We have a 4 month old Husky puppy. While we are at work he is in a large secure run area and I am not worried about his pottying, because there is no way he could hold it all day anyway. At night, he is in a crate in our bedroom and rarely potties in it overnight. The crate is expandable and adjusted so he can just turn around in there. If we run to the grocery store or rent a movie for 20 mins, I want to put him in his crate, so he doesn't get dirty in the run. I know he can hold it for 20 mins, especially because I make him go outside and potty before he goes in his crate.

I tried putting a bone or toy in there to distract him but that doesn't work. Of course, the worst part is, he licks it up.

I think it is because he spent all his days before us in a cage and that was his only choice.

He goes outside to potty when we are home, because we give him lots of opportunities. (Limited) Crate training has worked on all my puppies before, but this one is the first that was raised in a cage.

How can I break him of this?

Thank you!

My dog was the same when I got her, she'd been confined so had lost that natural instinct to not soil her 'den'.

The only thing that really worked was good old fashioned house training. We did the usual routine of taking her out after she ate/drank and waited for her to do her buisness, then praised. Eventually she realized that she HAD to go outside to do anything, so she wouldn't do it in the house OR her crate.

That's really the only suggestion I have, we didn't find a way to quickly break her of soiling the crate.

Thank you!
I have been praising him lots and giving lots of treats when he doesn't potty, usually that is just overnight. When he does potty, then he has to have a bath (no fun) and doesn't get treats.

Maybe eventually he will get the idea.

Thanks for your help!!::-D