Someone please help me. I'm at my wit's end. How do I stop my 4 1/2 month old pup from voiding and stooling in his crate? He gets up 2-3 times per night to go to the bathroom, is this normal? IF I don't let him out, he will pee or poop in his crate? Everyone I talk to says their dog has never done that. Sometimes he is only is his crate 15 min and he doesn't hold it. Thanks for the advice!
need crate training help
- Thread starter kayla738
- Start date
Wow, I've never heard the word "voiding" before... interesting....
Just a little more information needed:
What breed is your puppy?
How long have you had him?
Where did you get him?
Has he always done this or has it gotten worse recently?
Does he "void and stool" only at night or anytime he's in the crate?
Does he do it when you're home or gone?
How big is the crate?
Do you leave food and/or water and/or a bed in the crate?
Does he have other anxiety in the crate (excessive vocalizations, excessive panting, general nervousness, etc. in the crate)?
Does he pee/poop often if he's out of the crate (like, accidents in your house) or does he primarily pee/poop in the crate?
Are you using an enzymatic cleaner to clean the crate every time?
Just a little more information needed:
What breed is your puppy?
How long have you had him?
Where did you get him?
Has he always done this or has it gotten worse recently?
Does he "void and stool" only at night or anytime he's in the crate?
Does he do it when you're home or gone?
How big is the crate?
Do you leave food and/or water and/or a bed in the crate?
Does he have other anxiety in the crate (excessive vocalizations, excessive panting, general nervousness, etc. in the crate)?
Does he pee/poop often if he's out of the crate (like, accidents in your house) or does he primarily pee/poop in the crate?
Are you using an enzymatic cleaner to clean the crate every time?
Wow, that's a lot of questions. Voiding is a medical word, sorry, my medical background is showing. He is a norwegian elkhound. I've had him a month now. Got him from a local puppy store. He has always done this, not getting better or worse. My vet says it should have gotten better by now, referred me to a dog trainer. He is pretty good otherwise, doesn't pee in the house too often, only if I don't take him out as fast as he'd like to go out. He plays the game, he'll want to go out and he'll pee a little dribble, come in and want to go back out in 10 min, repeat.
He will go to the bathroom anytime in his crate, day or night. (Nighttime only if I don't get up to let him out fast enough). His crate is for a medium sized dog. I had a box in the back of it a couple of weeks ago, because it was suggested he had too much room. I don't think that's the problem now, though. He seems to fit the crate nicely now without a lot of room to maneuver, yet he has enough.
I do not give him food or water in the crate. I used to give him a chew toy or 2 for entertainment, but I threw too many of them away because they were soiled. He does not seem to bark excessively until he has to go out and can't wait anymore. Otherwise he seems to have adjusted to the crate. To clean the crate I either use a damp cloth, then Clorox hard surface anywhere or I have nature's miracle pet wipes I use to clean the poop, or what's left after he ate the rest. I don't even put a towel or blanket down anymore, I thought this might discourage him if he had to lay directly in his pee. It didn't stop him. He was home today for an hour, and peed and pooped in his crate. (the straw that broke my back).
Let me assure you, the dog gets plenty of attention, perhaps too much??? Could he be doing this for spite? I just want to stop the behavior before it can't be broken. I really appreciate the help and advice.
He will go to the bathroom anytime in his crate, day or night. (Nighttime only if I don't get up to let him out fast enough). His crate is for a medium sized dog. I had a box in the back of it a couple of weeks ago, because it was suggested he had too much room. I don't think that's the problem now, though. He seems to fit the crate nicely now without a lot of room to maneuver, yet he has enough.
I do not give him food or water in the crate. I used to give him a chew toy or 2 for entertainment, but I threw too many of them away because they were soiled. He does not seem to bark excessively until he has to go out and can't wait anymore. Otherwise he seems to have adjusted to the crate. To clean the crate I either use a damp cloth, then Clorox hard surface anywhere or I have nature's miracle pet wipes I use to clean the poop, or what's left after he ate the rest. I don't even put a towel or blanket down anymore, I thought this might discourage him if he had to lay directly in his pee. It didn't stop him. He was home today for an hour, and peed and pooped in his crate. (the straw that broke my back).
