[sizzur]

As some of you might know, i've been having some problems sleeping of late of due to my puppy. After finally getting my crate from my friend today, I've implemented crate training.

Wow, i never knew doberman's were so insanely loud, the kind of noises they make when they want out! It took about 40 minutes for her to slowly wear out and get tired. It was also pretty unbareable just listening to her cry and wail and not do a thing.. I've put her in our library(2nd floor) while I sleep on the top floor.. Is this ok?

 

[TracyJo]

How old is your girl now? If she's old enough to "hold it" throughout the night I would imagine having her in the library should be just fine - OTOH she might do better if you move her crate to your room. I know I went over board with Chi but I have her crate right by my side of the bed - When she was very young and still unused to her kennel, I slept with my fingers laced through the wires on the side of the crate to help her stay calm - she was fine as long as she knew I was right there.
Dobes like to be with their people and having her so far removed from the family might freak her out more than if she was at least in the same room as you.

 

[sizzur]

Excellent advise Tracy, thanks so much for it.. I was kinda thinking that too, but just tried the library last night just to see how it went. She went nuts last night. I thought she fell asleep but there were couple other times during the night where she would make a lot of sound.

Also, my homemade construction of a cardboard divider for the crate failed quite miserably. This morning at 6am I went down to let her out to go potty and saw that she somehow ripped the cardboard just enough to squeeze underneath and take a poo on the other side. She would then just sleep on the opposite side to it. Boy did i underestimate her lol.. Thank goodness for Nature's Miracle.

I can't seem to take off a side of the crate to put in the divider properly. My friend said the crate came already assembled. Does anyone have any idea how I can fit a better divider by only going through the doorway of the crate?

 

[sorthund]

I'd buy or borrow a smaller crate. These dogs will figure any homemade contraption out, or get stuck or something -- too risky.

 

[Patches Mom]

I also always put my pups in a box beside the bed if the got noisey put my hand in the box. Depends on the size of the pup.
Patches Mom

 

[Riagogogo]

Even though I adopted Rudi at 2 1/2 yrs of age he didn't really let out a bark until I taught him how about a year ago. I've been volunteering at the local Dobe rescue every Saturday for the past month and spend 5-8 hours there. On nice days Rudi has been able to mingle in a few of the "yards" with compatible Dobies. But, I still find him waiting at the corner by the gate and barking his best so I will come into his sight. He is a little bit of a different dog while he is there. Once we get into the car to come home he is back to his normal quiet self. He doesn't do this when I'm at my sisters. (she doesn't have any dogs) only when he is around other dogs that bark. I was scrubbing down a few outdoor kennel/runs and unless he saw me....he would be barking. I really need to work on him with this.....this is the only thing that may be a hinderence with getting his CGC. He's not normally like this, he's great at obedience class and the dog park (because I am within his sight)....only does this while at the rescue.

can u say............Momma's Boy?

 

[BackInBlack]

You guys are saints. I always start out with them in the same room as me, and always wind up moving them to the other side of the house. If they scream....they scream. They get the idea pretty quick. I usually dont put them in their crate for the night until about 11 or 12, so I usually let them out around 3 or 4, then they come out at between 6-8 when I wake up. They learn pretty quick that screaming doesnt do much. Even Ziris learned that one fast. LOL

 

[sizzur]

so would it be a good idea to let her out in the middle of the night(3-4am) once to go potty? I'm probably gonna put her in my room this time and see how things progress. her screaming is remarkable.. sometimes it sounds like raccoons or ferrets fighting

 

[BackInBlack]

How old is she? She may not be able to hold it. How long is she in the crate at night?

