How to Stop a Dog from Barking in the Crate
Is your dog keeping you awake all night? This is the challenge every new dog parent may experience.
Those constant whines could be irritating to neighbors or people who enjoy living in serene environments.
However, your dog could be barking in the crate for certain reasons which could be genuine. It may either fear the dark, need to use the potty or be experiencing the fear of separation from its owner.
In some other cases, your dog could be barking in the crate because it is seeking your attention. It is probably not used to being in a crate.
So, should you ignore your dog who is barking?
Dogs use barks to express their needs or emotions. This implies you might be missing out on the message your dog is trying to communicate to you.
When your dog keeps barking to grab your attention, it’s best not to consent. The moment it gets accustomed to barking until you show up, this becomes a habit.
In giving your dog attention, you might be rewarding its bad habit by accident.
Some people get irritated and start shouting at their dogs while some others may not be able to shout or scold. While scolding is good, it will only provide a temporary solution. In fact, your dog might think you are making attempts at barking too.
Are there other ways to stop a dog from barking in the crate?
There are other ways you can achieve a positive result.
If your dog is being brought home for the first time, the first option is to train your dog to use the crate.
How to Crate Train a Dog
Bringing a dog home for the first time requires a lot, one of which is dog-proofing your home.
A dog’s crate is a safe space for your dog who still needs to understand its new environment. It also serves as a way of restricting the dog’s movement as it may want to chew on items around the house.
Training a dog to remain in the crate requires a lot of patience. Some dogs may go violent as they try to break free from the crate.
Basically, it takes about six months to successfully train your dog to like its crate.
Most importantly, dog parents should not use the crate as a means of punishment for their dogs. Doing so will nullify the essence of crate training.
So, now that you know this, let’s talk about how to get a suitable crate for your furry friend.
How to Crate Train a Dog – Get a Suitable Crate
As a new dog parent, you may even be wondering what kind of crate your dog would like.
There are about four types of crates. A brief description of each will help you decide which is suitable for your dog.
Wire Crates
These are collapsible as they can be folded and carried around. They provide good ventilation and an opportunity for the dog to view its surroundings while in it.
It’s also a good option if you love traveling because it is portable. This crate is not so attractive, but it is easy to clean.
Plastic Crates
As the name implies, they are made of plastic. They are durable but this also depends on the thickness of the plastic.
They are not difficult to clean. However, unlike the wire crates, they are poorly ventilated. But it is a great option for dogs who like secluded places or just enjoy their privacy.
The plastic crate is the recommended type if you will need to fly with your dog.
Soft-sided Crates
These are made of soft textured materials with some sort of metallic frame, giving it that caged look.
They are most suitable for small dogs since they are lightweight. Soft-sided crates are portable and can be used for road and air trips.
If your dog likes to chew things, please avoid using a soft-sided crate. Besides, it can prove difficult to clean especially if your dog has not been potty trained.
Heavy-duty Crates
They are usually used for big dog breeds and dogs that like to escape from their crates.
It may be expensive to purchase but it will pay off in the end. This is because you will spend more replacing a crate after your dog escapes from it or destroys it.
Some airlines permit traveling with this type of crate.
Before you get your first crate, make sure you get a plus size to accommodate your dog’s growth.
How to Crate Train a Dog – The Basics
Crate training your dog will require a lot of patience. However, these tips will be useful.
- Keep the crate in your bedroom for the first night to make the dog feel your presence
- Do not force your dog to enter the crate. This might give it a negative impression of the crate.
- Your dog should not stay more than 3 hours in the crate during the day.
- Place a blanket or bed in the crate to make it comfortable
- Give your dog some toys and safe chew bones to play with while in the crate
- As soon as your dog becomes comfortable with the crate, you can leave him in there for longer periods
- Whenever your dog falls asleep anywhere around the house, you will need to take him into the crate.
How to Put an End to Barking in the Crate – Make your Dog’s Crate Comfortable
Dogs are known as den animals. They love to have space to themselves. Despite this, you need to make the space comfortable.
Ensure that your dog can sit and roll over comfortably in the crate. Keep some safe toys and treats. Also, feed your dog its regular meals in there.
This way, your dog will not feel like it is missing out on so much outside the crate.
If it will spend long hours, mount a bottle of water on a frame outside the crate. Do not keep water on the base of the crate to avoid spillage.
How to Put an End to Barking in the Crate – Place your Dog on A Schedule
You should have a routine for feeding your dog. Keeping to this routine will enable you to know when it needs to pee or poo.
When your dog enters the crate just after a meal, it is going to bark because it needs to be relieved. Take your dog to use its potty before it retires into the crate.
Some dogs are very active and need to be exercised. If they are not engaged, they start chewing on things in the crate. So have an exercise schedule.
Let the dog out for a walk or playtime with other dogs in the neighborhood. Your dog will always look forward to this moment.
How to Put an End to Barking in the Crate – Ignore the Barks
When your dog keeps barking in the crate, you may be tempted to feel pity for it. However, taking it out will mean encouraging a negative attitude.
Expect the barking to get louder and when this happens, you may have to leave the room.
When the barking dies out and the dog remains quiet, come back to the room and give your dog a treat. You can decide to let it out for some time.
Also, shower it with praises and positive words. This is a form of positive reinforcement.
This way, your dog will learn that it will only get your attention when it is quiet.
When you have tried all these, and your dog keeps barking, there are other stringent methods to try.
Before deciding to move on with other methods, ensure you have tried the above methods correctly. Also, check in with your Vet Doctor to rule out infections that may make your dog uncomfortable.
Furthermore, your dog’s temperament should be considered before moving on to stronger corrective measures.
Teach your Dog to be Quiet
You can train your dog to stop barking by giving a command such as “keep quiet” when it starts barking. Try not to yell at your dog. This will make the dog feel that you are trying to bark.
Remain consistent because you may be tempted to give up. With time, your efforts will pay off.
Use a Shake Can
This is a safe way to correct your dog when it barks. Put a good number of pennies in a plastic bottle.
Shake the can as soon as the dog starts barking. This is intended to distract the dog. However, this won’t be very effective for hunting dogs who are already used to hearing loud sounds.
When the dog refuses to keep quiet, hit the can on the crate and give the quiet command. If the barking continues, try another method of correction.
However, it is important to get your dog acclimatized to the sounds from vehicles and other things. Else, you run the risk of raising a dog who will always be afraid of noise.
Bark Control Collar
You can train your dog with a bark collar. However, get one that will pick only the vibrations coming from your dog’s throat when it barks consistently. This is because other dogs may be barking around your dog.
Also, ensure the collar is a no-shock collar. It is wrong to use shocks to punish your dog because it refuses to stop barking.
You can also pull on the dog’s leash and give the quiet command too.
Use a Pet Spray
Get a clean spray bottle, pour in some water. Spray it on your dog’s face when it starts barking. This will keep it quiet for a while.
Take note that some dogs like water so this method may not be effective for such breeds. However, being consistent is the secret behind getting your dog to obey the command.
Some sprays containing citronella are sold in stores. This should not be used on the dog’s face. It would be best to spray on the dog’s ear or another spot that will be less harmful to your dog. Such sprays can be used when water does not work.
After trying all these methods, your dog should be calm. But if this is not the case, then you can take it out to use the potty. If it remains calm after then, it means your dog only needed to be relieved.
If your dog does not need to use the potty, it means you need to repeat the methods discussed above. You can also contact a dog trainer if it becomes too difficult for you to handle.
November is a writer at DogProductsGuide.com who is super passionate about dogs. When she’s not at her desk, you can usually find her traveling or spending time with her family.