GSPCRNA
Pennsylvania
JH
Posts:32
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| 11/25/2012 12:10 PM |
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Hi all,
We brough Lucienne (aka Lucy) home yesterday and she is great. She's really cute and we are really enjoying her so far. We are trying to begin crate training her and the couple times we've attempted to put her in her crate, she FREAKED. Not just a little whimpering, but all out bloody murder. I will be home for 3 weeks prior to starting a new job, so I'll have time to work with her, but I will have to be away for a while to go to meetings and run errands and such, so she'll have to spend some time alone. Do you guys have any suggestions on what we can do so make this an easier process?
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7856
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| 11/25/2012 1:39 PM |
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| First, she is adorable. I love her markings and that face. Looks like you may have a handful with her. As for the crate I would put in the room where you guys are during the day (I would also move it back to the bedroom at night for now, you can move it to its permanent location when she is more settled). Leave the door open and toss treats and toys in there for her. Also, feed her in the crate. Let het go in on her own to get to her food, etc and don't shut the door on her. Also, don't weaken and get anything out for her. At night let her get sleepy before you put her in and stay where she can see you until she falls asleep. You may have to get her sleeping before you put her in at night, also, never ever take her out until she is quiet. At night set your alarm to get up with her a couple of times. Again, don't take her out if she is fusing and when you do take her out don't talk to her or turn on many lights. Take her out, let her do her business, then back in and immediately back to bed. If the crate is wire cover it. Make sure you have a shirt or something in there that smells of you or better yet from her mother and siblings. You can also add a ticking clock and/or a hot water bottle too as both help relax puppies. Good luck and realize you may have a few sleepless nights at first. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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mckee.lucie
Seattle, WA
MH
Posts:202
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| 11/25/2012 1:48 PM |
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Lucy is beautiful! That's fantastic that you've got 3 weeks to be at home with her for the most part and get her settled in. I'd absolutely second on what Texas Belle said. We did the same for our now 2 year old GSP and worked great, you just have to stick with it and it'll pay off. For us the instructions also included a set of earplugs as hard as it was to resist taking her out when she was whining at first  |
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GSPCRNA
Pennsylvania
JH
Posts:32
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| 11/25/2012 2:54 PM |
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| Thanks for the suggestions. Is it normal to freak out so much when placed in the kennel? We try to ignore her, but it sounds like someone is trying to hurt her. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7856
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| 11/25/2012 4:42 PM |
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| Sometimes, yes. Depends on the dog. Remember I said I thought you had your hands full with this one. She just has that look in her eye. Also, they do better when they associate it with good things and it is their choice. My guess is your breeder did not expose the puppies to a crate when they were growing up. I put a crate in with momma and the puppies when I move them to the family room at about three weeks. They get exposure and start sleeping in it before they go home, but even then some will just pitch a fit when they get to their new home. Don't give in, because whatever you do now will lay the ground work for later training. At night if I have a puppy that doesn't go to sleep right when I put them in the crate, I will lay them on my tummy in my bed with the lights out and some soft music and will gently stroke them until they crash. If they wiggle I hold them still until they calm and go to sleep, even if they aren't happy about it. Then when they are sound asleep I gently put them in the crate. Most of the time they will adjust themselves in the bed a go right back to sleep. This is where a hot water bottle can help as their bed will be warm. Also the ticking clock helps lull them to sleep. I also leave the soft music on so little noises on't bother them. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7856
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| 11/25/2012 4:46 PM |
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| In one case I have seen a dog with claustrophobia. She is y 9 year old girl. She didn't pitch a fit though, she just stressed and would go to extreme lengths to escape when I wasn't around. She also exhibited the same stress in other close places like the closet, bathroom, elevator, etc. claustrophobia is not common in dogs, but it does happen. Based on what you described though it sounds more like a willful puppy having a temper tantrum. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1197
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| 11/25/2012 5:03 PM |
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Welcome Lucy! Love her saddle markings and her dipstick tail I believe they docked Bella's a little longer to keep the white tip on hers. I like the length, but I do notice it often to be a bit longer than others we encounter. Not a always though. Lucy is doll and I love the name. Depending on your puppy's personality I would say it more than normal for them to freak out. Especially if you put her in and closed the door right away and disappear. Bella's first trip away from home when she was still crated she was 7 months old and we left for dinner for about an hour. She was used to her crate but not being away from home and she was yelping for dear life when we returned and had worked herself up so bad she had an accident in her crate....which was very out of character for her age. In retrospect, I should have done things differently. We arrived. Visited a bit, and then left hurriedly for a dinner reservation. I didn't give her enough time.
