[frustratedowner]

I have 2 chihuahuas.. both are about 5 years old. They were crate trained from pups and are used to being in the crate together all day while I work. Here recently they have been pooping in the crate during the day... I have heard that this particular breed is not the 'easiest' to train but I have had them since they were pups and we have had a good run over the years.. that is until now.. I tried changing feeding to only at night (around 5pm) with of course giving them access to water all the time.. IT worked for 2 days.. then they started pooping in the crate again!! I even used a very hot and diluted water/pine sol mixture to scrub the liner of the crate to ensure they didnt smell the soiled area and it didnt work.. I am super frustrated and stressed out coming home each day wondering poop or no poop.. PLEASE help!!!
thanks!

[cigwyllt]

Might it be a good idea to separate them and find out which of them is doing it? How long are they left alone in the crate? Maybe they would benefit from a puppy pen rather than a crate.

[Todd]

First of all, the mixture you're using may not be quite effective enough. Remember, dog's noses are much, much stronger than ours so the scent may still be there. Go to your local pet store and purchase a product specifically for cleaning up pet accidents and make sure it's an "scent neutralizer".

How big is the crate? A crate should only be large enough for the dog to stand up and reposition itself without much extra room. Extra room can cause the dogs to poop or pee in the crate away from their direct sleeping area.

good luck!

[cigwyllt]

Todd, do you really think that it is ok to leave two dogs in a tiny crate all day while the owner is in work? We're not talking about leaving the dogs for the odd hour while the owner is shopping but for a full working day. That is just not right.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

Todd, do you really think that it is ok to leave two dogs in a tiny crate all day while the owner is in work? We're not talking about leaving the dogs for the odd hour while the owner is shopping but for a full working day. That is just not right.

Guess I need more info. How long is "all day"? What are the exact hours? Are they let out sometime within that time period. A dog should be left in a crate for no more than 3 hours at a time, 4 tops. If they are left in literally "all day" that is not right and they can't help but poo in the crate. hopefully the OP can give a few more details.

[cigwyllt]

I'm just quoting the OP - I did ask how long is "all day" but there has been no reply.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

I'm just quoting the OP - I did ask how long is "all day" but there has been no reply.

probably because of the log in issues...