Managing Crate Crying: Tips for Calming Your Puppy

Unlock the secrets to successful crate training as we delve into the art of balancing a puppy's natural inclination to cry with effective soothing techniques. I'm Amy Jensen, founder of BAXTER and Bella, and today, we're tackling one of the most common challenges new puppy families face: the dreaded crate cries. This episode is brimming with insights on understanding your puppy's sounds, whether they stem from discomfort, overstimulation, or a simple plea for attention. We'll discuss why creating a secure environment for your dog is crucial and how consistent routines can reduce anxiety, helping your puppy adjust to their new haven.

Chapters

• 0:00 Balancing Puppy Crying in Crate
• 9:12 Effective Crate Training Tips for Puppies

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Today on the podcast we are talking about how to find balance with puppy crying. When we first crate train a puppy, there can be some whining and crying because they don't know how to be alone yet. So today we want to talk about balancing the crying with soothing, without rewarding the unwanted behavior, and helping our puppies love their crates. Welcome to the Puppy Training Podcast. I'm Amy Jensen, founder of Baxter and Bella, the online puppy school. Here we are all about helping you create the best possible experience raising a puppy, from training tips to practical tricks, all aimed at fostering a happy, well-behaved dog who truly feels like part of the family. So if you are ready to enjoy the journey and strengthen the bond with your dog, let's get started. Welcome to the puppy training podcast. I'm glad you're here today. Thanks for listening. Today we want to talk about finding balance. So when our puppies first come to us and we're trying to crate train them or get them used to being alone, where we're not constantly entertaining them, they struggle a little bit and sometimes they're going to throw a tantrum and sometimes they really are sad. So when they first come to us, they don't know how to be alone and there's a lot of just training them to be able to handle that without crying. So this is one of the key hurdles that both new puppy families and their dogs experience. Crates provide a safe and secure environment for puppies, but this process of training them to be happy in one can sometimes be difficult, particularly when it comes to managing barking and whining. Now, while it's normal for a puppy to express their discomfort or loneliness through barking or whining, it's important to handle this phase with care. We don't want to inadvertently reinforce unwanted behavior Now. The key to success lies in balancing soothing and reassurance, because we want our puppies to feel safe with us, with consistency, patience and clear boundaries. Today let's talk about how to achieve that.

Speaker 1: 2:01

First, let's understand the role of crate training and why we use it. So it's important to understand the role of crate training in a puppy's development. A crate is not meant to be punishment. This is not somewhere we just put our puppy and say, okay, you're on your own, but rather a safe, comfortable space where they can feel secure. It's a tool that helps with house training. It gives our puppy boundaries. We can put their chews in there, where they get to learn oh, these are the things I love to chew on without creating unwanted habits out in our home by chewing table legs or sofas, for example. So we prevent destructive behavior when we're not able to closely supervise our puppy Now. Crate training can also help our puppy develop good habits, such as learning to sleep alone and calming themselves down when it's time for rest.

Speaker 1: 2:48

However, because puppies are social and they often feel anxious when left alone, and because when they first come to us, they've never been alone Likely, they've always been with litter mates it is common that they'll start to cry or bark when initially placed in a crate or an exercise pen. And again, this behavior is due to them simply never having been alone before. They've always been with littermates, so they don't know what it means to be alone and they don't know if they can feel safe that way if somebody's coming back. Okay, there's some time that needs to be built up in that trust factor. So we can help them through it, though, and we do it in a very compassionate way. Now, why do puppies bark or cry when they're in their crate or exercise pen? There are several reasons why they might do this. One would be discomfort. We're always checking out the comfort or need of our puppy first, so we want to make sure it's not too hot or too cold, or do they need to go to the bathroom. They might cry as a way of expressing some kind of discomfort. So we always check that out first.

Speaker 1: 3:46

Then the next one is, as I mentioned, learning to be alone. Puppies, again, are naturally social creatures and when they're isolated then they can feel stress. But because we live in a busy world and there's no way our puppy can come everywhere with us, there are times our puppy will have to learn to be alone, that it's important that we help them through this process. The next one would be overstimulation. So a puppy's excitement or energy levels might lead them to vocalize. So if they have some energy and they need to release that energy there's not a lot of space to do it in a crate or an exercise pen they might start to vocalize. Hey, I really just need to move.

