make the crate less intimidating.
When is it time to worry?
Your puppy’s prolonged distress in the crate could be because of severe anxiety, pain, or a highly negative association with the crate. While it is okay to ignore the initial cries, it’s not recommended to ignore if your puppy –
- has been crying for over several minutes
- is crying in a distressed tone
- starts harming themselves through behaviors like aggressively chewing the wires of the crate, excessively chewing or licking their body parts, urinating or defecat,ing and so on
- shows signs of fear
- is persistently trying to escape from the crate
- is excessively drooling
Sometimes, we may do everything right, but certain things are beyond our control. Consider getting professional help to address these concerns ASAP.
Some dogs may never be able to take to the crate. In such cases consider other forms of confinement such as a bigger playpen, baby gates, tethering, and so on.
Baby gates are excellent for blocking off certain areas of the house while making a considerable portion still available for your pup.
Playpens work incredibly well in confining your puppy while providing them with a larger area to play in. They are great for folks who need to leave their puppies alone for several hours during the day.
3 tips to help your dog settle better in the crate
Getting your puppy to settle better in the crate is a combination of training and stimulation. Here are three tips that may help –
1. Exercise your dog before longer durations of crate time
A longer walk or a little extra playtime can help relieve your dog of their excess pent-up energy. It would also help settle down faster and be in a calmer mental and physical state for most of the day.
When exercising your puppy outdoors, provide plenty of opportunities to sniff. Sniffing and exploring will help calm their nerves and stimulate their sensory organs. A tired dog is less likely to continue crying in the crate.
2. Keep it low-key before, during and after crate time
It is heartbreaking for us pet parents to leave our puppies alone. However, avoid creating a fuss and being over-expressive with emotions around your pup’s crate time. This is because sometimes dogs tend to mirror our energies and body language and respond to it favorably. If your goal is for your dog to settle down and be calm, try to exhibit calm energy from the get-go.
Keeping things low-key can help bring their energy levels down. Your dog is likely to follow your lead and settle down. Puppies often look to their owners for reassurance and guidance.
3. Get help
Help in this case does not just mean professional but also from the right kind of tools and products. Invest in high-engagement toys and activities, calming scents and other products to prevent your puppy from crying in the crate and encourage them to settle better and faster.
If you will be gone for several hours, hire a dog walker to take your pup out or just to check on them. If your puppy continues to be highly distressed in the crate, consult a professional to help you and your puppy get through it.
Troubleshooting
“My puppy cries in the crate when I leave the room”
The initial phase of independence and isolation training is usually the trickiest. Start with short periods of separation. Leave the room for just a few seconds and gradually extend the time as your puppy becomes more comfortable being alone. Make sure to come back quickly and reward your pup for calm behavior. This will not only reinforce good behaviors, but also help your puppy learn that you will be back soon and isolation isn’t so scary after all.
If your puppy whines or cries when you leave, and you are confident they are safe and have been recently fed and taken care of, consider ignoring the whining. Responding to every cry may inadvertently reinforce the behavior.
“Puppy crying in crate at night”
Being left alone all night can be a scary affair for a little puppy. They may cry for a multitude of reasons at night such as seeking attention and comfort, feeling lonely or anxious, expressing discomfort during the adjustment period, expressing hunger, thirst or need for a bathroom break, and so on.
Another thing to make sure is that never leave them in the crate in an overstimulated state of mind. Build a bedtime routine involving low-intensity, mentally stimulating activities for your dog. This will help calm their nerves and settle down quickly. Playing games like tug and fetch right before bedtime may rile your dog up and lead to overstimulation, which in turn will delay the process of settling down in the crate.
Does putting a blanket over a dog crate help?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. A blanket over the crate may help stimulate a den-like feeling for your dog. This sense of security and privacy can provide comfort to a lot of pups. Covering the crate with a proper crate cover may also reduce overall stimulation by blocking off environmental visuals. This may make it easier for a puppy to sleep and may help reduce anxiety.
On the other hand, if visuals provide a sense of security and comfort to your dog, covering the crate with a blanket may prove to be counterproductive. The blanket helps regulate the temperature inside the crate to an extent. It creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. However, for breeds like Huskies or Malamutes, who prefer a cooler environment, the warmth created by a blanket may cause discomfort.
The only way to find out if a blanket over the crate would help is through trial and error.
Does a puppy outgrow crying in the crate?
With proper training and a structured schedule around crate timings, puppies can quickly learn to get comfortable spending time alone in the crate. Crying behavior in the crate persists as long as the puppy has zero or negative association with the crate. It is more prevalent in the initial stages of crate training when you and your pup are still trying to figure out the whole dynamic of the crate.
Puppies thrive on routine. When they understand that crate time is part of their daily routine and is associated with a ton of positive experiences, they are more likely to accept it without protest.
Having said that, the time spent in living with fear or negative association with the crate is also important. If a dog has spent several years of their lives hating the crate or being punished in it, they may never get to a point of loving the crate. In such cases, it’s best to eliminate the crate and find another way of restraining your dog.
In Conclusion
Consistency in training and responses from the owner play a crucial role in helping a dog love or hate their crate. A puppy crying in crate can be frustrating, especially when the behavior persists for extended periods. It’s important to note that each puppy is unique, and the timeline for outgrowing crate-related crying can vary. Some puppies may adjust quickly, while others may take more time. Take things at your dog’s pace and build a routine that works for both of you.