 

[waiting]

You guys are saints. I always start out with them in the same room as me, and always wind up moving them to the other side of the house. If they scream....they scream. They get the idea pretty quick. I usually don't put them in their crate for the night until about 11 or 12, so I usually let them out around 3 or 4, then they come out at between 6-8 when I wake up. They learn pretty quick that screaming doesn't do much. Even Ziris learned that one fast. LOL

At first I had my dobe in my room and I thought it was not so bad, but after awhile I was getting no sleep, dangling arm etc. etc, not healthy. I love my dogs, but I thank my other half for reminding me they are dogs. Other room in the kennel a couple nights of wailing, I checked for safety, pee, poop, and they survived and I had a great sleep to be able to work and pay for all the things I do for them with them and In case they need to go to the vet.
Now after she got older and came in our room on our bed if you remember what an ordeal it was when we decided to buy her a dog bed because she is a bed hog. Well we persevered and buy day four she goes automatically to her bed. Thank god. I finally remember what it was like to sleep in a Queen size bed and be able to stretch my legs. aaaahhhhhhhhhh wonderful.
Honestly the more you give in and do the more they take advantage in my opinion these are SMART Malipulative dogs honestly, they love attention and they will persevere and try to get it and their way.

 

[Fitzmar Dobermans]

When I bring a puppy home I put them in a smaller crate by my side of the bed. Usually be the second week, I can move it over to the wall so that I am not having to climb over it to get in bed - LOL! My experience has been that this works really well. It also helps that I have an older dog that sleeps on a dog bed in my room - so when they are ready to come out of the crate, they sleep on a dog bed with the other dog. Or as in Louise's case, she moved to one of my kids rooms and sleeps on the bed with her

I've always had really good luck with this, but I'm sure it won't work with every puppy and for everyone.

 

[micdobe]

When Monte came at four months he was already so well crate trained there was no problem having him sleep in his crate. He will still sleep in it if there is a reason he needs to.

The first two Iggy puppies I got screamed all night for two weeks solid until I let them sleep on the bed. I felt I had to because the neighbors were wondering what was going on. When I go the third Iggy at four months I just skipped the crating and the two weeks of screaming and let her sleep on the bed from the first night on. Never made any difference in her eventual crate training.

The only reason I started Monte off sleeping in his crate when he came was because I have a bad back and can't sleep comfortably in a bed most of the time, and there's not room for both of us in a recliner. Otherwise he would have slept on the bed with me from night one just like the third IG did. He and I did take some epic naps together on the couch when he was a puppy.

They are babies, and they are alone and lonely. I don't subscribe to the lettign them cry themselves out theory, for puppies or babies. And that's especially true for putting them in a completely different part of the house. Of course they'll "survive", it's unlikely they would actaully die from it, isn't it? But it can leave psychological scars and they suffer at the time. Sleeping in at least the same room with the rest of the pack or the "pack leader" gives them confidence.

 

[adajane1]

When we got Tia we were told not to give in to her crying - and we tried very very hard not to until after the 3rd night of no sleep and my husband going to work like a zombie we put her in bed with us. This is where she slept for about a week. We then moved her to a crate in our bedroom where she was fine and then finally moved her to her crate downstairs - again with no problems.

I know you are told never ever to let them sleep with you but it worked for us and if (when) we get a brother for Tia I would (will) do the same again if needs be - although I realise we may just have been lucky with weaning Tia from our bed.

I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I totally agree with Micdobe that they are babies that are totally disorientated when they first come into your home and screaming all through the night (and I mean screaming!) surely can't be doing them any good (or you!)

Good luck x

 

[sizzur]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me everyone. It really does help and put things into perspective.

Dolce is a little over 8 weeks now. So she probably cant' hold it in too well through the night, although one night she was able to.
I don't think I'm going to leave her in the crate in a different room for now since she appears to have a white colorish little bump on her forehead now and i'm thinking its cuz she was bumping her head on the cage so much, tryin to get out. She absolutely goes NUTS in teh crate, I took a sneak peek just to see what she actually does when she screams, and it's not a pretty sight, and it doesn't look safe.

So i plan to put her in the crate in my room tonight. I just hope however that eventually(sooner the better cuz i'm sleepin 3 hours a day), she'll settle down in there and relax.

