How to stop my 2-month-old Shih Tzu puppy from whining in his crate?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 8 days old | 3 lbs
How do I crate my 2 month old puppy shih tzu that we having for 2 weeks. He whines and cries.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 20th, 2018
I recommend playing with him before bedtime so he’s tired. Playing music and giving him a toy to snuggle with usually helps. Some dogs sleep well in the crate if it’s in your bedroom. Give it some time and he should adjust, usually the first few days or week is the worst. Crate training is important for housebreaking, travel and boarding so be patient. I do like to leave the crate open during the day and place treats in it so he likes to go inside. My dogs still love their crates and often prefer to sleep in them even now that they’re grown up. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Benji.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 31st, 2018
I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem! Crate training puppies at night can definitely be frustrating at first. It sounds like you're doing lots of good things - the Composure calming treat at bedtime is a good idea, and it's great that he has toys and things to chew on in his crate. When my own puppies were going through this phase, I would first take them outside to potty when they whined - I assume you've probably tried this, but if not, definitely make sure he doesn't need to pee! No playtime or anything fun, just a quick potty break. After that, bring him back inside and put him back in his crate with no fuss. With my puppies, if I'm sure they're "empty" and don't need to go out, I will tell them "hush" or "shhh" as soon as they start to make any noise. This often works better than simply ignoring them and hoping they eventually stop! It may take a few repetitions of "shushing" him matter-of-factly each time he whines, but most puppies soon work out that whining at 4 am isn't productive and settle back down to sleep. As he gets older, his tolerance for sleeping later should improve - just like human babies :)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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