Let me assure you, the dog gets plenty of attention, perhaps too much??? Could he be doing this for spite? I just want to stop the behavior before it can't be broken. I really appreciate the help and advice.
I'm not an expert like some folks here, but I've raised three crate trained dogs and do a lot of reading and I really don't think a 4 month old puppy is doing anything for spite. He may just have "learned" to go in his crate at the pet store and now he thinks it's a reasonable option. You said that he barks at night only when he needs to go out. Do you take him out then? How are the accidents happening at night if he is barking to be taken out? At this point, it's really important to try to avoid him doing it as much as possible, more important than getting him on a good night schedule for you. There isn't much point in ignoring the barking because you already know he will *not* hold it.
Here is a good article about this issue that you may want to check out:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1713&S=1&SourceID=47
Good luck! I'm sure it's very frustrating for you and puppy.
Here is a good article about this issue that you may want to check out:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1713&S=1&SourceID=47
Good luck! I'm sure it's very frustrating for you and puppy.
R
Problem 1) a pet store puppy. These puppies are often removed from their litters too soon, and kept in wire bottom cages where they do not have to learn about being clean. Puppies learn very early about potty behaviors, and if they are taken away from mom and littermates, and kept in wire bottom cages where they never have any concern about where to eliminate, they can be IMPOSSIBLE to retrain.
One more reason, for those of you out there reading this, to NEVER BUY FROM A PET SHOP/STORE.
Your puppy is not capable of eliminating inside a crate to be spiteful. I would stop with the crate for now, and use an exercise pen with papers down so hopefully your puppy can learn to stay further away from his bodily excrements. If you can do that then maybe one day you can go back to the crate once the pup is a bit older and can control his bodily functions a little better.
One more reason, for those of you out there reading this, to NEVER BUY FROM A PET SHOP/STORE.
Your puppy is not capable of eliminating inside a crate to be spiteful. I would stop with the crate for now, and use an exercise pen with papers down so hopefully your puppy can learn to stay further away from his bodily excrements. If you can do that then maybe one day you can go back to the crate once the pup is a bit older and can control his bodily functions a little better.
Along with the other suggestions, I would kind of get back to basics by developing a structured schedule and set a timer in addition to letting him out when he barks. I would feed him his regular meals with nothing in between. And I would feed his dinner early in the evening and pick up water when he goes to bed for the night (always check with a vet concerning the water). I would also use the crate for bedtime only and the ex pen during the day as RedyreRottweilers suggested.
One more thing I would suggest is after he goes outside with you and does his business, play with him a bit as a reward. Perhaps that is why he wants out right after you let him in. Playing outside a little bit could be a good reward for his elimination. Good luck, I know housebreaking can be a tough one. Hang in there...
One more thing I would suggest is after he goes outside with you and does his business, play with him a bit as a reward. Perhaps that is why he wants out right after you let him in. Playing outside a little bit could be a good reward for his elimination. Good luck, I know housebreaking can be a tough one. Hang in there...
Great suggestions given. I'd also suggest giving your puppy his meals in the crate. Of course don't leave the food in the crate while you're gone, but he needs to learn that his crate is where he eats, and he shouldn't "dirty" up his dinner table. You could even just pour the food into the crate, don't even use a bowl.
(Before doing this, though, I'd take the tray out of the crate, cover the bottom with Nature's Miracle, and let it soak for 15-30 minutes. Then dry it and put it back.)
(Before doing this, though, I'd take the tray out of the crate, cover the bottom with Nature's Miracle, and let it soak for 15-30 minutes. Then dry it and put it back.)
I used this article on this site http://www.goldenrayyorkies.com and go to the information page and it will have a potty training section. Sorry I dont know all the exact links. I would stop feeding food as late as you do tho. I hope it all works out.