[Mastray]

Hello everyone! My husband, daughter, and I are all new owners of a 9 wk old boxer pup we've named Odin. We did some major research before buying a family dog and found that the boxer breed was right for us! We love him so very much... he's very smart. He might be too smart :lol: I was wondering if I could get any pointers on crate training. I'm not sure if we got him from a very good breeder just because she said when he'd cry to come out of his crate she'd let him out and as far as toileting went... she said he just went anywhere. So I'm having issues with potty training and crate training now.

With crate training... I think I've tried everything! I even took out the divider so I could sit in there with him playing and rewarding him... which was fine but then the second I closed the door he started crying... even with me IN there. He'll cry off and on all night, mostly on. He goes crazy in there too, he's knocked down the divider and tore up his $45 bed we bought for his crate. I guess that's our fault though... I forgot how destructive little puppies can be.

We had a dog one time... she was a holy terror. We swore after her that we'd do everything possible to make our next dog great. You know training class and what not. Unfortunately she got into a fight with a rattle snake right before we left TX and didn't make it.

Anyway, he's a wonderful pup and super smart out side of crate and potty training. Anyone have any pointers!? Please Help!

 

[ssimmons99]

First - put the divider back in so the crate is only large enough to laydown in.

Second - don't look at him when he cries in the crate.

Third - get a KONG and put peanut butter in it - that will keep him busy in the crate and will also help him associate crate with food.

Fourth - Feed in the crate (with the door open to start).

Also - try putting food/treats in there and then letting him go in and out for a while (not bed time).  Do this 20-30 times.  Then the next day throw some food in there and then when he goes in readily (at this point) - then close the door for 5 seconds - do this 20-30 times.  

At night - would give a Kong and no bed -

When ours was about 6 months - we put a bed in there at night only- before that it was old ratty towels.  

Also - be aware at night you will probably have to get up with the puppy after about 4 hours to let them out to go to the bathroom.  I would let Chloe out at 11pm - then get up at 2am and then again at 6am until she was about 5 months old.

 

[JessiesMom]

Hello everyone! My husband, daughter, and I are all new owners of a 9 wk old boxer pup we've named Odin. We did some major research before buying a family dog and found that the boxer breed was right for us! We love him so very much... he's very smart. He might be too smart :lol: I was wondering if I could get any pointers on crate training. I'm not sure if we got him from a very good breeder just because she said when he'd cry to come out of his crate she'd let him out and as far as toileting went... she said he just went anywhere. So I'm having issues with potty training and crate training now.

good thing is hes young enough to reverse whatever he learned from the breeder...  boxers are very smart, just keep being repetative with him...

 

[southerngirls]

i personally would not reccomend feeding the pup in the crate. treats and such are fine, but you do want to establish food from bed. If you do put food and water bowls in the crate, then be sure not to leave during the night. if you leave them down at night you will end up with more accidents in the kennel.  When training a puppy i have always crate trained since it is an easier method. It will be tough at first, but be sure to NEVER acknowledge the whimpering and whining and howling. If you acknowledge it then he will know that all he has to do is make noises to get your attention. I agree with putting the divider up the dog should have enough room to turn in circles and lay down. no extra room needed. I also agree with the kong, those are great if your dog will play with it. Mine wont . As far as potty training is concerned you must be consistant. Take him out every 45min to an hour, the bladder is small and he is not in control of it at this point. if you catch him in the act be sure to say no, pick him up and move him outside. if you come by the spot after the fact just clean it up-probably best to use something like Natures Miracle to get the smell out. Dont punish the pup if you find the deed after it has been done, he will not know why he is being punished. Lastly be patient!! it will take time Also be sure to look through previous threads-TONS and TONS of useful info there. We have had a lot of new puppies lately-most questions are the same along with the responses. Welcome and be sure to post pics. We are egghead addicts here

 

[tootsie]

Excellent pointers from ssimmons99 and Chloesmom. The hardest part of crate training is ignoring all the whining. Do not give in!!! When you start putting him in there and closing the crate, do not make a big deal about it. Just put him in there and go about your business. When you leave the house and return, same thing, no big deal. Don't even let him out right away. Ignore him for a few minutes. Read the mail, go to the bathroom, whatever just ignore him. After a few minutes go over to the crate and open the door. Still ignore him, don't make a big fuss. I know it's hard seeing that wiggly butt so happy to see you, but this is really key in crate training. He will eventually start to love his crate. At night, where does he sleep? I highly recommend that you take the crate in your bedroom with you. He will get comforted a lot easier knowing you are right there. That will also help with the potty training because you will hear him shuffling around ready to go outside. Bring him out to do his business then right back in the crate. Good Luck with this, just remember he is still very young, he will get it. They all do...I promise!

 

[mom2scoutandgunner]

Welcome to the forum!  Good advice from everyone.  Trust me, we did not crate our first but did our second and will again with any future boxers!

 

[Alicia]

Congratulations on the new puppy!  I just recently got one myself...about 3 weeks ago.  The first night Lola slept on a comforter next to our bed.  The second night we put her in her crate with a fleece blanket and a few of our old t-shirts so our smell would be in there as well as a little monkey stuffed toy that she loves.  She whined a little so I layed down in front of the crate until she calmed down and fell asleep.  That went on for a few days.  Now I'm usually playing with her at night so when she gets tired and she'll crawl up on my lap to fall asleep, so after a few minutes I'll put her in her crate and she passes right out again if she wakes up at all.  If she falls asleep during the day I'll put her in it and leave the door open as long as I'm in the same room.  It takes time, but he'll get used to it.  Lola doesn't mind her crate at all now...and I happy to say she only went the bathroom in it once and that was durning the day when my boyfriend had to leave the house for a few hours and the poor little girl just couldn't hold it any longer!  This forum is great to ask any and all questions!  And the people on here are wonderful!  They've helped me out a lot!  Good luck!

 

[Mastray]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful welcoming! There are actually a lot of new things I can try now, proves that I didn't try EVERYTHING.   I've thought about putting him in the bedroom with us but he's so loud in the living room at night, that putting the crate in the bedroom would just be unbearable. He will cry in the crate even if I'm sitting in the same room. So I think putting him in the bedroom at night won't be any different than during the day. The crate is 42x31x28 so it's not the easiest thing to move around (barely fits through the door ways). You all gave great advice thank you soo very much!

Here are a couple of pics... I already have about 12 I think in my photo album. I love taking pictures of him! Boxers are just TOO awesome!

 

[boxer2crazy]

AWWWW!!!!HOW CUTE. LOVE THE PICS

 

[southerngirls]

Isnt he adorable!!! what a cute little girl also!

 

[cassieqh]

Odin is the name of a Norse god, correct?  I really like Odin's markings.  Welcome to the forum.

 

[samsonsmom]

Welcome to all of you..Let me say that I am totally in love with your Odin, great name by the way...He is precious...You have been given some excellent advice by everyone, so I don't have much to add other than to enjoy him and be prepared to laugh, cry you name it...Boxers will steal your heart very easily, but oh what a way to go....

Keep those pictures coming...We have a ton of newbies on here and a lot of threads posted on puppy issues, if you haven't you might want to go thru them for some great pointers......