[Tarrah]

I just got a puppy a couple of weeks ago. He was 6 weeks old when I brought him home. He is now 8 weeks old. Originally, I had him set up in the kitchen with a babygate across the door and training pads on the floor. He whined and barked constantly during the night. So after researching it, I decided to start crate training him. I started yesterday. He spent a good deal of the day in the crate yesterday, and at night I brought him into the bedroom with me and held my hand down when he whimpered, so he knew I was there, and he settled down and slept mostly all night, with relatively no noise. I woke up at regular intervals, once at 2:30, 5:30, and again at 8:30, took him out, brought him to the kitchen, and put him on the training pad. He instantly peed, I gave him praise, brought him back to the crate, and all was good. So I started my day believing this was going to an instant success with little hard work. LOL!

After the last potty session of the "nighttime" - 8:30, I gave him his food/water bowl, he ate and drank and then I brought him into the living room, on a leash. I played with him for awhile - 30 minutes at least, then took him back to the training pad. No go. After 5 minutes, I took him to the crate (which I had brought into the living room where we were playing), and we played this same game (minus the food/water) every 15 minutes. He has not once gone on the pad AT ALL today!!! Finally, about 30 minutes ago, I brought him out of the crate to try again, to see that he had pooped inside the crate. I had been checking each time to see if he peed or pooped, and he had not.

When I had him in the kitchen, he was peeing and pooping on the pads with no problem. I have to admit, this is not my ultimate goal. I dislike the idea of having to deal with these pads forever, but I live in an apartment right now, on the 3rd floor, so its not practical to try to train him outside right now. I'll be moving into a house hopefully by the end of this year though, so hope to be able to transition to outdoors once that happens.

:shock:For now, I'm baffled as to why he won't use the pads during the day, how to correct it, and how to handle the situation again in the future, if he pees or poops in the crate. Do I take him to the pad, or will he know to associate one with the other? Do I clean it and then put him right back in?? I can't find many answers to this without paying for some outrageously priced DVD or book. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[CorkyMax]

I don't use crates so can't really tell you much but just wanted to tell you that when you are cleaning where the dog has gone--the places (including crate and bedding, etc) you DON'T WANT HIM TO GO--Do not use any cleaner that has or smells like ammonia as that is what urine smells like! If you are cleaning a place where you want him to pee--Using a cleaner there with ammonia would be best and make him more apt to go there again.

I just checked out the search box in here (top of page(s) in here close to the top right in the blue strip across the page). Here is one link from there that may have some ideas for you: Dog peeing in kennel at night

There are a lot more threads in here that you will find listed on this problem if you will go to the search box and put in the words: peeing on pads (which are the words I used---Keep it directed on threads --not posts.

[Tarrah]

Yea, I was aware of the ammonia smell - thanks anyway though! And I will definitely try more searches on this, but can't seem to find much on this perculiar issue...

[Todd]

What is the size of the crate? It should only be large enough for the dog to stand up and reposition itself. No extra room or they may go to the bathroom in the corner because instinct tells them not to go in their sleeping space.

Your problem may be trying to use crate training as well a pad training. One or the other. I would suggest sticking with the crate but taking the dog outside to go to the bathroom but you say that cannot be done. The dog should be getting out several times during the day anyhow but if you aren;t going to do that one or the other. Going on the pad lets the dog think it may be alright to go in the crate because both are in the house. It unusual for dogs to go in place of sleeping but if the crate has extra room this may be the reason. If the crate is too big try a smaller one and see if tht helps. If it doesn't, te dog is confused by the multiple training methods. If you use the crate the dog will have to go out but if you have to use the pad ditch the crate. No reason for it. Place pads out and have the dog go on them and that's it. Again, the two different methods could potentially be confusing or the crate is too large.

[Tarrah]

Yes, I'm beginning to realize that it probably is too large. But its the smallest carrier I could have bought! This puppy is itty bitty. I have heard of people blocking off parts of the crate but I'm not great at hardware stuff & don't have any extra 2x4's laying around or anything so I'm not sure how I'd go about doing that...any ideas?

I also did ditch the pads and we are going outside for every trip now, even at 4 am. I don't want him to be confused, and do not want any room for mistaking the floor for a pad in the future. It's a pain to go up & down 3 flights of stairs 3 times every night but I'll do it if it means a quicker, cleaner training process.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Tarrah

Yes, I'm beginning to realize that it probably is too large. But its the smallest carrier I could have bought! This puppy is itty bitty. I have heard of people blocking off parts of the crate but I'm not great at hardware stuff & don't have any extra 2x4's laying around or anything so I'm not sure how I'd go about doing that...any ideas?

I have brought this post below to the attention of more than 1 member who has mentioned making the crate smaller!