Speaker 1: 4:23

The last one would be the need for attention. So puppies, again, might learn that crying or barking gets them what they want. Like I will talk to them, I will look at them, I will go over and open the gate for them and let them out. We want to be careful not to inadvertently reward this unwanted behavior because they can quickly learn ah, this works, barking works, whining works, this is how I get out, okay. So understanding the underlying reason for the barking is important in determining how we can respond appropriately. Now let's talk about the balance between soothing and not reinforcing unwanted behavior. Now the challenge in crate training is to find that balance between comforting my puppy and then preventing them from learning that barking leads to rewards or being let out of the crate.

Speaker 1: 5:09

Here are several strategies that can help us. Number one is establish a routine. Puppies love routine. They love to know what's coming next. This helps them relax. Establishing a consistent daily schedule for feeding, potty breaks, playtime, crate time helps our puppy understand what to expect and when. A regular schedule can reduce anxiety and it minimizes the likelihood of unnecessary barking or crying in the crate, as our puppy will become accustomed to when it's time to settle down. So if your puppy just knows to expect nap time, they'll settle down much more quickly.

Speaker 1: 5:42

Number two is being gradual about it. So if our puppy's not used to being in a crate maybe they've never been in one before we want to introduce it gradually, and I always introduce my crates in addition to an exercise pen, so they have what we call a Zen Den area. It's a space that's theirs. They have the crate that they can go into to take naps or relax or chew toys. Then they have the little bit bigger area where their food and their water bowls are. But this is their space. It becomes their bedroom. We can spend time in that place with them and then sometimes we are outside of the gate right or the door so that there is a little bit of separation there. There's a boundary in place where they can't always get to us, but we're close enough that they can smell us, they can lick us if needed, they can soothe themselves because we're close enough by them. So we walk you through how to do this in our first week together program. It's part of the online puppy school. We teach you how to make this transition over the first seven days. The first few days, we're with our puppy as much as possible. So if they're in the crate, that crate is right next to me. But by day seven I'm headed to the grocery store and the puppy's all alone.

Speaker 1: 6:52

Number three would be ignoring the crying when appropriate. I have to be careful saying ignoring. I don't want you guys to all send me emails now or send me messages, but I want to be clear that sometimes our puppy is going to be barking or crying and it's really tempting to rush in and to just rescue them right. However, responding to the barking, particularly in the early stages of crate training, can reinforce the behavior. Our puppies will begin to associate crying with getting attention or being let out. Instead, we want to try to ignore the barking. If we are sure our puppy's needs are met and they are comfortable meaning they don't need to go to the bathroom, they're not too hot or cold and they've had enough exercise, they're okay.

Speaker 1: 7:35

During this period, it's really important to be consistent. If you give in to the crying once, your puppy may learn that persistence leads to a reward. Instead, wait until your puppy settles down and becomes quiet before letting them out of the crate. This will teach them that calm behavior is what gets them attention. Number four is comfort, but we don't want to reward, so this is where we have to balance right. There will be times when our puppy's crying is due to genuine distress and we might feel the need to intervene, which is important. We should do so. In these situations, we can comfort our puppy without reinforcing the barking, gently speaking to them or offering a calming voice can help soothe them. Or even just sitting next to them reading a book, decreasing the distance that we are away from them and not necessarily giving them any attention. We're just literally moving closer to them and working on emails or reading a book or watching a show. But we're closer to them to help them feel safe can really help them calm down.

Speaker 1: 8:32

We want to avoid immediately letting them out of the crate as soon as they're quiet. Help them be quiet for two to three minutes, even if you can, and if you can't do that with a young puppy, at least several seconds, right 10, 15, 20 seconds. We don't want to just immediately walk over they, quiet down for one second and open the door. We want it to be a little while of a wait. We want that calm behavior that they're able to give us to lengthen out over time. So if we respond too quickly, our puppy might start to associate barking with receiving attention. We don't want that. Instead, again, try to wait for them to calm down and then lengthen out the time that they're calm before.

