Hi everyone,

  Here's the story. My girl had a litter of puppies almost eleven weeks ago. And my parents have finally agreed to let me keep my little baby boy. I never crate trained the mother, so she has the run of the house. But just to give Kieron a little more dominance and such, I have decided to crate train Houdini. Last night was actually the first night I put him in it. Before, he has always slept on the bed with me while his mother, Kieron, slept in the living room. Anyways, I put Houdini in his crate last night and lasted only ten minutes before I gave up and let him out. I know he is going to cry and throw a fit, its not that I cannot put up with it, I have to, but what am I to do when he does cry? We have a spare bedroom in our house, should I leave Houdini in his crate in my bedroom and take my sleepware into the spare bedroom so I can both sleep and ignore Houdini? Would it be alright to ignore his crying like this? I would of course set the alarm in the spare bedroom and take him out to potty, and then put it back in his crate. So is it okay to leave Houdini in the room by himself in order to crate train him? He is also being house trained, so its a lot on the both of us. Advice and suggestions would be appreciated!

-I don't know if the breed of the dog matters, so I'll just say both dogs are pure bred winter breed dogs that appear in Disney's "Snow Dogs". *also don't know if I'm allowed to mention dogs' actual breed* :)

-Tara

its probably best to start using the crate for 10 minute periods during the day at first, to introduce it gradually. try feeding him in it. you can also have it in with you , leaving the door open, so that he can pop in and out. after that you can start closing the door for short periods.

I'd agree with this - how big is the crate?  Many dogs prefer it if the crate itself is draped with a blanket to make a 'den' type space.  I crate trained my two adult dogs by frequently throwing a treat in there, and when they were going in happily, I'd part close the door (not fully), when they were happy with that, I'd close the door, then open it again.  Then slightly increase the length of time it was shut for (and only let them out when they were settled) - infact I don't remember one of the whining to be let out.  Make sure that for longer periods he has something to occupy him - some cardboard to chew, or part of his daily diet in a Kong........  Like this it won't be long before he's going in there of his own accord.  I don't have my crate out all the time, but when I do, they often choose to go in it over any of their other beds - this is how it should be.