Urgently need help with crate training!

Westcoaster · Mar 16, 2016

Our Frenchie is 15 weeks old.... we are trying to crate train him. We got him at 14 weeks, and the breeder told me he was familiar with his crate. The crate she gave us that was "his" he instinctively pees in it every time it was around, so we purchased a wire crate from the pet store. I slowly introduced it to him, putting his food in there and he would go in willingly to eat and even using treats and playing games. We don't plan on crating him overnight, just when we are at work and running errands.

Everytime I put him in, he whines and howls obnoxiously (sounds like an infant), and violently bites and chews at the bars. I'm almost worried he's going to hurt himself. Also, I only put him in after he's been exercised and fully eliminated. I even put chew toys, balls, but he has ZERO interest. Just whines and howls. I am sitting here, 15 feet away and he's crying and whining for the last half an hour. I can feel my anxiety rising....

I'm worried about the neighbours, his personal safety, and if he will ever take to it. Please, any advice... I'm desperate!

Westcoaster · Mar 16, 2016

... I can also add he just threw up water and peed.... and is still whining and chewing viciously at the bars.....

hannah · Mar 16, 2016

My girl did that....howling barking screaming and biting on the bars! Pretty sure most puppies do. You absolutely cannot let him out when he behaves like that, or else he will win and think he is alpha. And he will continue to make all the noise and go crazy until you give in and let him out because its worked for him before. It takes patience.

Are you training him to use a pee pad ? If he didnt pee on the pad.. pick him up tell him no and put him on the pad.

It takes a lot of work and patience! You have to be consistent. HANG IN THERE!

KimB3384 · Mar 16, 2016

Is there any room in your house where you can just contain him instead of crating him? I know this will probably make some people's heads explode, but it might be a good option for you. Our Frenchie was also "crate trained' but did the same exact thing you're describing. She just hated it. But being confined by a baby gate in the kitchen? Absolutely fine with it. We keep her bed there all the time now and she'll frequently just go out there to lay down. It's a barless crate with lots of space.

hannah · Mar 16, 2016

KimB3384 said:
Is there any room in your house where you can just contain him instead of crating him? I know this will probably make some people's heads explode, but it might be a good option for you. Our Frenchie was also "crate trained' but did the same exact thing you're describing. She just hated it. But being confined by a baby gate in the kitchen? Absolutely fine with it. We keep her bed there all the time now and she'll frequently just go out there to lay down. It's a barless crate with lots of space.

that's what I am meaning too. We never confine our puppies to the crate alone. We have the crate with the door open, inside an XPEN with a pee pad. Aiko still freaked out though. she is used to it now!

Westcoaster · Mar 16, 2016

He just chews and rips up puppy pads. He doesn't pee inside unless we leave him too long, he's good that way. He pees inside the crate, probably acting up. Do you think it would be better to put him in and just leave?

Westcoaster · Mar 16, 2016

Yeah, all I read about and talked to people was crate training. We don't want to. I bought an ex-pen, which I could try again. I also considered the kitchen, but not sure if he will destroy the cabinets in frustration?

Jakeyjake · Mar 16, 2016

I would try the x-pen with the crate inside with the door open. I wouldn't trust a teething pup in a confined room. We have little bitty teeth marks on our kitchen cabinets

Also make sure to never take her out if she is whining.

hannah · Mar 16, 2016

Westcoaster said:
He just chews and rips up puppy pads. He doesn't pee inside unless we leave him too long, he's good that way. He pees inside the crate, probably acting up. Do you think it would be better to put him in and just leave?

He is still a baby... you have to tell him no every time he does that to his pee pads. Aiko did that several times and we scolded her told her no again and again, until she learned she is not the boss, and now she doesn't rip them to shreds anymore. Puppy training is tough.

Consistency is key and not giving in

hannah · Mar 16, 2016

Jakeyjake said:
I would try the x-pen with the crate inside with the door open. I wouldn't trust a teething pup in a confined room. We have little bitty teeth marks on our kitchen cabinets Also make sure to never take her out if she is whining.

We also have teeth marks around our baseboard moulding from when we let her out before she was fully trained, back into the xpen she is until she can be safe/trusted alone
She actually chewed a peice of the moulding right off and there were nails exposed one day. SCARY

Westcoaster · Mar 16, 2016

I will attach the ex-pen to the crate again, with his bed and try it out. I don't think its seperation anxiety, as he escaped from his crate this morning. I came home and he was sitting on the floor, peaceful. Slightly scary. He hates being confined, I feel like I'm failing. I've put so much research and effort, taking time off work to get him accustomed to his home and being used to being alone before he's alone for 4 hours at a time during a workday (my wife works 5 minutes away and is going to take him out at lunch time).

