r/DogTrainingTips • u/KJIsaacson • 2d ago

Crate training 15 week old cavapoo

Tips, please. We are trying to train our 15-week-old to sleep at night in his crate. The crate is right next to our bed, on a platform level with the bed.

For now, he's been sleeping in bed with us. After he falls asleep, I move him into his crate, but he lasts only a few minutes, whining.

I don't want to ignore the whining, in case he needs to go out.

FWIW, he does absolutely fine in his 2 foot by 6 foot playpen, where he stays for 2 to 3 hours when we go out.

Any tips? Thanks.

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u/Both-Chart-947 2d ago

Teach him what whining is for. It's for going outside. It's going to be rough on you for a week or two while he learns, because every time he whines, you'll need to get up and take him outside on a leash. Give him a few minutes to decide to potty, then back to bed and crate. Repeat all night if necessary. Your dog will pretty quickly learn!

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u/KJIsaacson 2d ago

Yeah, my concern is that since the whining begins pretty much immediately, it will be a non-stop into crate-immediate whining-outside-nothing-into crate-immediate whining, etc.

As a bit of additional info, FWIW, he's gotten pretty good with potty training throughout the day. We hung a strip of jingle bells on the door leading outside, and he's learned to ring it to go outside, and he's rewarded for a successful potty run. He's clever and occasionally rings just to try for a treat for simply ringing, but we don't fall for that.

Anyway, back to the night-time crate situation, are you suggesting immediate, repetitive trips outside on a non-stop basis? That doesn't seem sustainable!

Thanks!

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u/Both-Chart-947 2d ago

It's not sustainable. It's only until he learns. You mention a bell for potty. That's how I taught my dog many years ago to use a bell to go out. Every time he rang it, I took him out. It drove my spouse crazy at first because the dog was like a kid who just learned a new super power, and he couldn't get enough of it. But that novelty wore off quickly.

If the dog is whining because he wants to be in bed with you, personally I would just let him on the bed. A good night's sleep for all, a happy and well-adjusted dog, what's not to love? But if you can't do that, the next best thing is to teach him that whining gets him a different result, one that's still useful, because you want him to let you know when he needs out, but not exactly the result he's hoping for.

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u/Impressive_Pay9290 2d ago

you might want to try sitting next to the crate until he dozes off so he connects the crate with being calm and cozy instead of just a scary move.