Peeing AND pooping in the crate....HELP!!

[LILYLARUE]

We are having a similar problem with Nea. She is almost 11 months now, house trained very well. We havent had an accident in the house in months now. But when we put her in her crate to go to work, or even a run to the store, she pee's in it. