9 week old Sheltie won't settle unless in crate

P

Paige

Forums Regular
Hi,

I recently got a Sheltie puppy at 8 weeks old. He will be turning 10 weeks this week. He is very good in his crate, as the breeder started crate training with him. He gets fussy or grumpy (I know he is tired because toys become less interesting, he is not thirsty, and did his business recently) after a play session and I put him in his crate, he instantly settles and will sleep. He will not sleep or settle outside of the crate (won't lay on the ground and nap, etc). I think he thinks his safe place to nap is the crate, which is fantastic and I have nothing wrong with that. However, I am hoping he will be able to settle and take naps elsewhere when needed (at my feet if we take him to a patio cafe, on the couch as I watch TV, etc). More concerned about him being able to settle when he gets older.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I've tried to "wait him out" a few times and see if he will settle and nap but we both get fed up I think so he goes to his crate and naps. Might this be an age related thing? I figure he has to realize it's safe to nap and settle outside of the crate in order to do it but how will he unless he does it? Should I continue trying to wait him out?

This settling outside the crate time would be when I am able to watch him 100% instead of crating him before his next meal, potty break, or meal time as we are on a crate training/housebreaking schedule.

Thanks in advance, any experience or advice is appriciated! Please let me know if I can provide you with further details.
 
I think that's pretty common. Sounds like you have a sheltie that just doesn't want to miss out on anything! My girl was like that when she was little, and she was very active until she was about 3. Now she will relax and nap like a champ outside of the crate. My boy was the same too. He's still sometimes a little like that and he is 1. He's getting better every day though!
 
My Spirit Joy was the same way when I first brought her home. As she matured, she learned how to soothe herself and settle even when there was a lot of activity around her.
 
What you are describing is pretty typical young puppy behavior. As he matures he will settle down. He sounds like a really good little guy to settle in his crate without complaining. :smile2:

Trini
 
Um on number 5 sheltie here and all but 1 were exactly like this. The only one that wasn't was Ember who would have been happy to sleep her life away.

Take heart, they do settle with maturity. I waited out Celtic one Saturday at around 1 yr old and it took 4 hours for him to go to sleep, he wore out Birch, my cat and me playing before this happened. He is now almost 17 months and sleeping outside his kennel at night and settles almost immediately.
 
Thank you everyone for your feedback and sharing your experiences. This is all very reassuring to hear.

Yes, we are very lucky that our little boy is so good in the crate. First few days he was quiet, and as he warmed up began barking but quickly learned barking does nothing for him. Now he flops down and naps usually within five minutes!
 
I got Piper when he was 10 weeks old (he's 18 1/2 wks now) and he was like that until maybe 3 weeks ago. Now that he's housebroken he's taken to sleeping on a mat in front of the garage doo lol. I wish he'd sleep in his bed but he has other ideas. He does sleep in his crate at night (door open) but again that's his choice. I think they feel safe there. Have fun with your new puppy, they grow up so fast.
 
Yup, welcome to being a sheltie mom! My boy is almost 11 months old and still cannot miss out on anything if we are not at home. He has travelled with us to hotels and friends/families places but never really gets a good sleep when we aren't home. Too many things to do!
 
Lucky loved his crate, Lady hated the crate until she had a spay, and why I
have no idea.

When Lady came she did zoomies all over the house, I looked at it that she
felt fine being here. Lucky was laid back and was a good boy. Lucky was 4 and
Lady 12 weeks, he thought she was a nut case.

Lady was letting everyone know, I AM FREE, I am having so much fun and I
love my new home. I must be nuts LOL I thought it was great she did not have
to adjust.

The thing that Lucky did that was bad before Lady got here was to go in my
ironing room. We had company, I wasn't paying enough attention to him. I had
about 12 dress shirts hanging on the board ready to iron. He went down the
line and took a pee on everyone of them.

Lady I could tell many tales on her, that is why they were leashed to my waist to
keep them out of trouble most of the time.
 
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