I'm aware training a puppy is trying, so I will attempt the ex-pen once more. Last time he pushed it around, then threw up. Gets all worked up. I'm stern with him (without yelling) and always stay calm and teach him to obey (sit and wait to eat, etc.).... but this chapter is absolutely more than I bargained for. If the ex-pen doesn't work, I'm running out of options. I'm considering hooking the ex-pen up and just leaving him with a kong and some toys and wait and see.

Jakeyjake · Mar 16, 2016

hannah said:
We also have teeth marks around our baseboard moulding from when we let her out before she was fully trained, back into the xpen she is until she can be safe/trusted alone
She actually chewed a peice of the moulding right off and there were nails exposed one day. SCARY

Ya and mine did it when we were home! Some love to teethe on wood I guess. Hahaha

Westcoaster · Mar 16, 2016

I set up the ex-pen, attached to his crate he eats in. Put his bed, toys, chew bone in there. A little whining, but if the crate was a 10/10, this was a 2/10. I also put the crate the breeder gave me (the one he always pees in) in there as a comfort. Not sure if that's encouraging bad behaviour or not, but I figure might be better if he pees in there while I'm at work then all over the floor.

I am not a naive person, and realize a puppy is a huge responsibility. We've been trying our best. After he calmed down and laid in his bed for a few minutes, I took him out. Baby steps, I guess? I will need to reinforce the sides of the ex-pen, as I figure he will try to push them around. We have laminate hardwood, which he generally resists peeing on. Thanks everyone for your help, and anyone with further advice. I will post progress on here, *fingers crossed*.

Nu2frenchie · Mar 16, 2016

We had an English bulldog who destroyed his Pen and every child gate we put up. He hated them and would latch on to break it. He was not mean he just hated confinement up until the day he passed at 8 yrs old. We attributed it to him being confined in a pen as a little puppy (I started wondering if he was from puppy mill at that point). We eventually did away with all of the pens and he was fine. You could also try covering the pen with a sheet and see if that helps

Westcoaster · Mar 16, 2016

Nu2frenchie said:
We had an English bulldog who destroyed his Pen and every child gate we put up. He hated them and would latch on to break it. He was not mean he just hated confinement up until the day he passed at 8 yrs old. We attributed it to him being confined in a pen as a little puppy (I started wondering if he was from puppy mill at that point). We eventually did away with all of the pens and he was fine. You could also try covering the pen with a sheet and see if that helps

Thanks for the reply, I did cover his crate with a sheet except for the entrance to give him that den feeling. So far the expen this afternoon has been miles better. If this fails, I'm not sure what else I could do. So far it's been miles better.

How old was your English bulldog when you got rid of everything? I may consider this after his teething if things don't improve.

blushy · Mar 16, 2016

My dog is opposite! He loves his crate, can't handle being behind a baby gate in my kitchen!

I am glad the xpen is a bit less traumatic for you! Frenchies (Bulldogs in general actually) have such huge personalities, and some cannot be over come no matter how hard we try. We aren't failing, we are adapting.

Keep on keepin' on! You're doing your very best!

(I figured I would post some inspiration since both of my dogs do fine in their crates...)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nu2frenchie · Mar 16, 2016

Westcoaster said:
Thanks for the reply, I did cover his crate with a sheet except for the entrance to give him that den feeling. So far the expen this afternoon has been miles better. If this fails, I'm not sure what else I could do. So far it's been miles better.

How old was your English bulldog when you got rid of everything? I may consider this after his teething if things don't improve.

He was around 6 months. We decided we and him had enough after I came home one day and he had mangled his kennel with the bars all bent and collapsed.

We then started: When I was not home I would put him in our kitchen with a child's gate up. The only time he would bite at the gate was when we were home if we didn't take it down fast enough. You could also try covering the whole kennel with the sheet when you put him in it.
I know it's frustrating now...but it will work out.

He definitely sounds just like my "Gus".

zoezoe09 · Dec 8, 2016

I am having a similar issue. My pup just flat out needs to be next to us at all times. I do crate her at night and we noticed that she is better when we put something of our scent in there. I have tried crating her while I am still there and she barks her head off. I can't even take a peaceful shower unless someone else is here to watch her :scared:

Mavis · Dec 9, 2016

I know there are differing opinions here. I do think it is important to crate train, in case he is ever hurt, hurts his back, or anything where he needs to be confined to his crate. We have a large flannel sheet over Bambi (and Ginger's) crate. It completely covers it top to bottom - no drafts, and I think it is more den like. I agree with [MENTION=1276]hannah[/MENTION] that if he is fussing in there, you absolutely cannot give in. It will be ten times worse the next time because he will have learned that you will let him out if he fusses too badly. When he is doing that, I would just give him a firm "NO" and go and sit down near him and do something in proximity to him. He will learn that you mean business and that he will not get his way. After he is quiet and settles, then you can let him out - on your terms. He will get it. They are very smart. He is a darling little naughty boy!