We have an 11 week old golden retriever puppy. Who's going on week 3 at home. I have a demanding work from home job and my wife goes into the office usually daily but has flexibility.
We're really struggling with getting our puppy to settle either in his crate or playpen alone to take naps during the day. We give all meals and frozen treats in the crate, try crate training with treats going in and out, closing the door and waiting for him to settle during the day, but once he's done with the frozen treats or his meal/training treats stop coming, he will just panic to get out (even if we are right in front of the crate). Similar for playpen, he's having a hard time settling and just laying down even if we are 2 feet away and all needs have been met. Before going in the crate/playpen he's going potty, playing, eating, small training sessions- and even when we know he's tired he takes so long to settle/won't (but he'll fall asleep anywhere and everywhere outside the crate/playpen easily, moving him into the crate then wakes him up and panic ensues).
Funny enough, the past 4-5 days he's slept through the night in the crate perfectly fine no wakeups. But again, he falls asleep outside the crate first most times, then we put him in.
Any tips or advice here would be really helpful as we're reaching the breaking point 🫠🙃
submitted by /u/sjmr1994
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