Retriever Puppy Hates Puppy Pen

[frobear]

We have just got a 9 week old Retriever pup named "Missy".

We are attempting to crate train her, but instead of using a crate we are using the "bunnings puppy play pen"

(sourced from another thread) so we can keep an eye on her and she has a bit of room.

However everytime we put her in there she gets quite stressed and whines and cries...

We have her water bowl, toys and bed in there and it is inside so we can do other things and keep an eye on her.

When she sleeps at night we put her in the bathroom and she cries only for a little while and sleeps from 11pm to about 6am, we were

originally leaving her in the bathroom during the day and taking her out on the hour for toilet (with rewards) and then play.

Do we persist with the playpen or switch back to the bathroom ? It is meant to be a place they like and she doesn't seem to like it at all.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Guest Tess32]

Persist.....my puppy cracked the biggest wobblies when he was confined at any time in the puppy pen- they have to learn to accept where they are put.

[Bjelkier]

I agree utterly with Tess32

[Dogsfevr]

Persist but how much time is she actually in the pen in relation to running around outside??

Your puppy at 9 weeks should be spending a good decent time outside alone if your yard is safe.Pup is most likley getting frustrated so you need to make sure you dont create a playpen phobia do to it being over used.

[frobear]

She is spening one hour in the pen, then she gets taken to her toilet spot on the back lawn. She then gets 5 minutes to run around on the back lawn before she wants to go inside. She then gets 10-15 minutes of playing (chasing the ball, mucking around with Mum & Dad on the floor) and then goes back in the pen. Then it starts again. Sometimes she gets longer playing - depends how much time we have. Luckily my partner works from home so the play pen is in the office next to her desk.

I read that they should be limited to only a few areas to start with, otherwise they get too much choice and freedom. This then creates play pen phobia. So we are gradually introducing her to the house. It's only day 2. So much to learn!

[Dogsfevr]

To be honest she needs more time out of the pen & walking about.

She doesnt pick when its time to come back inside allow her to be independant outside more even in these early days

[Guest Tess32]

I don't let puppies that young outside alone...god knows what some of them can get up to.

It doesn't sound like a huge amount of time in the pen to me - Noah literally SCREAMED at night for about 5 days and he was right next to my bed!

[frobear]

She is fast asleep in the pen now. She seems to get a little sooky to start when I put her back in the pen, then she settles down for a nap. I then wake her up again for another toilet trip. I think I will encourage her to play outside a bit more but under my supervision.

Do you leave them in their play pen if you go out to the shops etc, or do you lock them in their "night den" (her night den is the bathroom) just in case?

She is soooo cute btw!!! Love it!

[lilypily]

She is fast asleep in the pen now. She seems to get a little sooky to start when I put her back in the pen, then she settles down for a nap. I then wake her up again for another toilet trip. I think I will encourage her to play outside a bit more but under my supervision.

Do you leave them in their play pen if you go out to the shops etc, or do you lock them in their "night den" (her night den is the bathroom) just in case?

She is soooo cute btw!!! Love it!

I wouldn't be waking her up to take her to the toilet. Let her sleep and take her to the toilet when she wakes on her own.

And yeah she needs more time out of the pen, more stimulation.

[Dogsfevr]

Our puppies at 6 week(mini schnauzers) run an acre,pups develop through mental stimulation.Touch,smell & sight.

They need to experience life to learn.If your yard is safe then there are no issues & if your yard isnt safe then it will be a danger for life.

You will find that pups from most breeders have experienced so much before they go to there new homes & then the new owners panic & restrict what is normal to them.

They are longer are able to run about outside & the backyard ends up being a bigger novelty .

My new pup at 4 months would have gone retarded if not allowed outside to be the gundog it is.He sleeps on my bed with the other boys BUT spends all day outside playing,self exercising,hunting birds ,all part of health maintance aswell.Pups that arent able to run about arent using there muscles & conditioning themselves for there growing body.

"It doesn't sound like a huge amount of time in the pen to me "

They way i read is it spends alot of time in the pen except for toilet breaks & play times & then in the bathroom for the night.

I dont read it as spending a good deal out ??

Maybe im wrong .

[becks]

Make sure the puppy is relaxed and sleepy when you put him into the pen. If he has just had an exciting time and you end it then put him in the pen, he is going to create as he wants the fun to continue. Playpens are for quiet time. A pup from most breeders will be used to spending time in a play pen.

[The Spotted Devil]

Make sure the puppy is relaxed and sleepy when you put him into the pen. If he has just had an exciting time and you end it then put him in the pen, he is going to create as he wants the fun to continue. Playpens are for quiet time. A pup from most breeders will be used to spending time in a play pen.

When Ziggy was a baby puppy I used the "3 strikes and your'e out!" rule.....after a good game and a toilet break outside, I would sit on the floor quietly and cuddle him on my lap.....one yawn.....two yawns......3 yawns.......and time for bed! A puppy kong filled with kibble helped him settle too.

[Erny]

I have attached Mandela's puppy pen to his 'day crate'. This provides him a cosy and safe place to rest/sleep. I tend to give him a treat (eg. a piece of carrot or apple) when he goes into his day crate/pen - not every single time, mind, but enough for him to happily enter the day crate/pen. There was some demanding barking in those first early days - even though I was right there. I ignored that and waited for him to settle. When he did and after a little while, I would give him attention/let him out or whatever.

I use the crate/pen set up for occasions such as :

• When I want to eat (in peace)
  
• When I can't supervise him
  
• When I just simply want a break
  
• When I need to leave him on his own
  
• When I want to watch TV (in peace)
  

At other times, Mandela has access to the remainder of the main rooms of the house - but I'm around to check on him and supervise. The freedom he has been given for this access has been gradual - the more he is becoming trustworthy, the more he gains freedom of access.

