crating woes..

[caseysbiatch]

hi everyone...looks like a great forum here ...
we have casey only 4days....shes a 5 month old cairn terrier purchased from a puppy store...
i love the idea of crate training and casey doesnt mind being in her crate..
problem is..casey ALSO doesnt mind pee'ing and pooping in her crate..
i've been taking her outside to her designated potty spot first thing in the morn...after meals...i give her a 4 foot lead on the leash....wait about 10 minutes with no luck..then return her back to her crate...
while we're outside shes sooooo distracted by leaves, wind, bugs, the bark on the trees that she doesnt care AT ALL about 'getting potty serious'
then i return her to her crate and she goes pee or poop...
her crate is the right size...
any advise? someone suggested setting aside a day that i can be with her outside all most ALL day...eventually she'll have to eliminate and THEN i can praise her... any thoughts?

 

[OutlineACDs]

You can try matching her. Meaning, get a wooden match, moisten the tip, and insert it into her bottom. I have had to do this at dog shows for dogs who refuse to poop on a leash. It is uncomfortable, so they will poop to make it come out. Make sure you do it at a time that you know she has to go. Do not insert it all the way, about half way is usually good. This leaves enough sticking out that if she doesn't go, you can pull it out and try again later (with a different match).

I can't tell you any tricks to make her pee though.

 

[Fruit bat]

Welcome to Chaz. I don't have alot of advice on crate traing but I'm sure someone will.

 

[caseysbiatch]

hi guys....
eeks erin...i dont know if i can do the match thing...someone told me suggested to me to give her alot of warm chicken broth so she'll really really have to go...

 

[OutlineACDs]

hehe, I was really squirmy about it the first few times too, now I only do it if I HAVE to, but the first few times at a show, my dog wouldn't poop at all. I really don't have many other suggestions other than just wait her out. You may be out there a long time, but it's worth it. Also, exercise will stimulate the bowels. Give her 10-20 minutes of vigorous exercise outside and then see if that helps.

Make sure her crate is the right size. Being from a pet store, she will be harder to potty train, especially since she is a little older. (You said 5 months right?) If her crate is the right size she wont have an option, but to either hold it, or stand in her pee/poop until you get home.

 

[caseysbiatch]

hey erin...if i get desperate i may just try the match trick...
meantime...i think shes perfectly happy to wallow in her pee and poo...
maybe i should try an alternate method besides crating...
hmm??

 

[girlbuffalo1]

You say the crate is the right size? How small is it? When she elimiates in the crate does she physically have to stand/lay in it--or can she get away from it? I have found in the beginning the crates need to be REALLY small. Seriously about an inch around them when laying down (just enough to turn).
Our dog Honey (the small one in the pic in my sig) came to us not potty trained and she has only went in her crate if it was an emergency (we hadn't let her out in a really long time or when she was sick).

Are you ever able to catch her "in the act"? This helped a lot of Wrigley when he was training we caught him in the act almost every time he had an accident--we would yell "No" Pick him up and immediately put him outside to finish. I know you can't stare at her crate all day but it may be worth it--oh say in the evening when you are watching TV put her crate in front of you ect.

Is there any bedding in her crate? Wrigley tried the trick once or twice to pee on the towel we had in there with him and then he would scoot it to the side or sometimes if there is a bed in there they will pee in it as the pee is absorbed by the bed and they aren't really standing in it. I would recommend no bedding whatsoever during the potty training phase--especially with a difficult one!

Best of luck!

 

[caseysbiatch]

her crate is only large enough for her to turn..
i took the wee wee pad out so she on the bare crate tray..i even put some dry kibbles on it last night ..she ate them..played with them...then pee'd on them
caseys a dirty doggie...
today i had her out playing...exercising and taking water breaks...
shes been holding her urine over 12 hours!! not good
hope i didnt stress her out by scolding her but she seems perfectly happy and content and playful....

 

[Herschel]

caseys a dirty doggie...

Sounds that way. Google "Dirty Dog Syndrome".

Scolding her for going to the bathroom isn't going to help her at all. It's just going to make her less likely to go to the bathroom in front of you.

When you go outside, try walking. Walk 2 miles if you have to (30-40 minutes)--she'll go eventually. I don't know a single dog that doesn't get things moving by walking around.

Each time she goes, praise and treat.

 

[noludoru]

These guys have given you great advice.

I think a huge part of your problem (the dirty dog syndrome) is that she was from a petstore. They only buy from puppymills or the occasional local breeder who just wants to dump their puppies somewhere. In puppymills dogs are kept in tiny cages (think: what you usually see rabbits in), often all together, and the cages are seldom cleaned, forcing dogs and their pups to be in their own filth. The puppies grow up thinking this is normal, and are MUCH harder to house-train.

Good luck with your Cairn. I'm glad someone with a Cairn is on the boards. My neighbor has one, so I'm with her a lot. They're sweethearts, aren't they? Yappy.. and terriers.. but very sweet. Welcome to Chaz.. and please post some pictures of her!!! We live for pictures here!

 

[bubbatd]

Welcome to you . I've never crated a pup , but it sound like your poor pup has been crated from day one ( pet store = puppy mill or BYB ) so all it's known is peeing and pooping in a crate . At 5 mos this is natural to it . I personally would have it out of the cage as much as possible .....even sleeping with you so you know when it needs to go . It will be a challenge ....so good luck and keep us posted !

 

[caseysbiatch]

thank you guys...yes my cairn is super sweet...already asserting she personality but very very cuddley and playful with the kids..
i think the longest i've ever walked her is about 15 mins...but then we stay outside on the leash in her (haha what a laugh) potty area for much longer..

i will try the 40 min walk...maybe i'll drop a few pounds in the process..
for the 2nd time in 2 days someone told me to load her with chicken broth..any comments?
also would it be unadviseable to put her crate outside in her potty area..maybe even put the tray in the grass..to get the outdoor idea in her head?

ps...you guys are awesome...i feel like such a leach sucking advise and asking so many questions BUT im so clueless ...hopefully as i get seasoned i'll be able to contribute something worthwhile to this wonderful forum..
thank you thank you