Crate Training 7 week French Bulldog Options

[jogmom40]

We just got our 7 week French Bulldog. He's doing pretty well with the house training. I'll leave for two hours tops and will come home to a dry crate. About the crate, I put him in when we leave, and he whimpers. He's not crazy about it. He doesn't get destructive, but he definitely isn;t so relaxed that he sleeps. At night my husband couldn't stand to hear him cry so he brought him in the bed. No accidents, but not safe and comfortable for us. So that;s not gonna happen again. i've tried putting him in the crate in our bedroom. Still cried. I'm thinking to try to put him in our finished basement that is warm and heated, maybe with a radio. I'll go down there once to let him out. Any crating advice? Tips?

[Viv]

Crying is natural--I would have a warm bed and a blanket on top--and NOT put him in a basement-he needs to be able to hear and smell you. Being alone all night will just scare him in my opinion. We always have ours in our bedroom--

[jogmom40]

Thanks for the reply. I tend to agree. I'm content to plug in the earplugs and suck it up, just gotta work on my husband who's the lightest sleeper in the world.

[Viv]

He is used to sleeping in a pile with siblings---they say even a alarm clock wrapped in a blanket can help--the ticking can calm them as long as the alarm isn't set lol! Keep us posted!

[bbmarie22]

I know that some people are against crates which is completely understandable, however I REALLY recommend them. It has helped me train my dogs in SO many ways. Make sure the crate is comfortable for them and they will get used to it really quickly. It took both of my dogs a week or two before they gave up on the fight. I have a Boston Terrier now (which is a Frenchie and white terrier mix breed) and my little step-doggy (my best friend's dog who I sit for a lot) is a frenchie. We have both crate trained our dogs and are very happy we did so. Moo Moo (the Frenchie) is now 2 and left out of the kennel to roam the house during the day. My boston Beatrice and my Jack Russell Dafney are not left out during the day when I am gone because they play a little too much and a little too hard for my comfort level.

Every once in a blue moon they may be in the crate for 8 hours, however most of the time its about 6 and a half max. I wouldn't get into the habit of leaving your dog in there for too long even when it is potty trained.

Here's my favorite Moo Moo and Beatrice pics....they got into a mud wrestling match during a play date last spring

[bbmarie22]

And the last pic is my JRT Dafney who for the first time in her life stayed out of the mischievous situation

[howtodogtrainer]

for all your crate training questions