Since this question has been brought up before in here and many have suggested making the crate smaller, nothing wrong with making it smaller---just don't do what this member did----See her post below that I copied and pasted here----------------------------------->
My dog needs surgery!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I followed everyones advise and made my crate smaller. I used metal mesh and cut the crate inhalf - just allowing enough room for my "Bella" to move and lie down. Well...Bella chewed up some of the metal and it's now lodged in the lining in her stomach wall as well as her small intestines! She stopped eating on Saturday and was very quiet. My husband took her to our vet today and she has only a 30-40% change of this "passing" through her. She hasn't kept food/water down and is very dehydrated. We brought her home tonight and she's on a special food to help her keep it down. If this doesn't work she'll need surgery. She is only 11 months old. The cost of this can be anywhere from $1500-2400.00. We don't have that cash!! Does anyone know of any place I can search for donations? I went on Care Credit and was approved for some of it. I don't want to put her down - which will be the end results if I don't come up with the rest of the money. I am praying that she can pass this on her own. I am so desperate for some feedback! She is like my "baby" and I couldn't bare think of her gone at 11 months old!


Note: This member never did reply back as to what happened with her Bella---I only hope it was good news.

[Tarrah]

oh goodness no!! That's horrible = ( Like I said, I'm not very hardware handy anyway so I would never attempt to do anything like that. I was thinking of objects to put inside the crate to restrict the back part of the crate off...like a big block of wood or something...

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Tarrah

oh goodness no!! That's horrible = ( Like I said, I'm not very hardware handy anyway so I would never attempt to do anything like that. I was thinking of objects to put inside the crate to restrict the back part of the crate off...like a big block of wood or something...

They sell crate dividers I believe as well as crates that can be adjusted with dividers...

dog crate divider - Google Search

dog crate divider - Google Search

[reeskujo]

You also have to realize that 8 weeks is very,very young...Most pups don't even grasp potty training till at least 3 mths...My Akita is 3 and a half mths and it's only been the past 2 weeks that he's become potty trained...

It takes awhile and some breeds will house break easier then others...At his age he needs to be pottied at least every 2hrs ,3 at the most as well as before and after playtime...

everyone is right do not put potty pads in the crate since this just encourages them to pee in it...

You can also regulate their water...Put the water down,let them drink it and wait 15=20 minutes and take him/her out to potty...This will help with the accidents...Just make sure the pup gets at least 6 bowls of water through out the day maybe a little more if it's very hot where you are...

Also cut the pups water off 2hrs before bed time as well as taking him potty before he goes in his crate at night...That gives him less to have to hold over night...

An important note...If the pup hasn't hade his second set of shots he should not be outside or exposed to dogs you don't know as he's not fully immuned to the puppy diseases...

I hope this helps..

[Tarrah]

I did look at that google search, but I don't have an actual wire crate, I have an airport carrier type crate. It's plastic with vents along the 3 sides and a wire gate on front. I'm thinking maybe I can find some books to stack in the back to restrict him off? I know books aren't exactly non-chewable, but if I put them with the binding facing outward and then put his food bowl before the books, that should make it difficult for him to tear up, right? I'm running out of time trying to find a solution. He's having more and more accidents in his crate.

I do realize that potty training is going to take some time but he is actually very good now about going outside. He pees right away and if I let him walk around enough, when he has to poop he has no problem doing it outside also. I also have resolved to not letting him free in the house. The only time he is outside the crate is for playtime, which he is on a short leash for. I just need to get on a better schedule I guess, and fix this crate size...

He also is having problems with seperation anxiety. If I'm sitting next to the crate he's fine, but if I leave the room he's howling, barking, whining, etc. Even outside the crate, if he's tied up on a leash in the kitchen and I leave, its the same thing. My husband is getting very upset about when its at night (after a potty break & taking him back to the crate) and he's trying to sleep...he's not the most patient person with animals. Anyone have any ideas on how to get him to stop the whining?

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Tarrah

I did look at that google search, but I don't have an actual wire crate, I have an airport carrier type crate. It's plastic with vents along the 3 sides and a wire gate on front. I'm thinking maybe I can find some books to stack in the back to restrict him off? I know books aren't exactly non-chewable, but if I put them with the binding facing outward and then put his food bowl before the books, that should make it difficult for him to tear up, right? I'm running out of time trying to find a solution. He's having more and more accidents in his crate.

I do realize that potty training is going to take some time but he is actually very good now about going outside. He pees right away and if I let him walk around enough, when he has to poop he has no problem doing it outside also. I also have resolved to not letting him free in the house. The only time he is outside the crate is for playtime, which he is on a short leash for. I just need to get on a better schedule I guess, and fix this crate size...

He also is having problems with seperation anxiety. If I'm sitting next to the crate he's fine, but if I leave the room he's howling, barking, whining, etc. Even outside the crate, if he's tied up on a leash in the kitchen and I leave, its the same thing. My husband is getting very upset about when its at night (after a potty break & taking him back to the crate) and he's trying to sleep...he's not the most patient person with animals. Anyone have any ideas on how to get him to stop the whining?

I start crate training mine at approx 6 weeks. One thing to note, try covering the crate at night. Gives the dog a sense of security not to mention if he cannot see things he is more prone to relax. I do not leave food and water in the crate either. Though I do feed mine in their crates, food though is not left in them.