I also use the crate/pen set up for when he is outside and I have to leave. This provides him with a degree of security and stops him safe from things he might get up to in the yard. This will continue until he is a bit older and larger (he's 15 weeks atm). At other times when I am around, he has free access to the whole of the yard. I will leave him outside and 'deny access' by closing the back door. For very short periods only - to get him used to not being able to come inside when he feels like it.

I agree that breeders generally do much with the pups before they come home to us. But don't forget that they are together with their other litter mates at the time. Being completely alone makes a difference and pups should ideally be 'gentled' into being used to this. IMO.

[Erny]

Playpens are for quiet time.

In my view, "quiet time" is more for crates. Play pens are for the pup to be able to play but without the necessity of constant supervision. It keeps them safe and contained but doesn't mean they can't be active.

ETA: Re-read and note the OP is using the play pen as a substitute crate. Depends on what the OP wants - is "play pen" supposed to signify "sleep/rest/quiet" time? If so, IMO a play pen is generally too large and open to more easily encourage this.

Edited September 27, 2008 by Erny

[puggy_puggy]

Keep persisting. The pug pups I just fostered, from 7 weeks till 20 weeks, used to literally chuck tantrums when they wanted to be out of the pen. They would gab the bars in their mouths and shake the whole pen and move it across the floor.

I used the pen for when I wasn't at home, when I wanted to eat in peace, as a place to feed them and for when it was bed time for them. Basically when I couldn't supervise them they were put in there with thier bed, water, toys and newspaper. All other times they would be out and about, more and more as they got older.

I use the crate/pen set up for occasions such as :

• When I want to eat (in peace)
  
• When I can't supervise him
  
• When I just simply want a break
  
• When I need to leave him on his own
  
• When I want to watch TV (in peace)
  

[Christina]

I hate crating & pens but it is a must for safety,at times & mine are toy breed. Try a bigger pen.

Mine get a minimum run of 10 feet long. I have 4 large dog crates I can join up as one pen & some puppy pens in panels that I join to make a big run with those black plastic garden ties,snip the end off or they chew them. An active puppy will be upset confined in a small crate/pen.

I may pop one in a single dog crate,or pen if I am mopping the floor etc,for a short time,say 20 mins or so but thats it. You cant let a pup wander free if you cant watch it but a 4 foot space is not enough IMO.

[beachbum]

Hi, I am Frobear's partner and wanted to say thanks everyone for all your advice. We are really trying to get it right as we know how the first 6 months of a puppy's development can dictate how they are for the rest of their loves. But it's a bit confusing!

This is all great information but it is very difficult to say exactly what to do given everyone's situation is different. What if you have a large house with lots of rooms, you want the pup to explore, get used to the house, stretch their legs etc but cant follow them into every room. I work from home and am in front of the computer most of the day so technically I cant supervise the puppy's every move, but dont want her kept in the pen all the time. I am digiligent with the hourly toilet breaks but cant watch her every second. Perhaps a latptop is the go so I can be outside and she can be more entertained in the yard!?

Also at what age is it safe for a GR pup to be left outside on her own. Two days a week I work at an office and would love for her to be outside playing rather than locked in the bathroom. She is almost 10 weeks old. We have a large yard with a lawn and lots of shade. We also have a kennel that could become her "outside crate" - her sanctuary. So when can I leave her for severla hours in a row outside?

Thanks again! We appreciate your responses and help.

[Dogsfevr]

If your yard is safe pup should be allowed outside now.

All our pups spend hours outside from 6 weeks on with no issues at all & they are raised in the house.

When you collected your pup it will have spent many hrs outside before it came home most likley from 6 weeks onwards.

Your pup isnt a little fry & unless your garden is dangerous the weather is perfect for leaving it outside for good spells now.

Being a in the pen for that time wont allow it to get muscle condituon & life experience.Pups need to learn from touch & feel & this is the age to allow it.

AS for home alone hundreds of young pups & dogs do this every day & they survive very well.Make sure all is safe BUT until you allow it to happen whilst your at home it will be harder on the pup when the time comes.You have the perfect situation working from home to allow this pup to get use to outside on its on where you can check & bring in/out as you please BUT when you suddenly want it to stay more & more your pup may find it very hard to deal with

[VJB]

It can all be very daunting having a pup... enough to grow a few grey hairs to say the least. I can say that before you know it, this faze will pass and things get a little/lot easier as you get to know your pup's personality. This happens really quick and in six weeks time, you will have a routine that works well for all and you will be amazed at how much she has developed in that time. We have only had our girl for around 8 weeks and the first few I was a nervous wreck. She was eating sticks, I didn't feel like I could go out (I'm a worry wart) and I was amongst all the toilet training etc...Crazy time, but now, its fantastic. All has settled and it still feels like only yesterday we got her. As well as the rate they grow, they become so much more capable, and toilet training is fully sorted out, she is being obedient most of the time, I know what she's most likely to get up to at certain times during the day. Keep pup entertained with lots of different types of toys, frozen doggy ice blocks, kong, sand pit/clam, play with water from hose (check water restrictions), teaching tricks, and a couple of short training a day (5 mins each time). As well as getting them use to being without you in the yard for short periods, when you are comfortable, go out for short periods so she can get use to you not being around all the time. Its best not to go out for so long that they start being destructive from being bored, as these behaviours are hard to stop once they start. Its not forever that it will be like this, even though it feels like it when you are in the thick of it!