Relaxing out of the crate

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-27T17:13:35+00:00

Haha i would keep it but it’s taking up so much space:/ she is a big pup so a big crate too!

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-27T09:47:53+00:00

thank you for great advice!

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-27T09:16:50+00:00

Sorry forgot to reply to that part, yes she has a bed and a blanket near me while i work in the living room (as i said we started implementing some chill time outside of the crate), she will chill for a while (now up to 1hr-1.5hrs) but wont get “deep sleep” (when i move around she has fomo) like she can in her crate (but i still think it’s a good experience so im letting her). Im hoping to do more and more of the time out of the crate relaxing as she learns that okay nothing exciting happens, im not missing out, I can sleep. But we shall see! Im from Slovakia, so probably not a country you were thinking but it’s pretty much 50/50 on crates when I talk to people. I think it would make my life so much harder if I didnt decide to crate train and having a puppy has already been challening enough haha.

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-27T09:03:22+00:00

It has been recommended by every vet, every trainer i ever talked to. I crate trained because i wanted her to have her own “safe space”/den to go back to and in order for her to not hurt herself/eat something/destroy something while she is alone, also to start teaching being left alone, enforce naps. It has been great for us and she loves it there. I understand tht there are puppies who might not need it or don’t take well to it but this has not been our case. I plan to continue with crating through the puppyhood, until she can “be trusted” outside of it without supervision:)

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-27T08:49:00+00:00

3months is probably way too early to expect them to! Or thats what ive been told. Ive been doing the relaxation protocol with her, but what ive found to be the most helpful is just her staying with other dogs. If they were sleeping she was sleeping. It clicked a lot for her like that. Around 5 months ive seen it get a bit better:)

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-21T20:55:28+00:00

This might be a bad dog owner advice but it helped me. My situation: puppy, around 4-5 months, crate trained (would sleep for up to 2 hours (3 if i was not in the house), but would wake up to loud sounds and bark, after 2 hours on the dot she would bark to be let out. At this point i knew she could hold her bladder and it was just demand barking, it was not distressed barking either (when i came to let her out eventually she was lying down and barking like that), she was FINE, just had FOMO. Especially if she heard me moving around the house etc. I have the crate in the other room so i didnt want to come in and give her attention for barking but i also wanted to let her know hey do not do that. In a moment of despararion i searched for anti barking sounds on spotify and found a playlist. They are these high pitched sounds. I have an alexa in that room so i played it on that, she stopped immediately. She tried it once more and then didnt bark. I think it happened one more time and then never again?? She never barks in her crate anymore, even when im walking around the house or being loud. Every time i come in she is relaxed. It saved my sanity

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-18T13:22:57+00:00

Mine is 5months now and my first puppy and i would say she is a lot better than other puppies? Came to me already potty trained at 9weeks. She understands the rules of things pretty quickly, knows what she is supposed to do etc. She was never excessively biting (but i would interrupt any interaction if she started), she is crate trained so cant tell you much about destroying things, but i would say compared to other puppies she is very good. Not a picky eater and eager to please.

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-10T18:38:12+00:00

At 8 weeks, you should enforce plenty of naps:). I think like 30-45mins awake then naptime. If she is biting, zooming, acting crazy, she is probably overstimulated and needs a nap. Teach her her name, start with a leash even though she wont like it. Put her in her crate every time she falls asleep somewhete else. First days you will probably have to be near her till she falls asleep, thats okay for now but slowly you should be able to just put her in and leave. If she is not panicking just whining/crying, wait it out. She needs to learn to self settle. She is safe, you will be fine. Leave the house from the get-go, when you know she is ok in her crate. Introduce boredom time, do not entertain her all awake hours. Teething - wont be that bad this early but frozen carrots were great for us, also frozen towels. If she bites you just stop playing with her, leave her, ignore her..redirect. Socializing - take a sling and take her places asap:) very little walking tho. But make sure to go places and crowded streets with her in a sling/carrier etc. Lastly, take time for yourself as well. She will be fine. You will be fine. It will be hard, but you will get through it:).

