Help, How do you do it

GemBlueTopaz1984

Hi All,

I need to know how you put up with a new puppy screamng all night. I picked up my new lab male puppy, I am crate training as I did with molly my black lab when she was a puppy. I live in a semi detached house but the walls between our house and the adjoining house are really thin and all noise can be heard tv, talking and such. Last 3 nights my puppy has howled so much for so long I have had to get him out, and take him upstairs. I initially left him and he screamed for 1 hour at 10pm till 11pm then quiet til 2pm and he started again. Now personally if it was just me to consider I would just put up with it perseveer and let him get used to it but my neighbors have 3 little kids. I can imagine they are cursing me to hell at the moment.
I know I am not supposed to get him out other then a quick toilet trip when he crys as it will teach him that crying is successful and he will always do it. But how do you rationalise putting you neighbors through hell until he learns, they didn't chose to get the puppy I did. I've tried all the recommended stuff, worn clothes in with him, hot water bottle, radio left on ticking clock in his bed but he just won't settle when that crate door shuts.
Only thing I can't do is take the crate upstairs it far too big. I know crating is the best, Molly loved the crate and we never really had a crying night with her it was her little home she could go to when she was tired, i was hoping Mason would be the same but evidently not.

Also I can't put them in together as they don't stop playing with each other and it would be havoc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gem

supermezzo

Take a bottle of wine next door, explain that you're doing the equivalent of 'controlled crying' with the dog and that it won't be forever. If they've got small kids that should remember what its like. Then go back to letting him cry but be prepared for that fact that he has learnt that howling works now so it may be even harder to break that habit now.
Have you tried really wearing him out in the day, then feeding him and putting him in his crate just as he's nodding off? That way he can have an hours kip in there and you can wake him up all smiles and 'good boy' so that he associates the cage with good stuff?

GemBlueTopaz1984

Hi

Thanks, Yes he get worn out during the day, so much so he naps during the day, and I mean unwakeable naps, I took him the the vet and tried to get him out the box to weigh him he was so asleep none of us could wake him we had to lift him out and put him on the scales asleep. The vet though it was hilarious he was such a heavy sleeper, snoring loudly. I might do the wine thing. I don't know them that well, but I do know she isn't a dog fan after our fence blew down and molly kept going into their garden, she seemed terrified of my Molly (excitable but soft as cotton wool). I had to put up a tempory fence until I could get someone in to put it back up. I just feel bad if the kids are getting woken up. I am starting to realise we had it so easy with Molly as a puppy. I know I have to leave him and if we lived in the middle of no where with nothing around me I would have no issue as I know its for the best, I can sit through the crying (put earphones on and listen to music) but I just feel so guilty waking neighbours at 2-3am.

Gem

gratefulforhelp_2

Bless him. We put our lab puppy in our bedroom for the first fortnight, and it wasn't easy but she didn't howl or cry. Then we put her in the kitchen and she was ok as she was in a routine.
I can see the prob if the crate is too big to go upstairs. If howling = you go and get him I can see the connection he will make too.

Could you get a smaller crate still big enough while he's a pup and put that in your room? Doesn't he cuddle up to your other dog?

GemBlueTopaz1984

hi,

thanks, we could look at getting a smaller crate for the bedroom, i'll speak to OH about it. Molly is 14 months so still a pup herself at heart, she thinks he's a toy and won't leave him alone. if i put them in together neither would sleep cos they play all the time they are together, molly wants him to constantly play tuggy with her (her favourite game) not really so much tuggy as each has an end of a teddy or toy and molly drags him around the laminate floor because he isn't strong enough to grip the floor and when he lets go she brings it back to him to start again.

DogsBody

We have titchy rooms too, and our big crate won't fit in the room with the bed, so when we are settling a pup, one or other of us kips on the sofa (next to the crate) for a few nights. That way, we can reassure pup he hasn't been abandoned without letting him out (unless he needs a wee) - fingers through the bars and a quiet few words has always done the trick, and if we were in a different room we probably wouldn't hear the 'I need a wee' noises:)

Has never taken more than a couple of weeks before crate + pup is ready to go in the same room (kitchen) where the adults sleep, although we tend to keep pups crated overnight until they are old enough not to be plaguing the oldies all night

Even if you don't know your neighbours all that well, it looks better if you go to them before they have to come to you and complain - certainly makes me feel more kindly disposed towards someone if they come to me first with an explanation/apology, that way I know the problem is temporary/they are trying to sort it, and I don't get so wound up about what might otherwise be considered 'unreasonable behaviour'

GemBlueTopaz1984

Hi,

Thanks,

We could get a crate in the room just not the one we have, (was given a great dane size crate when we got Molly). I'll nip a bottle round tonight to say sorry. Picture of the trouble maker.

Gem

gratefulforhelp_2

GemBlueTopaz1984 wrote: »

hi,

thanks, we could look at getting a smaller crate for the bedroom, i'll speak to OH about it. Molly is 14 months so still a pup herself at heart, she thinks he's a toy and won't leave him alone. if i put them in together neither would sleep cos they play all the time they are together, molly wants him to constantly play tuggy with her (her favourite game) not really so much tuggy as each has an end of a teddy or toy and molly drags him around the laminate floor because he isn't strong enough to grip the floor and when he lets go she brings it back to him to start again.

How sweet! The troublemaker is gorgeous. Maybe someone will lend you a smaller crate for a bit?

manda1205

Awww so sweet, makes me want another. We have a black lab called molly too. Agree with the other poster about giving the neighbours some wine and just perservere. Our molly whined and howled for a week, then she just stopped. Also dont go to her whilst she's making any noise, stand outside the door till she stops for a few seconds then enter. But honestly get some ear plugs and ride it out. Good luck.

OnAndUp

Soooo cute

Might not help much with the overnight thing but......to get him to like the crate more.

Someone previously posted links on here to a video (but I can't find it!) about how to get your dog to love his crate. Basically you give them a treat every time the door closes behind them so to create a positive association with the door closing, and at first do it quite a bit let him in and out after a short time, which might help him a bit maybe to settle more and to see the crate as a more positive thing?

Ps Have you tried putting a cover over the crate to make it more of a den?

rising_from_the_ashes

Agree with Dogsbody I'd leave them in the same room (could you not put him in the crate and leave her "loose") - the company will settle him down and they will fall asleep eventually (and much better than howling).

Very adorable BTW!