Crate troubles

[Kbailey34]

so Rajah is a bit old to be dealing with this problem, but he still occasionally cries in his crate. Sometimes he is perfectly content and will even go in himself to chew his bone or relax, but if I'm in another room working or any situation (other than bedtime) when I put him in there, there is a chance of him crying ... i also keep a crate at my parents for when we visit and he always cries in that crate, no matter how tired I get him or how long he is in there. He may take a break, but he always gets back to it. Im at a loss, I've never had another dog do this during crate training.

 

[Ravenbird]

I think you are experiencing The Doberman Whine. I was advised to just wait it out, never let them out due to whining etc. But by 5 months old, I was really tired of it and started using NO, or HUSH in a firm tone of displeasure and she finally quit being so vocal. I wish I'd started insisting on quiet earlier, but most advise was to ignore it and definitely don't reward it by opening the door. Mine was like yours, never at bedtime, and mostly if I was out of sight. The whining still exists now at a year old, but much much better and mostly when she sees me getting ready to do something that she doesn't want to be left out of, like gathering up collars, leashes to go training or hikes or town. No doubt that this is a very vocal breed.

 

[Kbailey34]

I think you are experiencing The Doberman Whine. I was advised to just wait it out, never let them out due to whining etc. But by 5 months old, I was really tired of it and started using NO, or HUSH in a firm tone of displeasure and she finally quit being so vocal. I wish I'd started insisting on quiet earlier, but most advise was to ignore it and definitely don't reward it by opening the door. Mine was like yours, never at bedtime, and mostly if I was out of sight. The whining still exists now at a year old, but much much better and mostly when she sees me getting ready to do something that she doesn't want to be left out of, like gathering up collars, leashes to go training or hikes or town. No doubt that this is a very vocal breed.

Its actually a VERY persistent bark/howl. He is crazy lol because he knows he can't come out of the crate acting up, so if I Have to take him out, to eat or use the bathroom, and he is barking at the time, ill approach him and wait till he stops, mark when he stops barking/crying, open the crate... if he starts again I turn my back and ignore him, he won't come out without the command which is amazing because he'll continue to bark, but when he does stop, ill mark it and let him out. If i tell him no, he just barks over me ...

So I can (kind of) get him to calm down when I Need to take him out, but when I'm no rush to take him out, like at night at my parents, he may just keep going. We put his crate in the basement and we all slept on the 3rd floor. I couldn't hear him, but my mom said he would keep getting up and start barking again. She said there might be an hour at most between barking fits. I feel really bad, because I couldn't hear him at all, but obviously he kept waking her up. I have to figure out how to break this habit, because if I travel without him, my parents will watch him

 

[Kbailey34]

I guess it should be noted:

At home, his crate is in my room and at my parents house its in the basement, but we spend a lot of time down there when we visit

He has a wire crate at my house, and we use a plastic travel crate at my parents. He'll outgrow the plastic crate and ill have to get another, but maybe I should get a wire crate? Originally I bought different crates because I don't want him to learn to be comfortable in anything

 

[Ravenbird]

Barking/howling is definitely protest but in this situation I think he's also afraid. How old is he? Alone in the basement away from you and others is pretty dramatic change for a puppy. If it was me with an overnight visit, his crate would be in my room with me. At a young age he should be learning that you will always be there for him, you can't expect him to handle situations like that alone. All big changes - like overnight visits in a different household - should be made fun and a good experience so he looks forward to doing it again. @Doberman Gang may have some helpful words of wisdom.

 

[Kbailey34]

Barking/howling is definitely protest but in this situation I think he's also afraid. How old is he? Alone in the basement away from you and others is pretty dramatic change for a puppy. If it was me with an overnight visit, his crate would be in my room with me. At a young age he should be learning that you will always be there for him, you can't expect him to handle situations like that alone. All big changes - like overnight visits in a different household - should be made fun and a good experience so he looks forward to doing it again. @Doberman Gang may have some helpful words of wisdom.

He's 5 months. You may be right, but when I first got him, I was in the process of moving out of my parents home. He lived there for 3 weeks and we visit often. He's very familiar with the house. Grant it, when i got him he slept in my room, but i need him to be able to sleep in the basement because my parents won't allow him to sleep in their room, if I'm out of town and if i can't guarantee he won't bark if left in a crate in my room, then my parents would truly never sleep.