Behaviorial - Accidents in Crate & drinking/eating wastes

[EnzoBoxer]

Not sure what is going on here, but having a bit of rough time with Enzo recently. He's now 15 months. A few months ago, I changed my work situation. Both my wife and I used to leave for the day for work and now I work from home a good bit.

Before I started working from home, Enzo could go an easy 7-8 hour day in his crate without any accidents. Now that I'm working from home, we have some challenges. While I'm working and on conference calls, I crate him when I'm home. If I didn't I wouldn't be able to get anything done because well... he's still somewhat in his "adolescent" stage. I work in my office upstairs with the door closed. Enzo stays downstairs in his crate. I take him out every few hours to go outside, stretch, etc.

Enzo has now begun to pee and poop in his crate. He does this often just minutes after I've already take him out. I was thinking that perhaps it was out of spite and that I had to put him back in his crate, but then again I read on the forums that dogs really don't have empathy to do that. Not sure if that's true or not. Typically he doesn't have any accidents in his crate even when we aren't here for 7-8 hours.

Any ideas? Could it be spite? Boredom maybe?

It's getting worse because after he pees and poops in his crate he will drink and eat his wastes. Any other time, he doesn't care to have anything with his pee or poop.

 

[Nikkiell]

The best thing to do in my opinion is to contact a dog trainer and schedule a private session. The trainer will gather all the info he needs and recommend a course of action. There are so many variables that might be causing this. If that is not an option then I can give you my two cents. Some dogs don't deal well with changes in their environment and respond to that with changes in their behavior. I have a Boxer that had mild separation issue which was trained out, so now I can leave and he will be fine in the house. On the other hand when I am home he is my shadow and if I go behind a closed door, bathroom perhaps he will be mildly stressed and whine. In your situation when he is alone in the house he will be fine in the crate and I guess when you got home he was let out and all was good. What about at night, was he crated ? The thing that changed is that now you are home and he is crated and cannot see you? That might cause stress/anxiety which has been known to cause different problems including eliminating in the crate. Medical issues are a possibility, stress caused by lack of exercise or diet issues. Eating stool is not that uncommon in dogs and sometimes develops in dogs that are left alone but again many variables here. Eliminating in the crate is most likely stress/anxiety, normally dogs don't do that where they stay or sleep. If this anxiety related I would nip it in the butt before it could get worse, your dog does not feel good about something. Is it a possibility to move the crate where he can see you ? Keep him occupied with a Kong full of tasty treats ? The possibilities are many....good luck

 

[Brindlegirly]

I don't care what others say, I believe dogs do have empathy to a certain extent. I think dogs are smarter than some want to believe. I think your dog knows you are in the house so thinks he should be out too. Is there a room farther from your office that he couldn't hear you in when crated? Maybe a big juicy bone would help distract him.
Good luck!

 

[Nikkiell]

"It's getting worse because after he pees and poops in his crate he will drink and eat his wastes. Any other time, he doesn't care to have anything with his pee or poop." On this one he is probably just simply cleaning up so that he can lay down in the crate again, that is a common reason for doing that if stuck with it. Wanted to add that from my previous post because I missed that. Hope this helps you and your puppy, again good luck....

 

[Gunther]

The dog wants to be with you! If you're at home why is he in the crate? Does he get exercise ie walks or runs with you?

I lived with a 85 pound pit mix, 65 pound boxer and 116 lb GSD, no crates. I work odd hours and we go on walks and runs regularly.

When I'm home if I'm out in the garage or whatever the dogs are usually in the living room watching DTV! They let me know when they want to go out. If they bark someone is at the door!

Crates are suppose to be for training not punishment? Boxers require commitment and work!
Perhaps it's the wrong dog for you? A Bulldog might have been a better choice? You could consider fostering and adopting him out perhaps?

Boxers want to be with their people, that's why we love them!

Sorry didn't mean to go off. I just lost my Struddel last month and I couldn't imagine her in a crate for 8 hours while I'm home!

 

[Brindlegirly]

The dog wants to be with you! If you're at home why is he in the crate? Does he get exercise ie walks or runs with you?

I lived with a 85 pound pit mix, 65 pound boxer and 116 lb GSD, no crates. I work odd hours and we go on walks and runs regularly.

When I'm home if I'm out in the garage or whatever the dogs are usually in the living room watching DTV! They let me know when they want to go out. If they bark someone is at the door!

Crates are suppose to be for training not punishment? Boxers require commitment and work!
Perhaps it's the wrong dog for you? A Bulldog might have been a better choice? You could consider fostering and adopting him out perhaps?

Boxers want to be with their people, that's why we love them!

Sorry didn't mean to go off. I just lost my Struddel last month and I couldn't imagine her in a crate for 8 hours while I'm home!

With all do respect, in a perfect world no dog would have to be left alone while their owners work. You shouldn't be so judgmental.

 

[Gunther]

....yeah in retrospec; I should have pm'ed him.

 

[whiskers]

The dog wants to be with you! If you're at home why is he in the crate? Does he get exercise ie walks or runs with you?

I lived with a 85 pound pit mix, 65 pound boxer and 116 lb GSD, no crates. I work odd hours and we go on walks and runs regularly.

When I'm home if I'm out in the garage or whatever the dogs are usually in the living room watching DTV! They let me know when they want to go out. If they bark someone is at the door!

Crates are suppose to be for training not punishment? Boxers require commitment and work!
Perhaps it's the wrong dog for you? A Bulldog might have been a better choice? You could consider fostering and adopting him out perhaps?

Boxers want to be with their people, that's why we love them!

Sorry didn't mean to go off. I just lost my Struddel last month and I couldn't imagine her in a crate for 8 hours while I'm home!

It's a little bit hard to get work done if you have to supervise a young dog. Dogs like to be with us, but there is nothing wrong with them learning that it's okay to be separated from us.

 

[Gunther]

Enzo has now begun to pee and poop in his crate. He does this often just minutes after I've already take him out.
It's getting worse because after he pees and poops in his crate he will drink and eat his wastes. Any other time, he doesn't care to have anything with his pee or poop.

Yes consult a professional by all means.

 

[smoresmore]

I had a very similar issue with my Seymour with crate accidents!!!!!!! Read my posts in my forum? What I ended up doing DEFINITELY helped for him. You may not need to go as far as change his food, but it's worth a shot? Otherwise, yes, go for a trainer. Much help came to me from our trainer!!!

This is my post from a while ago. I hope you find SOME help in this!!!! Much luck and many wishes!!!

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/behavioral-issues/168107-help-me-all-my-frustrations.html