leaving her in her crate

I left Lola for the 1st time today, for ten minutes to see how she would get on with it. I filmed it and she cried the whole time, she is 8 weeks and a couple of days. Is this normal? Shall I just keep trying for ten minutes here and there?

Hiya,is Lola normally happy going in and out of her crate,does she normally sleep in it at night? We have a big blanket covering 2/3 of George's crate so he feels secure in it. We built George's time up starting with just shutting him in,leaving the room for a few mins and going back in. We don't make a fuss of him when shutting or opening his crate so he doesn't pick up on our emotions. Another idea is leaving a stuffed kong for Lola,I use a mixture of George's biscuits mixed with banana or chicken,it keeps them amused for a while...especially if you freeze it. Hope this helps,good luck.

I have put a full kong in there and she is constant. I think she thinks the whinging is gonna get what she wants. I've decided to leave her in there until she is quiet and every time she is I'm giving her a treat. She sleeps in there ok at night. Next to us in bed. We have only had her four days and I'm not expecting miracles but I know if I let her out when she cries she thinks this is ok.

Aaah bless her. We had George sleep in his crate in our room for the 1st week as he really missed his mum and then moved him downstairs. Yes,agree,if you go in as soon as she cries she'll think that'll happen every time she cries. Like you say,it's very early days,just build up the time gradually. We had 2 weeks at Christmas to get George ready for us going to work and I was really worried but he's fine. Best advice I had was to just put him in,shut door and walk out,no looking back or saying goodbye etc. same when I come home;I open crate door and then walk straight through to kitchen and open the door to let him put for a wee. Then make a fuss of him once he's been out. He's 14 weeks old now and a little star.

She just cried for 15 mins solid, she went silent and laid down so I let her out.I'm going to do this with her evryday as I don't want a wingey dog. This forum is amazing and I really appreciate everyone's help! She has already learnt sit in the 3 days we have had her so I'm hopeful for her

Oh wow,they're soo clever aren't they? Sounds like you're doing everything right,being consistent and building up the time. We leave the radio on low as well! Do you cover the top of her crate with a cover? Really advise puppy classes when she's old enough too. I don't think we socialised Holly,our old staff(she had to be put down last sept aged 12 :-( ) and consequently she didn't like other dogs. George is the most sociable little
pup you ever met ,loves all dogs and everyone he meets. Sounds like Lola's going to be a star too! Can't believe how clever Staffies are and how they just want to please you all the time.

All above advice is great keep at it little and often and increasing time. As only 8 weeks maybe an idea to have her in bedroom for a few weeks. Do you have a blanket or towel with Mums scent on aswell? xx

Hi, I believe you should start as you mean to go on. If you intend having her in your bedroom great, but if not, I don't think you should move it. I would also put her in there every time she has a nap, (after the 15 minutes sleepy cuddles on your knee of course ), that way she'll get used to it quicker.
How big is your crate?
Pete

We have her in the bedroom and are definitely going to puppy classes, we are big campers so need her to be sociable. I'm sure she will enjoy her crate eventually. She goes in more then she did at first

She'll do fine. We love camping too,just up graded to a camper van which George's crate will fit into! They're so sociable,Lola will love it.

Yeah we have a camper, hopeful she will like her first trip

As long as she's with you she'll be happy!! George just wants to play with us or sleep on our lap so it's equally great that he's happy in his crate while we're out. We really make up for it when we get home! A toy he loves is a frozen knotted tea towel,he's got a shop-load of toys and that,and his kong,is his favourite!

Totaly fine and get used to it. there is no silver bullet and certain things will trigger a responce. if anything new happens and i leave the house both will sit and howl,,,,just because they feel left out yet 99.9% of the time they will just bed down.

This was one of my worrying things when I first got Roxy and 5 weeks later she is as good as gold in her crate. You will probably find that she whines at first, but play some puppy/doggy sleep music.. check out You Tube and it works wonders for Roxy good luck

We have had her a week, and she only had 1 accident in the house yesterday, otherwise all outside. Now sleeps for 3.5 hours. And yesterday when n got in her crate all on her own for a nap... Progress