Crating Help Needed!!!

[Mali]

My husband and I recently purchased a Yellow Lab. He's a good dog but we are having some S E R I O U S potty training issues. We've never had a dog of our own to potty train - or train at all - so this is ALL really new to us. We purchased a wire crate and bought a small pillowy bed to put in for him to lay on. Everytime, never fail, I put him in his crate he screams. He will go in the crate and nap and chew on his toys and during the day I will shut the door just to try and get him used to being shut in, he screams but that's okay because no one is trying to sleep. My husband however works 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, and can't sleep because the pup is screaming. He was born May 28 and I'm worried that the more we let him go the harder it's going to be.

Bud has a lot of accidents but he goes on the paper too. I'm not sure why he pees and poos on the paper AND our floor ... he will even squeeze between our couch and the wall and poo in that itty bitty space!

Does anyone have ANY advice as to how I can help Bud become better at going potty on the paper or outside?

 

[Fran27]

First, if you train him to pee on the paper, it will be much harder to get him to pee outside. I suggest you do a search on potty training or housebreaking, there are already lots of good advice in other threads.

For the crate, just ignore him when he cries, do NOT let him out nor give him any attention when he does, and he will get over it after a week or two.

 

[Mali]

I have and everyone I've looked up says to crate train. The screaming at night just kills my husband who works 12 hours 6 days a week. The bad part about our house is we have a tri deck to get to the back yard and the pup is afraid of the stairs still.

 

[showpug]

I have and everyone I've looked up says to crate train. The screaming at night just kills my husband who works 12 hours 6 days a week. The bad part about our house is we have a tri deck to get to the back yard and the pup is afraid of the stairs still.

You have to let him cry it out the first few times and the behavior will stop. If you yell at him, let him out, or give him a toy while he is screaming that will only reward the behavior. I would suggest you get your husband some ear plugs for the time being as this is part of puppy parenting...it's noisy!

You can also try stuffing a kong toy with a small amount of peanut butter and kibble. This may help keep him busy and less focused on where you guys are. As far as the potty training goes, you need to take him out every half hour at the age he is at now. He is still fairly young and this is going to take time and patience.

 

[Tobysmom]

Toby cried at first. What I did was after I got him to go in there close the door. He cried of course but I ignored it. As soon as there was some quiet I would let him back out and give him treats or play. I never let him out while he was crying. Only when he was quiet and good.
I'm not sure if this was the best way to train him for the crate but it worked for us.

 

[Mali]

Thanks for the advice! I'm going to talk to my husband about getting earplugs. I try to do that to Bud during the day ... put him in the crate and then let him out only when he gets quiet. We're gonna try the over night thing tonight, wish us luck!

 

[whisper33]

crating and training tips

Hi, I have a yellow lab now 10 months, here are the techniques I have used with her and other dogs I have owned. As far as the crating goes here are a few things to help you. When the pup goes in on its own accord, award him/her with a treat or affection, act happy. This will let the pup know that it pleases you. Labs are very affectionate and want to please. Now the pup is keeping you up at night because it is lonely, try putting a shirt, sock or anything that has its sent of you on it. Let the pup whine don't show him that it is bothering you ( i know it does) During the day place the pup in the crate, leave the house for a short period of time (sit on the porch and listen but don't let him see you) After a while 10 min or so, return to the cage and let him out if he has settled down, if not let him know you are there but don't take him out let him whine this is tough love. after 30 min. release him, and act like nothing has happened. do this everyday increasing your time in increments of 15 min. up to 2 hours. At night if you can place the crate in your bed room this will let the pup know it is night time and he knows you are near. Gradually over days, move the crate from the bedroom to the door, down the hallway and eventually to his sleeping area. He will get the idea.
My dog sleeps with me and has from day one when I brought her home and has never been crated. She even tells me when its time for bed. As far as the potty training, don't place papers in the crate, this is their home. I have always placed the papers by the door she will be going out to do her business. (my lab was broke in less than a week with few and far between accidents over a period of about 3 months) The pup should be taken out at least every hour or 2, and right after she drinks or eats, take her to the same place everytime, award her whether she/he goes or not. As far as messing behind the couch, they do this because they are trying to hide it because whatever training techniques your are using she understands that it is wrong to do inside, she is confused. If she messes in the house, pick it up (you have to catch her in the act otherwise they forget.) Firmly tell the pup NO! take the pup and the mess outside (including if the pup does it on the paper take the paper out) to her area and place both of them down. Show her but don't stick her nose in it. Say Go Outside or potty, let the pup roam for a while bring her back in and award her. Good luck and let me know if you need more help.