My French Bulldog

Question
i just got a french bulldog from one of my aunts who breeds them in south America.  when he got to my house it was late so we had to go to bed.  when we put him in his cage he kept crying for my family and i.  now whenever we put him in his cage he does this.  how do we stop this from happening?

Answer
Hi Bryan

Dogs need to learn to be alone. Think about it: he was taken from his mum, littermates and familiar environment, put in a car (probably for the first time), handled by strangers, dumped in a cage (maybe for the first time) in an unfamiliar environment and left alone.  What did you think he would do, settle down happily to sleep?!

For the first few nights have him in your room with you.  He will need to toilet outside in the night anyway, if he is young.  gradually move the cage away from your bed toward the door, then outside the door and eventually in the room you want him in - do this over a period of about a week.  This way he will be getting to know his new home and family, and gaining in confidence.

It sounds as if he has bad associations with the cage now, as he feels it is a place of enforced isolation, instead of a safe den as you want him to view it.  Start to encourage him to sleep in it during the day - make i available, leave the door open ad put tasty treats and toys in it for him.  Stay near by when he goes in so he starts to feel that he may not always be left when he goes in it.

Good luck

Lucy