I can't let her sleep in my bed cuz I let her up on my bed to just take a nap(after breakfast and lettin her go outside to pee), and she ended up peeing all over my blanket. Probably twice during the nap.

 

[micdobe]

Because at 8 weeks she's too young. I got my first two Iggies when they were 12 weeks old, one year apart. Most IG breeders don't let their puppies go younger than 12 weeks. I found out that they were capable of going all night without having to pee. An 8 week old Doberman puppy probably isn't. When I got my first Doberman puppy I intended for him to eventually sleep on my bed, but he was too young not to have to pee during the night, so he "slept" in the kitchen, which had a closing door close to my bedroom, and I covered the entire floor with newspapers. When he was a little older I started letting him sleep on my bed. Today I probably would have him in a crate next to my bed rather than in the kitchen, even tho it was close and gave him room to move around.

 

[lanabana]

Bumpy slept in bed with us from day one and I weaned him off the bed to his own dog bed. For some reason he rarely fussed, but it probably helped that the other two dogs were on their dogs beds in my room as well. I have to say that even though he came home to me at 6 1/2 weeks, he never suffered separation anxiety and must have learned bite inhibition from my other two dogs. He would sneak on the bed at first, but not for long. I did sleep on the dog bed with him for a few nights if I recall correctly, but for the most part he was not a screamer.

 

[Dobesanddragons]

My Dobe puppies are crate trained beside my bed at night too. They settle in after a bit, just depends on age and personality of the puppy. I just suffer thru any cries of protest and know it is just part of having a puppy. Just like potty training and chewing.

I train with the command kennel up, and they dive into the crate after cookies. After they are potty trained, they sleep on a double doggie bed in the room or sleep in the bed.

It will get better! It really will I know you are tired, but they don't stay little for all that long, this stage will fly by before you know it

 

[Dobesanddragons]

I can't let her sleep in my bed cuz I let her up on my bed to just take a nap(after breakfast and lettin her go outside to pee), and she ended up peeing all over my blanket. Probably twice during the nap.

I know you have probably heard this before, but she might have an infection, you might want to get that checked out at the vet.

 

[dragonman]

Whining, peeping, you're not sleeping Yes - get a smaller crate; forget dividers there just frustration food. Teach your puppy the "stop or quit" (versus using the word "no") command. When you catch them whining and vocalizing (more than 5 or 10 minutes) open the door grab a hold of the end of their nose (gently), look them straight in the eye and say "stop or quit" a couple of times. Give them a good stare. Let go of the nose, close the door, and praise them if they remain quiet. If they do it a again, repeat the command sequence. They catch on pretty fast.

Also, never let them bolt from the crate when you open the door. It's a bad habit to learn and dangerous because they'll start jumping out of the car, out the front door, etc. Here's a great way to teach the "wait" command. Just close the crate door in their face (not too hard) as they try to bolt and say "wait." Open the door, if they try to come out again without your permission repeat the sequence. After 2-3 times they will wait for you to say "OK" which is the permission to come out command. Drago is a really good boy. He takes this getting permission stuff very seriously. It took me a long time to teach him that it was OK to go in and out his doggie door without my permission (an exception to the rule). It also makes your puppy look up to you as the leader. Eventually, you'll be able to just say to them "stop - go to bed or quit - go lay down" once they learn more vocabulary.

Good luck, Tracy

 

[adajane1]

Sizzur, tia used to make a terrible noise - we expected some crying but nothing like what we got, it was horrendous, so I know exactly what you are going through but I promise it gets better.

For about a fortnight after we got her I did lots of crate training during the day - leaving her for a couple of minutes and as soon as there was a respite in her crying going to her and making a BIG fuss of her for being a good quiet girl. After a couple of weeks she was fine and happy in her crate.

I know its really hard at first - a total life adjustment - but in the big scheme of things it gets better pretty quickly. You'll have almost forgotton about the sleepless nights in a couple of weeks - I promise x