Sleep
They won't nap in the crate
You put them in and they scream. You take them out and they're overtired. You're stuck.
The moment
You know she needs to nap. You can see it. The glazed eyes, the escalating biting, the frantic energy. But the second you put her in the crate she screams. And screams. And you stand outside the door wondering if you're doing the right thing or if you're traumatising your dog.
What's actually happening
Crate resistance usually comes from one of three places: the crate was introduced too fast, the puppy is already too far past their window, or the environment around the crate isn't set up for sleep. A puppy who screams in the crate hasn't learned that the crate means rest yet. Or they've learned that screaming gets the door opened. This is fixable but it takes consistency.
What we do
We check the environment first. Is the crate covered? Is it dark? Is there noise? Marlowe's crate has a blanket over it and a white noise machine nearby. Sleep environment matters.
We make sure we're not putting her in when she's already past the point of no return. If she's hysterical, we hold her calmly for a few minutes first, let her nervous system come down a notch, then try the crate.
We always pair the crate with something good. A frozen kong, a lick mat, a chew. She goes in, the good thing appears. Every time.
If she cries for more than 10-15 minutes with genuine distress, we reassess. But whimpering that fades within 5 minutes is normal settling. Learning the difference takes time.
We never open the door while she's crying. We wait for a pause, even a breath, and then open. This teaches her that quiet is what opens the door.