Dog crates are used for several reasons. However, crates are extremely helpful when you need a safe place to leave your four-legged buddy, especially if you are not around to supervise them. Despite this, it will take time before your dog is used to a crate. As a result, the pooch will cry and whine every time it’s in there.
But, several steps can stop your dog from crying in the crate. First, ensure the crate is large and comfortable for your pet. Secondly, give the pooch enough breaks between crate time and playtime. Let the dog cry it out as well. Dogs cry in the crate for attention and if they don’t get any, they are more likely to adapt faster to their new surroundings.
Before we give you more details on stopping your dog from crying in the crate, lets first of all get a better understanding of why dogs cry in crates. We will cover this in detail in our next section. We will also have information about devices you can use to stop a crying dog and wrap up with a small FAQs section.
Before we get to the reasons why dogs cry when they go into the crate, it’s important to note that this is normal. This behavior is also not permanent. The pooch will eventually get used to the crate and everything will be fine. Nonetheless, here are some of the main reasons why your four-legged furry friend will cry in the crate for the first few days:
Dogs are social animals and they love to explore their surroundings as much as possible. However, they cannot do this if they are caged inside a crate. As a result, the pooch starts to get lonely and vents out this frustration by crying and whining.
We all know that dogs are energetic and playful animals that love to jump around all day. These cute canines also need a lot of space to express themselves. A crate is often fairly small and leaves very little room for the pooch to play. Consequently, the dog gets bored and starts crying for attention.
The bond you share with your dog is stronger than you think. Your pooch wants to spend time with you but this is hardly possible when it’s in a crate all day. Eventually, this leads to separation anxiety for your cute four-legged friend, something that will cause the pooch to whine.
So, from the points we’ve discussed above, you can see that the pooch cries so that you can let them out of the crate. But don’t give in just yet. Take your time and the dog will start to adapt to its new surroundings.
I understand that the sound of your dog crying and whining all the time can be depressing, annoying even. But you may want to resist the temptation of scolding the pooch or meting out some sought of punishment. The best way to deal with a whining dog is to let it be. Don’t forget that the pooch is crying for your attention.
Scolding the dog is still attention albeit it’s negative attention. The pooch will be quiet for a while no doubt, but once it gets bored it will start crying again. Besides, in most cases, the dog will cry and whine because of anxiety or fear. Scolding the pooch only makes the anxiety worse.
This depends on the dog. The pooch will only stop crying in the crate once it gets used to staying there. There is no way of knowing how long this will take. Some dogs get used to the crate faster while others will require more time to ease in.
Having said that, there are a few things you can do to make this process much faster. We will cover them in detail in the next section. But even then, always keep in mind that the best way to deal with this behavior is to let the pooch cry it out. I know it’s frustrating. But it’s the only way your four-legged furry friend will adapt to the crate.
Ultimately, the dog only stops crying when they have adapted to the crate. But this does not mean you are helpless in fact, here are some steps you can take to make the pooch adapt faster to its new surroundings.
Stop thinking of the crate as a cold cage with a lock and key. No animal wants to live in a place like that. Instead, think of the crate as the den where your little pooch goes to relax and be alone. This simply means the crate has to be in excellent condition for the pooch to live there. Try out the following tips:
There are several other things to consider as well. First, ensure there are breaks for the pooch to get out and exercise in the open. Potty breaks are also highly encouraged in between crate time, especially if you have a small puppy.
So, as we have noted above, the best way to stop your pooch from crying is to make the crate the best it can be. Here are a few devices that can help with this:
Gradually releasing lavender oil inside the crate can stop your little puppy from crying all the time. There is academic evidence out there that suggests the application of lavender oil has an intriguing calming effect on dogs. However, maintaining that steady supply of lavender oil in the crate requires specialized devices.
This is where the Anjou Aromatherapy Diffuser comes in. The diffuser has a proprietary oil flow system designed to consistently dispense lavender oil for 12 hours non stop. It is also super quiet, producing less than 30 Decibels of noise. This ensures it causes no distraction or anxiety to your pooch.
Just because your four legged furry friend is in a crate does not mean they can’t enjoy tasty treats. For this reason, install a treat dispenser inside the crate.
A treat maze in particular will help the pooch develop problem solving skills and enjoy the crate at the same time.
It is also advisable to keep your dog as occupied as possible inside the crate. If the pooch is distracted, then it’s very likely that the whining will go down.
The best way to distract a dog is to get them a nice toy to play with. Any toy that your dog enjoys will go a long way in making the crate fun and more tolerable.
There is no doubt your little puppy will get lonely and bored in the crate. The best way to deal with this is to give the pooch something to play with. You may also want to interact with the dog as much as possible during crate time.
Well, this one is easy, get them a few toys. Dogs are naturally very playful and toys will provide the ultimate distraction. This will eventually make it easier for the dog to get used to the idea of being alone.
Speaking of toys, although there are so many options out there, consider the goopow Interactive Laser Toy. This rotating laser pointer creates a unique and challenging experience for the pooch as it hunts down the moving laser. It will surely keep your four-legged furry friend busy all day.
But in case you want something more “intellectually” challenging, consider this amazing Treat Maze By Nina Ottosson. The maze is designed to help your dog develop problem-solving skills. Just fill it up with your pooch’s favorite treats and let the dog work its way through the maze all day long.
As we have noted above, it is also important to interact with your dog during crate time. But we know this is easier said than done. After all, it’s not like you will be around all the time. Well, you can solve this by getting this Furbo Dog Camera.
The camera is controlled via Wi-Fi and comes with interactive two-way audio that allows you to speak to your dog remotely. There is even a treat tossing feature in there that lets you treat your pooch from afar.
SPOTLIGHT: Worried about your dogs suffering from all the separation anxiety being home alone? Stay connected with Fido with Furbo Dog Camera. Talk to it, toss treats and many more.
> Read our full honest review right here!
Can Puppies Cry Themselves To Death? No, they can’t, especially if they are only crying for attention. You will realize that giving the pooch a little silent treatment goes a long way in limiting the crying in the long run. However, make sure the pooch gets a few potty breaks in between crate time.
Is It Cruel To Crate A Puppy At Night? Yes, it is a bad idea to leave your dog in the crate for too many hours. If the dog has spent most of the day in the crate, let it out for the night at least. It’s not healthy for the pooch to spend almost 24 hours caged up.
At What Age Do You Stop Using A Dog Crate? Typically, crate training for puppies takes somewhere between 7 and 8 months. However, if you intend to continue housetraining the dog, you may need a few extra months of crate training before the pooch is ready to join the rest of the household.
Pete Decker is the Lead Editor at The Goody Pet. He is a passionate wildlife educator and loves to share his experiences on pets. During his free time, you can find him cozying around his 2 adorable Labradors (Tobi & Kobi).
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