Almost every dog owner has gone through the experience of their dog crying in the crate. It can be very frustrating and worrying, not to mention annoying.
According to experts, try putting a soft blanket or toy in the crate with them. This will give them something familiar to comfort them. You can also try playing calming music or placing a ticking clock near the crate to help soothe your dog.
In this blog post, we will discuss what might be causing your dog to cry in the crate, and some tips on how to stop it.
Why Do Dogs Cry In Crate?
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.
Here are some of the main reasons why they cry.
Loneliness
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.
Boredom
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.
Separation Anxiety
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.
Will A Dog Eventually Stop Crying In Crate?
It’s normal for dogs to cry when they’re first placed in a crate. They may be anxious about being confined or miss their owner’s companionship. However, most dogs will eventually stop crying and adjust to crate life.
In general, however, most dogs will eventually stop crying in their crate if given enough time to adjust and feel comfortable. This process can take days or even weeks for some dogs, so patience is key.
If your dog is still crying after a prolonged period of time, you may need to consult with a veterinarian or animal behaviorist to help find ways to ease their anxiety.
How Long Will My Pooch Cry In The Crate?
Depending on the dog, it will only stop crying in the crate once it gets used to staying there. There is no definite 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.
How To Get My Dog To Stop Crying In His 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.
Make The Crate The Best It Can Be
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:
- Leave some treats inside the crate for the pooch to enjoy once in a while.
- Ensure that feeding time is also done in the crate. This goes a long way in helping the dog adapt faster.
- Make the crate as comfortable as possible. This may involve adding extra accessories or making the crate bigger for your dog.
- Place some toys for your pooch to play with. This is a great distraction that keeps the crying and whining down.
- Finally, ensure the crate is placed in a central area where the dog can see you, your family, and its surroundings.
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.
What Are The Best Devices To Stop My Puppy From Crying?
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:
Calming Lavender Oil Dispenser
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 Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Ultrasonic Diffuser from Sierra Modern Home 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.
- Intelligent Aromatherapy – A great addition to your smart home that is powered intelligently and wifi compatible. Use...
- UltraSonic Vaporizer – Our smart diffuser works by creating 360° ultra sonic frequencies that instantly atomize water...
- Create Schedules – Scheduling is here! Our smart diffuser allows you to create regular schedules in the app so you can...
Treat Dispensers
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.
Play Toys
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.
How Do I Teach My Puppy To Be Alone?
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.
How Do I Help My Dog Kill Boredom?
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 Cooway 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.
- CAT LASER TOY MOTION ACTIVATION: Automatically turns off after 5 minutes of operation. However, once the smart sensor...
- TWO SPEEDS ADJUSTABLE: The exciting pet laser pointer rotates in a random pattern across floors which stimulates the...
- RECHARGEABLE 600MAH BATTERY: Built in large capacity battery and supply a USB charging cable. Electronic cat toys will...
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.
- ENGAGING & GREAT FOR SOLO PLAY: The Treat Maze is a level 2 brightly colored, interactive dog puzzle that's designed to...
- FILL & SHAKE: The Treat Maze can be filled either through the top opening or through the side with treats and snacks...
- EASY BREEZY CLEAN UP: The Treat Maze dog puzzle has no additional removable parts and is easy to hand wash with soap and...
Interactive Toys
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.
- 1080p Full HD Camera & Night Vision: livestream video to monitor your pet on your phone with a 160-degree wide-angle...
- 2-Way Audio & BARKING ALERT: Furbo’s BARKING SENSOR detects when your dog is barking. It sends push notifications to...
- Fun TREAT TOSSING: TOSS a treat to your dogs via the free Furbo iOS/Android app. Fill it with your dogs’ favorite...
Related Questions
Can Puppies Cry Themselves To Death?
No, puppies can’t cry to death, especially if it is attention that they are only seeking instead of alerting you of a medical concern. 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 to 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.