Speaker 1: 9:12

Number five would be providing positive reinforcement for calm behavior. So when we notice our puppy settling down, we can reward that calm behavior. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool in training and by rewarding our puppy for being calm in the crate we reinforce that behavior that we want to see more of. We can use food, praise, toys as rewards, but be sure to do so when the puppy's calm, rather than in the middle of their crying or barking For crate time. I like to just already have chews and toys in the puppy's crate ready to go. Then I don't interrupt any sort of barking or whining with a reward. They already have their rewards ready to go and something to do. It's not like we're putting them in their crate and just having them be bored. We're offering things for them to be able to play with, chew on that kind of thing, or they can simply just take a nap. That's fine too.

Speaker 1: 10:00

Number six is exercise and mental stimulation. A tired puppy is a more calm puppy. Now be careful with this one, because sometimes our puppy looks like they need more physical exercise when in actuality they need a nap, they need more sleep. But we do want to make sure that throughout the day they're getting good mental and physical exercise, that they are running around and playing. Maybe they've worked on some puzzle toys or they've done a training session. That way, when we place them in their crate or exercise pen, they'll be ready to settle down, especially if they're tired and need that nap. Now there might be some initial barking or whining because they are throwing a little tantrum about not wanting to settle down, but it's really important that they do get sleep, and so if we put them in these smaller spaces they're more likely to settle themselves down and take the nap that they really need. So a nice go sniff, walk, a play session, a puzzle toy can help burn off energy and prepare puppies to settle down in their crates and pens. Keep in mind that puppies have high energy levels and without sufficient outlets for this energy they may become restless in the crate. We definitely don't want to leave them in their crates or pens too long, so every so often we're getting them out of their pens and crates to go out, run around, play, do some training sessions, get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, and then they can go back into their smaller area. But we want to make sure that throughout the day they're getting plenty of breaks as well.

Speaker 1: 11:16

Number seven would be to make the space comfortable. Make sure that our puppy's crate is an inviting place to be. This means it can be the right size it's not too large or too small and maybe it has a soft bed in it or a blanket our puppy loves. You can put those in the pen as well. I like to attach the pen to the crate so that my puppy has several spaces that they can lay down and rest if they would like. It's again their bedroom, so we make it a comfortable place to be In the beginning. You can also put an item in there that smells like you, maybe a sweatshirt that you wore or a t-shirt that you recently had on, so that that can comfort the puppy as well, because they feel like you're nearby.

Speaker 1: 11:52

Last, make sure we avoid punishment. Crate training should be a positive experience for our puppy. We're not going to punish our puppy for crying or barking, which can lead to fear and anxiety and a breakdown of trust, which we don't want. We don't use the crate as a form of punishment. We can use it as a timeout place, but again, inside the crate they have their favorite things. So it's more of a redirection tool, not a here go to the corner and do nothing tool. Okay, so it's more of a redirection tool, not a here, go to the corner and do nothing tool. Okay, so we can use it in a positive way, not in a punishing way. We want to focus on reinforcing the good behaviors that we see and gradually building our puppy's comfort with being in the crate and pen area.

Speaker 1: 12:28

House training is an essential part of a puppy's upbringing. If they're going to live in a home with humans, they've got to learn how to go to the bathroom in an appropriate area. So, a home with humans, they've got to learn how to go to the bathroom in an appropriate area. So using crates and pens when our puppies are small or new to our homes is super helpful and very valuable. So the process can come with initial challenges, but the results are well worth the effort. Managing barking and crying does require that we are patient, consistent and we have a balanced approach. But ensuring that our puppy's needs are met, providing positive reinforcement when they're calm, avoiding rewarding unwanted crying or whining, we can help our puppy adjust to their crate and pen area in a way that is both humane and effective. Over time, our puppies will learn to see their crates and pens as a safe and peaceful space. It's their bedroom and they love their bedroom. They love spending time in there. It's where all the good things happen and the barking and whining will become a thing of the past.

Speaker 1: 13:22

Thanks for listening today. You guys have an awesome rest of your week, happy training. Thanks for tuning in to the puppy training podcast. I hope today's tips help you feel more confident and excited about raising your dog. Remember, with a little patience and consistency, you can create a loving bond and a well-behaved pup who's a joy to have in your dog. Remember, with a little patience and consistency, you can create a loving bond and a well-behaved pup who's a joy to have in your family. If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave a review and share it with fellow puppy parents. For more resources, visit Baxter and Bella online. Until next time, happy training.