Skip to content

Crying in Crate

Behavioral Issues
  • Hi everyone! Watson is our 1 year old male basenji. We have always had some issues with prolonged whining when he is in the crate, which we attributed to him being a puppy, but he has yet to outgrow these. He goes in his crate on command and always gets a treat for going in, and he eats his meals and sleeps through the night in his crate. Sometimes he does fine and goes in without complaint, but other times he will whine and cry for about 15 minutes, but sometimes up to an hour. This happens often enough that we know it is not because he has to potty or because he is not getting enough exercise, and since there are plenty of times when he does not cry, we know it is not because he is afraid of the crate. Does anyone have any advice on whether this is puppy behavior he will (eventually) outgrow, or if there is something else we should be doing to discourage him from whining/crying? I should add that we never give him any attention while he is making noise in his crate and we only let him out once he has quieted down and remained quiet for several minutes. Thanks for any help anyone can offer!

Suggested Topics

  • Started peeing in the crate again

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    1 Votes
    9 Posts
    949 Views
    S
    Just thought I'd share an update on this. I removed the blankets from the crate and replaced them with a mattress. We have been strict about her only staying in the crate at night. When we have had accidents I have cleaned up, with a dog urine killing spray, and placed her back in the crate. Everything is progressing smoothly, not had any accidents for over a week now. So it's been a rather quick turnaround, lovely to have her properly crate trained again. Thank you all for sharing advice on the situation.
  • Watch me escape from my crate

    Behavioral Issues
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    KipawaK
    Anubis's Mom - thanks for your reply. With the possibility of Anubis pooping in a larger crate, I can see how the smaller crate works out best for you. I'll keep this in mind for future reference.
  • Help - peeing in the crate

    Behavioral Issues
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    renaultf1R
    @Lesco: We got her from Debbie Hauri in New Hampshire Welcome and congrats on your new pup…how exciting! Is this one of the pups from the Tango & Dora breeding? One thing that I did when I brought my pup home last winter was set up a crate, a litter box (with wood shaving pellets - equine pine) and put an xpen around it (also had a top on the xpen). That way when Liyah was crated for an extended time when I wasn't home, if she had to potty she could use the litter box. It was a great setup and consequently she never went to the bathroom in her crate...sometimes she partially missed the litterbox, but she was just a baby so I was happy she did as well as she did. I left the crate door open with treats, toys and soft bedding so she would choose on her own to go in the crate to sleep. I clipped the xpen closed. If you have space, I highly recommend this sort of setup so that your pup can keep her crate clean. The only other thing I would add is don't hesitate to contact Debbi with questions. She is a wonderful person, super helpful and a good breeder. Not to mention she is a good trainer so I'm sure she'd have plenty of tips. Please post pics when you get a chance...we love pics!
  • Peeing in Crate

    Behavioral Issues
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    1k Views
    tanzaT
    Because she spent so much of her young life in a crate.. it will be a struggle, IMO, for her to get the idea that it is not an acceptable place for pee/poop… time, I think will reverse the behavior, but I would also say that she will "never" be trustworthy in a crate.....
  • Peeing in the Crate-Help!

    Behavioral Issues
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    6k Views
    QuercusQ
    Sometimes peeing while turning in a circle is a form of territory marking. It does sound like as he gets more comfortable with the situation, this behavior will stop.
  • Sahara cries, does yours?

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    youngandtiredY
    @jys1011: Last night they both cried for what seemed like FOREVER…ugh! I don't even know why?? :confused: They were fine right before we put them in their crates for the night & then out of nowhere whimpering & crying non-stop. This is very unlike them...usually they fall asleep on the couch & then they get moved to their crates & they keep snoozing. It was so bad that at 2AM :EEK: we decided to take them outside to see if they had to go potty which they did but when we brought them back in it was the same incessant crying & whimpering. I gave up & just said let them cry :( I really needed to sleep! I would have had those babies in bed with us. Sahara knows that I hate to hear her cry, I am soooooooooo easy, haha