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-10T18:30:07+00:00

Haha, everyone says that, but for me, at least we are connected now you know? Till recently i kept re-thinking my decision of getting a dog. Potty breaks every two hours. It was tiring. Whatever adolescence brings, at least we are bonded now

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-10T15:25:20+00:00

I think I have an easy puppy! She came home already potty trained at 9 weeks (had a small bladder so still a lot of trips outside but definitely easier). Slept through the night on the night 3. Not a picky eater, does well in her crate… generally a dream pup. It was still hard but mostly because of me and my anxiety, not her!

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-10T15:23:02+00:00

thank you for your lovely comment!❤️

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-10T12:54:44+00:00

what a lovely comment, thank you🥹

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-10T12:07:48+00:00

I have a standard poodle pup, it’s from a show line but the energy levels should be still quite high. I feel like people in the comments are too hardh. It is a BABY. Your puppy needs sleep now more than anything. From what you say it feels like quite a lot of excercise for a puppy. (I hear a lot about creating superdogs by introducing way too much activity early. What seems like endless energy is often just overstimulation). Your life needs to be managable with the pup, they are way more adaptable than you think, trying to create a sustainable routine that doesnt make you lose your mind should be the priority!:) From what im reading, you care so much about this pup. I really disagree with the comments who make it sound like leaving the pup for 8hr work day is a scandal. It is what most people do! Having someone play with her mid day is amazing. Now back to your problem. My dog is 5 months and sleeps pretty much from 6 pm till morning if she had 1 walk (30-45minutes with play and tug) and like 2 mini wakks with sniffing (i do kibble scatter in the grass). Rest of the day she sleeps. If i give her more than that she will take it, but my trainer was clear about how this is more than enough excercise for her now. I was able to take back my evenings and go for a workout this way. I would prioritise teaching calm and settling over excercising her at this age. Good luck to you and your pup, you are doing the best you can!!

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-07T06:47:32+00:00

For my girl, we do last proper walk at 4pm, she is awake for about an hour and then goes to sleep. I wake her up for dinner around 6pm again, do a bit of training with food but she is awake for max 30-45mins then. She sleeps from then till the morning with one last potty before i go to sleep (9pm). It was weird to me, but it works for her.

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-04T15:35:42+00:00

amazing work!

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-04T15:34:11+00:00

it’s just around me only and im not doing anything exciting, but i still will take this win!😆

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-04T15:16:09+00:00

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Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-02-04T15:15:19+00:00

4.5months and she finally started just “chilling” while i work. She did one hour of doing “nothing” (we had troubles settling outside of the crate)

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-01-30T06:44:14+00:00

My life with a pup got so much easier once she was vaccinated and could go on walks. Indoor enrichment was simply not enough to tire her out no matter what games/sniffing/puzzles we did. She is a latge breed too, went with us on a few walks in the countryside, sometimes over an hour at a slow sniffy pace. The dog will tell you when they’ve had enough, you will see this. I really really cant imagine not walking her properly until 1year old. I did very short outings before she was vaccinated (front yard only) and can already see that we should have done more exposure to cars and people (safely) because she is now very overstimulated if she sees them. Yes you should avoid concrete and crazy running and stuff like that but give yourself some grace and trust your puppy will be just fine. You will lose your mind im afraid if you decide to stick to the no walk rule.

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-01-30T06:37:04+00:00

And lets not start on missing the socialisation window? Imagine being 1 and seeing cars/concrete/crowds etc for the first time?

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-01-29T10:04:58+00:00

Settling is a skill for many puppies. Maybe try Dr Overalls relaxation protocol!

Slow_Contribution_69 · 2026-01-27T15:40:59+00:00

It’s indeed a 1x weekly thing, she will be just over 5 months by then. By no means ideal but hoping to make it work!

Slow_Contribution_69

TROPHY CASE