Anyway, Texasbelle has given you great advice. We didn't move her crate, as I have mentioned before, but I did spend a few nights on the couch...going back to bed only after she had settled and until my next alarm to let her out. We spoke to her not at all when letting her out during the night, and straight back in she went. After potty outtings, she usually did get a little whiny again...I would say "huuuuush" in a soft drawn out voice (not looking at her and not seen by her). Knowing I was nearby seem to reassure her and she would settle down and fall back to sleep. During the day, I also put all of her toys in her crate so if she wanted one that is where she found it. Incorporate the crate in your training...our command was "kennel up". Let her go in on her own during the day and when she falls into those hard puppy naps, put her in it so that is where she wakes up (though it is super hard not to cuddle with them while they are sleeping. Bella slept hard and we called it "noodle time" to cuddle with her while sleeping because she was just a wet noodle). With your time off, remember to get her used to being in it even if you are home. Put her in for maybe half an hour while you clean and are moving about. So she can still see you, but is in her crate. Don't pay any attention to her when she is in it. She will get the hang of it. Bella, preferred hers for naps and nighttime (until she got to start sleeping in the bed with us), but she never got fully content on being in it during the day. She did OK...but with age and trust, we found she does much better out of it. depends on the dog. Good luck! Have fun! |
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kroncka
Mass
SH
Posts:45
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| 11/26/2012 6:44 PM |
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| Oh my god she is adorable!!! I agree with Texas Belle, great advice!!! Good luck with her and be sure to post pictures as she is growing! |
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How to handle stress like a dog: if you cant eat it or play with it, then pee on it and walk away |
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Smylinacha
Connecticut
MH
Posts:1208
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| 11/26/2012 7:05 PM |
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| She is adorable! I remember when we got Windsor - and he was a year old already - he FREAKED in his crate. We'd put him in when we had to go to work - my motherinlaw said he'd howl all day long until he passed out. Took a few weeks but the howling stopped. After a few months we were able to give him the run of the house. Now he goes into his crate voluntarily every night for bed and we don't shut the door. His crate is in our bedroom next to my husband's side of the bed. Velevet's crate is in the office. I have to figure out out to make room in our bedroom for her crate too because she likes to steal Windsor's crate sometimes. If she's just a puppy - maybe try gettng an old fashioned wind up clock that goes tic tock or put a radio on for her? I did that with the lab I used to have when he was a pup and that seemed to calm him down. Also the crate was covered with a blanket. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1197
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| 11/26/2012 7:49 PM |
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| Radio is a good idea. When Bella was crated she almost always had the classical music channel on when crated and home alone lol |
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High5Hanna
MH
Posts:112
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| 11/26/2012 9:23 PM |
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Look at that face! She has a very determined look about her. What a beauty. Hanna was very good as a pup but has lapsed into whinning and barking tactics to try to get my attention in the last few months. Luckily for me I get too into my work to suscumb , I worry more about her disturbing others. |
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NixiesMark
Texas
MH
Posts:120
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| 11/27/2012 7:06 PM |
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| What a cutie patootie! She's a pretty girl! She'll grow up super fast so enjoy the time and take lots of pictures! |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
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| 11/28/2012 6:39 AM |
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| She is the cutest stinking thing on earth! |
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GSPCRNA
Pennsylvania
JH
Posts:32
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| 11/28/2012 6:47 AM |
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| Thanks for all the advice. She's getting a little better, but we still have a lot of work to do. What do you guys say about spaying? Should we wait until she goes through one heat cycle or have it done prior to her going into heat? |
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GSPCRNA
Pennsylvania
JH
Posts:32
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| 11/28/2012 6:47 AM |
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Couple more pics...
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4452
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| 11/28/2012 7:28 AM |
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oh, c'mon
how much noise can that cute,adorable little thing make? |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1197
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| 11/28/2012 8:27 AM |
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| Aw, B had the same pheasant toy as a wee one. It lasted a day or two lol. We waited through the first heat cycle. It wasn't fun (the heat cycle) but we are glad we did. |
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therozypozy
MH
Posts:471
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| 11/28/2012 8:27 AM |
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Lucy is just adorable. The crate training will come around . . . just continue to play the games. Here is a good video of a puppy training on you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8HNO79bZMY. . . just take it slow and make it the puppy's decision to go into the crate with the reward to immediately follow.
As far as having Lucy spayed, I would wait until at least after the first heat cycle. Thankfully the first heat cycle I find is not too bad.
Good luck with your puppy. And I love those big ears!
Roz. |
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GSPCRNA
Pennsylvania
JH
Posts:32
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| 11/28/2012 1:10 PM |
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Posted By pixie bee on 11/28/2012 7:28 AM
oh, c'mon
how much noise can that cute,adorable little thing make?
You probably wouldn't believe how loud she is.
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
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| 11/28/2012 1:11 PM |
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| i am sure something that cute can make quite a pitiful noise... the cuter they are the louder they cry lol! |
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