Laeknir K9

Some points to consider when crate training: The whining does happen. It can be seriously aggravating. So here’s how to look at it: You have to make sure her needs are met. If you know they’ve had water, they’ve been fed, they’ve been out to potty, they’ve had engagement for their mind and body, they’ve had interaction with you, then yes…only respond when they’re quiet. It’s important to remember that they’re communicating in the only way they know how. They truly believe a need is not being met which is why they cry. It’s important that we don’t “humanize” their motives. They’re not being “manipulative.” They’re not being “rude” or “demanding.” Dogs aren’t people. Their basic needs are shelter, food, water, mental/physical exercise. They also need interaction. Pack engagement. You are their pack. In pack dynamics, they’re not locked away from the pack in a square box where they can’t access pack members. We, as humans, have decided to make dogs “behave” according to what works for us as humans. And in doing so, we ask them to do a lot of things that aren’t natural for them…like have manners and be quiet and wait quietly in a box for us until we decide we want them to engage for our pleasure. Not that crate training is wrong. Not at all. It’s just that we have to also remember that these are baby dogs…pack animals. So yes, they will cry and protest. They may even howl for their pack member(s). Should we teach our domesticated animal to “behave” for our human convenience? Sure! I’m a trainer. It’s part of my career. But we must remember not to humanize them. It’s up to us to learn how they think and move in this world. Work with it not against it. Not all dogs are the same. They have individual personalities. Some are extroverts, some are introverts. Some only want the occasional pat and acknowledgement and some want to be “in your skin.” lol! You’ll have to learn your baby’s personality over time. At this young age, it’s like having a 3 year old that’s not quite learned how to use her words. They may grab at you with their teeth. They may try to sit on you. They may whine and howl. They may get underfoot. It can all be very annoying for a human to deal with a “canine toddler.” But remember, they’re just a baby. Here’s a quick breakdown of how puppy development compares to human age in the first year: • 2 weeks = ~6 months old human • 1 month = ~1-year-old human • 2 months = ~2–2.5 years old human • 3 months = ~3–4 years old human • 6 months = ~10 human years • 1 year = ~15 human years The first year of a dog’s life is packed with rapid growth—both physical and mental—so the aging process is very accelerated early on. After that, it slows down a bit, averaging about 4–7 human years per dog year depending on the breed and size.