[reeskujo]

Please keep in mind that if you keep him in his crate with the exception of going to the bathroom or keeping him tied to a leash he will never learn how to properly behave in your house...

With my Husky I sinply closed all the doors to the bedrooms and bathrooms and made sure that she went out every two hrs..

the only time she was confined to her crate was either bed time or when we had errands to run...

Once she was house broken and could be trusted in the house she never went in her crate again,,,,,She slept in our bedroom just like our Akita did..

I know have an Akita puppy who's a little over 3myhs and he's alrweady house broken...

We acheived this by keeoing him on a strict feeding and bathroom schedule...He now lets us know when he needs to go out...

the trick to house training is consistancy!!!

[Tarrah]

I do understand that concept, how else will he learn the boundaries? But at the present time, I'm just not able to let him roam in here by himself. My husband is too touchy about this apartment & keeping it prestine until we move in the fall. So I'm left with two options - either keep him in the crate, in the living room, and keep getting up at night to take him outside, OR, confine him to the kitchen with pads, letting him out on a leash with me during the day.

Since we will be taking a couple out of town trips over this summer, I've decided to revert back to the pads - because he'll be going over to my mother's house at those times and SHE can't get up in the middle of the night to let him out, she puts pads down. She also refuses to use the crate b/c the mother dog is there & another dog, and they all get along great playing & he whines when put in the crate. So until he can hold a whole nights pee, he'll be in the kitchen with pads, against my better judgement, just so he has consistency. I can only hope that once we move, he will have by then grown big enough to hold it, and I can re-train him to go outside & that inside is not appropriate in our NEW home, with the crate method again. I think I did over do the crate b/c he is afraid of it, not liking it like I get the feeling he should. So we'll try again later. For now though, he gets his food set in the crate so he can get comfortable with it again.

As for the whining, I found a miracle product!!! I have heard mixed reviews on it, but so far its working for me. BarkOff -one of those as seen on tv things, sends a sonic sound out when activated by a bark, which startles him & makes him stop barking. I found it at walmart for $10. I usually dont fall for those infomercial products, but gotta admit this was a Great Buy. Hope it keeps working, at least long enough for me to train him not to bark at night.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions, I really appreciate it!!

[CorkyMax]

[QUOTE]
As for the whining, I found a miracle product!!! I have heard mixed reviews on it, but so far its working for me. BarkOff -one of those as seen on tv things, sends a sonic sound out when activated by a bark, which startles him & makes him stop barking. I found it at walmart for $10. I usually dont fall for those infomercial products, but gotta admit this was a Great Buy. Hope it keeps working, at least long enough for me to train him not to bark at night.

Hey! The old 'lightbulb' went off when I saw this. My 11 yr. old cocker has been a loud barker (at everything) since forever. And is especially bad right now as a new family just moved into the apartment building across the street with a new little 8-9 week pup that they take outside a lot and my Max barks all the time at him! I just recently cut a limb off of my willow tree that is bushy on the end and it has been a good deterent but think it will only work so long, besides it looks pretty 'crappy' hanging out in my back yard, :lol: ----leaves have died on it. And no I don't hit him with it--just shake it up close at him--touching his butt lightly and telling him No--Go in the house--and chase him there telling him he is a naughty boy and No more barking. In the house! So I am going to get one of these and hope it does wonders! Thanks for the idea.

[WorriedMom]

maybe an old shoebox... something harmless.. just put a sheet over it and tape it from the inside where he can't get a hold of it.

My guy started having separation anxiety at bout 3 months when I would put him in the crate...

If you look at my other posts... I'm a fan of the clicker training. I will also say that this is my first puppy so I am only speaking off of my personal experiences. But I guess if it worked for me it can work for you.

I would put him in the crate with treats... good booyyyyyyy sit with him
next let him out
Put him back in do same thing again... good boy... wait 1 minute... treat... wait a little.. let him out.. good boyyy

do the same thing gradually increasing time... to 5 minutes.

then... i started steping away... first 1 step without turning around... come back as soon as i can see hes about to get antsy or start barking BEFORE he gets to even make a noise...

and gradually step further and furhter... out of sight.... come back... next i turned around and walked away... came back...
id leave him in the crate for 20 mins while i was home..


THis is just an exercise to let him know that you will alawys come back to let him out .Now he looks forward to his crate cause he knows ill always come back to let him out... AND hell get a niccee treat whne i get back. I always give him little training treats while doing the exercise so he doesn't eat to much.... and one BIG treat that he loves (those chicken patty things or some cheese which he loves).... so he has a reason to remember he likes it. Now he goes into the crate on his own for bedtime and if I need to leave the house.....

It might be worth a shot... I got him used to it.... Took about 2 weeks to be perfect...

BUt, by day 4 he wouldn't bark when id put him in there and walk around the house for 20 minutes or so and id come back and let him out.



Sorry that was so long!