[Joan Buckingham]

Hi, I'm having a problem with my new puppy and leaving her in the crate while my husband and I go out. We haven't been able to leave her without coming home to a problem. We both left on Saturday and I was only gone 30 minutes and she had yiped the whole time and had pooped all over the place. At night she sleeps in the crate okay as long as she can see one of us. If we would put her out of site she starts yipping and then comes the pooping all over. We don't know how to break her of this and if it keeps up as much as we love her we will have to find someone who will take her. She is a sweety pie all except this problem. We need to go out together sometimes for one reason or another, this problem can't continue. I got on the internet today to see if I could find any help and came across this forum and thought maybe someone else has had this problem and could give some advice. Our puppy is a Shih Tzu/Bichon and we named her Buffy. We will appreciate any help...thank-you.

[Northern gal]

It sounds like she has issues with seperation anxiety and needs to have some professional help. Crate training is good, only if you excersice your dog for at least an hour walk will do it. Then when she is calm-submissive energy, give her some water, but not to much. Then put her in the crate and she will be worn out and content. Your dog needs to be the follower not the leader you are the pack leader with no exception. Walk your dog again in the evening before bed and she will be ready for a good nights sleep. Walking your dog is the key to everything and the right way. You in front and dog beside or behind. When you exit the door you go out first the same intering the home. You have to be calm- assertive without being mean or hitting the dog. Read the book Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan and you will be grateful you did. Hope this info will help with your little dog.
Best of Luck.

[nattiej1976]

Hi joan and welcome

as far as the yapping Northern Gal could be right, this may be the beginning of seperation issues, either that or pup has just learned that you respond to the noises and she gets the attention she wants. The best way i have found to overcome this is to (as annoying as it can be) ignore the noises, and as soon as pup settles down, then go and say hello and reward the quiet calm behaviour, not the noisy one.

The pooping however, my first question would be how big is the crate? it may be to large at this stage, to effectively crate train. the crate should only be big enough for pup to stand up turn around and lay down in, any bigger and you do run the risk of pup soiling in a corner that she doesnt have to sleep near. if this is the case and the crate is too big, rather than buying another smaller crate you may beable to slide in a false wall to make the area that pup accesses in it smaller for the time being and adjust as pup gets bigger.

Just a couple of thoughts here, dont know if they are worth giving a go.

Good luck