The Pomerama
Crate Training
Maintained by Susann Philbrook
Melanie
My two Poms (3 months
and 9 months) are keeping me up at night and making me late for work. I
have tried every sleeping situation I can think of and nothing works. Every
morning at 3:00 or 3:30 they both wake up and bark, wine, cry and want
to play! I have tried sleeping with the older (because he has slept with
me since day one), and locking the other out of the room; sleeping with
the older and letting the little one sleep in the room on the floor; both
of them in bed (BIG MISTAKE) -- they would either play most of the night,
or the little one would have an accident! (Thank goodness I have a water
bed); me on the couch, the guys on the floor; me on the couch with the
little one, the big one on the floor; both of them locked out...and nothing
works. They both wake up and stay up for at least an hour. I'm at my wits
end. ANY ADVICE would be much appreciated.
From Melanie Bailey/email:
mebailey@soemail.ucsd.edu (Melanie Bailey)
Joyce
First thing to do is
buy your little ones their own crates. I would advise Vari-Kennel 100's
if they are 3-7 lbs. This will probably be tough for you, but you must
get them into a schedule. My Poms all go to bed at 9 p.m. and get up at
7 a.m., and rarely do they have an accident in their crates. It will take
3-4 days of complaining before they settle down and start to behave, maybe
longer because they have had the freedom of your bedroom. Cover crates
with towels and when they bark, slap the crate firmly and say: "No". Sometimes
it is best if you do nothing and let them wear themselves out. Take earplugs
to bed and keep a firm resolve. You will win in the end. Oh, by the way,
put the crates in one place and leave them, preferably not in your bedroom.
From Joyce Rife/email:
nsg001@lion.connect.more.net
Kim
I have a 7 month old
and crate him (with the exception of feeding him in the crate). We leave
the door open so he can go in and out as he pleases. He has even figured
out when bed time is and goes in there by himself! The door is closed at
night also. I feel part of the reason my Pom "Buddy" is such a good boy
is because we've used the crate since his first day with us. I did try
to leave him out at night about a month back, but that didn't work -- all
he did was cry all night be with us! I think he feels much safer and secure
in his "den."
From Kim Pahl/email:
kpahl@state.de.us
Patricia
I have a neighbor who
has had the same problem with her two Poms - whining and asking to go out,
scratching at the door to get out of the bedroom, etc. So she now has them
sleeping soundly in separate carry cases. At first I thought it sounded
a bit severe, but the dogs do get used to it, and even now act as if they
regard their carry cases as a safe haven. Of course each case has a wire
screen door. The can see out, but they can't GET out to play, etc. They
still sleep in her bedroom, quietly in their cases, on the floor next to
her bed.
From Patricia Akkad/email:
LaCobista@aol.com
Teresa
You are going to have
to crate your dogs. Get a book on the subject. It is the best way to train
puppies to your schedule for both sleeping, eating and house breaking!
They are still young enough. When they get older you might be able to have
them sleep with you but until they get over puppyhood it is unlikely.
From Teresa Connors/email:
MUXG23A@prodigy.com
For use with your crates, you might
want to consider using Pooch Pads. To find out more about them, visit the
Pooch Palace at the following web address:
http://www.poochpalace.com/poochpd.htm
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Copyright 1999, by Susann
Philbrook
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