MelonJ
Notable member
Hey guys,
Just need to vent...
Crate training is still not going well. At this point I WISH we only had to deal with whining in the crate. DeSoto’s whining has turned into full out screaming, barking, howling, and scratching and digging at the crate when he’s put in there during the day. We ignore, and we don’t fail to ignore either. It just does not work. Again, this only happens when we’re home, but especially in the kitchen. Every sound triggers him. The faucet, the fridge or freezer, opening a peanut butter jar, ripping a paper towel, opening the sliding glass door, etc. Even just walking into the kitchen.
This morning he was out for a good hour: did some training, played a bit, fed him, put him in the crate when he wanted to relax on his bed. All hell broke loose when I walked away to start making the girls’ breakfast and do some laundry. On and off for 30-45 minutes again. 15 minutes in, I covered the crate with a blanket hoping the lack of view would calm him, he calmed then went berserk at the next trigger noise. I am so discouraged and heartbroken feeling so guilty at how much this is affecting my wanting to even be around him. We’re desperate for a solution. He’s not allowed in the back half of the house so I don’t want to open up the can of worms of putting him in our bedroom and having to avoid going into my own room (also illogical with chores to do) to keep from a bark/howlfest. It’s really making me want to abandon crate training altogether and just put him in at the end of day overnight (the only time he’s quiet in the crate) for my sanity. As it is, I can’t have him crated when I’m prepping his meals because then it goes to an extreme that seems unending. Now I just have him on “place” to wait for it to save what’s left of my sanity. Still in a spot where he cant really see me but knows I’m in the kitchen and is only a few feet closer, and amazingly, not a peep from him aside from an occasional whimper. If he were fully potty trained, I’d just admit defeat and wouldn't bother with the crate with how much grief its causing our relationship. It’s truly upsetting that our mere presence triggers this. I can’t help that I don’t need to leave the house for hours on end (the only other time he literally doesn't make a peep in his crate is when we’re not home).
So we contacted a local trainer and are hoping and praying we can find a solution to what is feeling like hell on earth 50% of the day. I seriously can’t figure out what is going wrong. I feel like such a failure on the most basic level of dog ownership, and this is my fourth time raising and crate training a puppy.
Just need to vent...
Crate training is still not going well. At this point I WISH we only had to deal with whining in the crate. DeSoto’s whining has turned into full out screaming, barking, howling, and scratching and digging at the crate when he’s put in there during the day. We ignore, and we don’t fail to ignore either. It just does not work. Again, this only happens when we’re home, but especially in the kitchen. Every sound triggers him. The faucet, the fridge or freezer, opening a peanut butter jar, ripping a paper towel, opening the sliding glass door, etc. Even just walking into the kitchen.
This morning he was out for a good hour: did some training, played a bit, fed him, put him in the crate when he wanted to relax on his bed. All hell broke loose when I walked away to start making the girls’ breakfast and do some laundry. On and off for 30-45 minutes again. 15 minutes in, I covered the crate with a blanket hoping the lack of view would calm him, he calmed then went berserk at the next trigger noise. I am so discouraged and heartbroken feeling so guilty at how much this is affecting my wanting to even be around him. We’re desperate for a solution. He’s not allowed in the back half of the house so I don’t want to open up the can of worms of putting him in our bedroom and having to avoid going into my own room (also illogical with chores to do) to keep from a bark/howlfest. It’s really making me want to abandon crate training altogether and just put him in at the end of day overnight (the only time he’s quiet in the crate) for my sanity. As it is, I can’t have him crated when I’m prepping his meals because then it goes to an extreme that seems unending. Now I just have him on “place” to wait for it to save what’s left of my sanity. Still in a spot where he cant really see me but knows I’m in the kitchen and is only a few feet closer, and amazingly, not a peep from him aside from an occasional whimper. If he were fully potty trained, I’d just admit defeat and wouldn't bother with the crate with how much grief its causing our relationship. It’s truly upsetting that our mere presence triggers this. I can’t help that I don’t need to leave the house for hours on end (the only other time he literally doesn't make a peep in his crate is when we’re not home).
So we contacted a local trainer and are hoping and praying we can find a solution to what is feeling like hell on earth 50% of the day. I seriously can’t figure out what is going wrong. I feel like such a failure on the most basic level of dog ownership, and this is my fourth time raising and crate training a puppy.
