Pet parents often struggle with a dog who cries in his crate. They don’t know why their dog is crying or how to stop it. This blog post will teach you how to stop your dog crying in his crate and will provide you with a process to follow when your dog is crying.
A dog crying in a crate can be frustrating on many levels. For the owner, roommates and neighbors, the endless crying and whining can create a host of problems and guilt!
A dog crate is a great tool to aid in housetraining and provide security to your dog. However, in some dogs, being crated can lead to unwanted anxiety causing a lot of howling and/or barking. What can you do to stop this unwanted behavior and soothe your dog?
When you start crating a puppy, just like with a new baby, expect some long nights. Dogs whining, howling, and barking in a crate can be a very real problem, especially if you live in an apartment or are a light sleeper.
However, try to remember that, as with our comparison to a baby, your dog is not actively trying to interrupt your sleep. Consider the reasons your dog is crying in his crate.
Why Your Dog May Cry in His Crate
There are a variety of reasons that dogs will bark or cry in a crate. Fortunately, the treatment for most of these underlying reasons is the same.
Loneliness
If your dog is always by your side when you are at home, but locked in a crate every time you leave the house or go to bed, chances are he is crying because he misses you.
Your Dog is Not Comfortable
Almost all dogs that howl in the crate want to get out, but there are times when they have a physical need to get out.
For example, if a dog who is normally quiet while crated begins to whimper, she may feel nauseated or urgently need to go to the bathroom. Her crying is a request for help. If your dog is normally quiet in the crate but suddenly starts to cry, check and see why.
Dogs with separation anxiety panic when left alone. A dog with these problems will require long-term management, training and maybe even medication to help with his condition.
Signs of severe separation anxiety include digging in the crate and taking great measures to escape the crate. They won’t eat, drink, or relax and may even hurt themselves if they try to escape.
Boredom
Crates are by default a dull place. They don’t come with an entertainment center. If your puppy steadily barks during his confinement, he is likely suffering from boredom.
Fear
Even though your dog may not have a problem being apart from you, he may react negatively to being in a crate. If he does not like being confined, then he may have learned that every time he is in the crate, it means you are about to leave, triggering fear reaction
Punishing Your Puppy Won’t Stop the Crying
Even though your first reaction is to scold your dog when he whines, barks, or howls in the crate, consider these reasons to find another way to respond:
Your dog may need attention. When you come to the crate and scold them, you’ve just given them the attention they crave even if it is negative attention. They may stop barking for a moment, but are guaranteed to continue barking in the future.
If your puppy is bored, you may be able to entertain him by scolding him!
Your dog may already be anxious. If your dog is crying because he is scared, yelling at him will only make things worse. Your pet trusts you. You’re his guardian. Yelling at him when he’s scared can hurt that trust. He might stop crying simply because he’s even more scared now, which will lead to more problems in the long run.
Even if it is difficult, what to do with a dog that is howling in the crate is ignore it. Any kind of attention, positive or negative, can reward them for crying. It’s hard, but it’s the best. That’s why they call it “tough love.”
How to Stop Your Dog Crying in His Crate
You may be thinking, “How do I stop my dog’s behavior without yelling at him in the crate?” Don’t give up hope! There are many things you can do. The main goal is to make the crate a safe and fun place.
1. Always Get Your Dog a Toy
Keep your dog’s favorite toys in the crate. He may feel like he’s being rewarded when he puts in some playtime in the crate. Here are some great ideas for crate safe toys.
2. Make Sure the Crate is the Right Fit
Fits well. Make sure the crate is the right size for your dog. He should be able to get up and turn around in the crate, but not much more than that.
3. Serve Them Food in Their Crate
Instead of putting their bowl of food on the kitchen floor, put it in their crate. You don’t even have to close the door of the box. This is an easy way to build a good bond between your dog and the crate!
4. Provide Comfortable Bedding
Make sure the crate is comfortable for your dog. A thick blanket, a soft mat, a safe chew toy and maybe even clothes that smell like you! These things can really make your four-legged friend feel like he has his own man cave!
5. Distract your Dog with Treats
Give your dog a stuffed Kong to play with. Better yet, try freezing the Kong first. Your dog may chew on it for an hour or more. This distraction allows your dog to enjoy his time in the crate and get used to spending time alone.
6. Engage your Dog in Crate Games
There are many games where the crate is used. These games will boost your dog’s confidence with his crate and show him that the crate is a great place to be! Dogs that are comfortable in the crate are less likely to howl in the crate.
Remember, if a dog is already in its crate and starts to cry, you should ignore its behavior. It’s not an easy thing to do, but you will reward him if you pay him attention.
Dogs will learn that if he howls long enough or hard enough, he will get what he wants. If you’ve already given up and released the dog after crying for an hour, you may have a long road ahead of you. Chances are, the crying will get worse before it gets better.
You have to be patient and persistent and don’t forget to play crate games regularly. In this way, you make the crate a great place to be. If all other suggestions haven’t helped, you can also try moving the crate to another room. Perhaps keeping the crate in your bedroom at night can help relieve a dog’s nervousness.
Wrapping Up: Other Ways to stop your Dog from Crying in its Crate
Many of the above methods take time. Maybe you need a quick fix now because of a sensitive neighbor or lack of sleep. If so, there are some other things you can do to save your sanity. Think about why you are using the crate. Instead, is there anything you could do to achieve the same goal?
For bored puppies who like to chew or are not house trained yet, crates are a good place to start. Later with training and maybe some puppy proofing, you should be able to use the crate less and implement other tools.
For dogs who howl during the day and are not fully crated trained, you can use a dog walking service. This will not help with the nocturnal crying problems, but taking your dog out of the crate for short periods will help him accept the crate as a place to rest undisturbed.
Before putting your dog in the crate, especially at night, it is crucial that you give her time to exercise. Go for a walk or run, or play a game of fetch. After that, give him some time to calm down and don’t forget to give him a chance to relieve himself. Once this is done, she is more likely to stop crying in the crate. A tired dog is a calm dog.