Crying

[Schnitzel's Mom]

My husband and I just brought home a 3 month old female and she's the cutest thing we have ever seen! We've only had her a week and were trying to find out how long she'll keep crying for us. When we leave the apartment or shut the bedroom door, she'll usually get it and stop crying after a couple of minutes. But, when we're in the living room or the bathroom and she can see us or knows we're there, it lasts 10-20 minutes. We're trying to teach her, but as everyone knows, that crying just tugs at your heart! We've been very strong, but wanted opinions on how long this could possibly last. Thanks!

[LisaH]

Where is Schnitzel when she can see you but can't get to you? Are you confining her in a particular room. or crating her?

One thing you can do is to "practice" coming and going so that she knows you always come back and it's no big deal that you leave. Also, be very matter of fact when you leave her; don't give her any special good-byes or show her that you feel bad about it.

That said, I think it's going to be difficult to get her to stop crying when she can still see you. And correcting them for crying doesn't do a bit of good as far as I can see; then they're getting your attention, which is a reward in itself. When she takes a break and STOPS crying, then go over and tell her she's a good girl. If she cries again when you go away, ignore her again until she's quiet again.

Let us know how it works out!

LisaH, Annie (who cried nightly for about a year in her crate!), and Molly

[Jennie]

My boys were like this for a while. If I left them crated and went out, they were fine. But if they were crated and I was around, Baxter would cry and cry and cry. I finally tried the ater bottle trick, and it only took two times. Now, they both sit and wait in their crates. If I walk toward them, they do get very excited, but don't cry. I was hesitant to try this, as I didn't want Baxter to associate the bottle with being crated, only with crying. It seems to have worked. Don't know if it would work for everyone, though.

[Heide]

So glad to have you and your family as new members. You have come to the Best doxie board ever. We are just one big loving doxie family here.
With being so new to her home now I am sure she is scared and just wants to spend time with you all.
I am sure with proper training she can learn that you are not going to leave her.
They are just like little babies.
:angel:

[FOREVER A DAXIE]

I recommend you put a Hot Water Bottle in the Crate. Only put HOT Water NOT Boiling water and wrap it in a towel or put it inside a Pillow-Case. The warmth seemed to help.

Good Luck.

[Schnitzel's Mom]

Thanks everyone! Schnitzel is gated in the kitchen with her crate, piddle pad, water and toys. She can see us if we walk to the bedroom or the bathroom. She can't see us in the living room, but she knows we're there. When we go over to praise her once she's quiet, she gets upset again once we leave and the process starts again.

Another thing, because she sleeps in her crate and retreats there after she stops crying, when we come over to praise her for not crying, are we teaching her *not* to be in the crate? I know we're not supposed to make a big deal about her coming out of the crate. I can't get her to go in there at all when we're there. Trying to put food in there won't work. She grabs it and runs out, too quick for us! As of today, she actually barks! I haven't heard that yet. I put her in the crate for 2 minutes, and got 2 minutes of barking. She's not a happy girl.

[Bebe&Buckley]

Our puppy cried horribly for the first few weeks...so bad, in fact, that I would lie in bed at night and cry with him. We finally let him come sleep in our bedroom, but he had the hardest time settling down, and he would potty on the floor in the middle of the night. For various reasons, we decided to get him a playmate, and now he has a sister. He is a changed pup! That helped him tremendously. He can still be a whiner, but he's definitely more of a dog-dog than a people-dog. I think he really just needed a friend. His personality was nada until she came along. She is the exact opposite. She loves playing with him, but she would choose us over him any day.

[onebigmickeyfan]

Hi Schnitzel's Mom,

Glad you found us. This is a wonderful board.
I know how hard it is when they are so tiny and they are crying for you.
We tried crating and I lasted less than a week before I couldn't take it and Missy came to sleep with Mom and Dad. My last dachshund slept with me for 14 years so there was never a real question where she would end up sleeping. She would always cry to let me know she needed to potty and then I would put her on her potty pad, she'd go and follow me back to bed. Maybe that's why she's such a spoiled brat now.:D
Ok so maybe I dont have a good answer for the crying. It just broke my heart.
Now we have Zeke as well and there's not much room left in the bed these days.

Welcome and I hope to hear all about your new baby and see pictures of her too.

Also I think the name is adorable.

[Me&DappledDuo]

It's terrible, isn't it? When we got Lynx, he was so sweet. Not a whiney baby at all (Boy, has that changed ;0), but I slept with him on the couch, so I'd have easy access to the pee pad if problems arose!! He did fine, though- and cuddled near my head all night. Dutch slept on the couch with me the first night because Lynx was so excited to have a little brother that they needed to be seperated. Since that first night, they both sleep with us- right in the middle! Since I'm the last to go to bed, I never get any covers!!! But the dogs snuggle up to warm bodied me, rather than cold bodied Donovan, so I guess it's fair.

We don't crate, but do confine when we're not home. We have the magic 3-day rule around here- both boys cried and cried the first three days that we had to leave them for work, then decided that the p-nut butter and kibble stuffed Kong was better than having us around, anyway:D!

A nice, safe treat (no rawhide, or soft toys) might help you distract her for awhile- she might be so relaxed after finishing it, she'll just go to sleep. The thing that made US feel better, was getting Lynx a brother!!

More is always better with dachshunds...;)

[Jennie]

Just wanted to make sure that I was clear in my post about using the water bottle on my boys. This was only after they were adjusted to and comfortable in their crates. They were just being whiny and wanting me to give in, and that's when I tried it. I wouldn't recommend doing it prior to this point.

And it did take Baxter several days to sleep through the night without crying, while Bailey slept through on his first night. Each pupper is different. I do agree with what many others have said, it is easier with two. It is harder in many respects, but also much easier in others. I can't imagine trying to keep just one exercised enough with just me! All I really have to do now is let them tire each other out, and then they're ready to cuddle.

One of the most important pieces of advice I ever got was to not give in, no matter how long it went on. As soon as you do, you've reinforced the behavior. What they learn is that it may take a while, but if they keep crying, you will eventually come back.

Also, have you tried to feed her in her crate? It helped a lot with Baxter when he was having crating issues.

Let us know how it's going now.......