How to stop puppy barking and howling in crate with door shut?

Question

My new puppy howls and barks like crazy when in her crate. She bites the door and tries to rip it open. She only does this when the door is closed. If it’s open she will go in by herself sometimes to eat or get a toy. How do I stop the barking and howling when she’s in there with the door shut? Pet's info: Dog | Boxer | Female | unspayed | 2 months and 25 days old | 25 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

You may need to get Shadow used to being in her crate with the door closed gradually. A few good steps are to never use the crate as punishment, and to give her access to it at all times without the door being closed (as it seems you have already started doing). The next good step is to crate her at random intervals with a favorite toy or treat to keep her occupied that is only given when she's in the crate. Try not to link this with something she may not like, such as going to bed, or you leaving, so that she learns the crate is a safe spot and doesn't indicate something bad is about to happen. When crated, take a short walk around a corner, into another room, etc and try not to give kisses or make a big deal of coming or going. After a few minutes, or if she settles down/has a moment of quiet, return and let her back out. This can help teach her that calm, quiet behavior is rewarded, and that it's OK to be in the crate because you're going to return. Over time, you can gradually increase the time spent in the crate. In some cases, you may need to just "wait out" the crying so she learns it doesn't lead to being let out or getting what she wants (this can be very hard as puppies are very persuasive!) if this behavior still continues after a month or so, worsens, or doesn't improve, it may be that she is having some phobia or anxiety related to the crate that is best discussed with a trainer in person.

How to stop puppy barking and howling in crate with door shut?

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