Somebody help me! I have a nearly 8 week old Border Collie pup. I have only had her 5 days, and I am attempting to crate train her. I successfully crate trained my standard schnauzer puppy some years ago, but everything seems to be going very slowly ths time and the bc is not taking to it very readily. At the moment the routine is, get up, let pup outside for wee etc (accompanied). Back in for brekkie which she eats in the crate, a little play time, then back in crate while i get dressed etc. She then barks and barks and barks. She settles eventually but is very easily disturbed. This goes on throughout the days. She is fed 4 small meals in her crate, and we are very consistent about not giving her attention while she is making a fuss. Night time is the worst, taking 2 hours to settle her down!! Any advice would be helpful!! We continue to persevere!

How long is she in the crate? It might be that she is in there too long as the duration needs to be gradually increased... :)

Although much advice given re ignoring noises etc is good, don't forget it is important to think "relationship" as well. If she were mine, i would think of her as a baby (which is what she is) and bring her upstairs at night or sleep down with her. It really doesn't serve any purpose to ignore the crying - she is  doing it because she is upset. She may also be associating the crate now with being left alone so it may be making things worse.

Being with them for a few weeks at night doesn't create a rod for the back IME : but it does give you a very secure puppy who then has more confidence generally to be "brave" later.

Lindsay
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Hi Lindsay,

Totally agree with you on this - good points, very well made ;)   The time spent in the crate has to be little by little at the beginning and always a positive experience.  If the puppy is crated overnight and upset then when she gets out to toilet in the morning and play for a while she's not going to be keen to go back in again.  Great the OP is feeding her successfully in there but I'd let her spend as much time as possible out of the crate between feeds and nap breaks.  That way come night time she won't see the crate as an isolation booth - especially if she can be in bedroom with owner overnight. :)

Regards, Teri 

Thanks for the reply! She is only in the crate at the moment for about an hour at a time. She has lots of company too as we have a big GSD/Husky who won't leave her side! The crate is always put where she can see whats going on around her, and we usually leave the radio on for her during the day. I talk to her all the time, (between her fussing). She is the 3rd BC I have had, and my 9th dog overall, so I am not a complete amateur although I have lots to learn yet. I am accused all the time for treating her like my baby, and I am pretty experienced in general dog behaviour patterns and requirements.  I think it might be cos she is the first pup I have had during the winter months, all my others were brought hom in sumer, when doors were open all day and access to the garden was easy.
Ideas for things to stmulate her would be helpful too as all my dog toys seem to be for huge big dogs and she cant even lift em!!

At night try covering the crate with a blanket, just leave the door without cover.  Sometimes they feel insecure and vunerable in a crate and the blanket can help make it into a den.  Make sure there is some cuddly bedding in there too.

I personally would put her in at night, make sure she is tired when you go to bed and during the day at the moment I would use a stair gate on the connecting door.

Some take to crates better then others, but it is not unreasonable to expect her to sleep in it at night, but it might be too much for her being shut in during the day.  As she grows used to it, then you can introduce it for very short periods during the day.

Hope this helps
Sandra