My adorable pup is 9.5 weeks. We've been home a week or so.
He loves his crate. Eats in there. Brings all his toys in. Has a favorite blankie in there. But, he loses his ever-loving shit if you close the door. Like toddler temper tantrum that will not end, even if I sit next to the crate reassuring him. He's a very big puppy (33 lbs!) and thrashes about, chews the steel bars, throws himself against the side. It's pretty traumatizing for both of us.
It doesn't matter if he's tired, overtired, not tired. He's just not having it.
But, he put himself to bed, unprompted, at about 4:30 this morning and stayed in 2.5 hours. I did not go near him or attempt to close the door. He also put himself in for nap two days ago.
Should I just let him figure this out on his own? He's only been home a week, I need him to be safely crated when I go to the store or for naps when I go to work and my son is working from home.
He's a sweet dog and only waking up once per night and is almost totally potty trained, so the crating is the only issue.
submitted by /u/jess-in-thyme
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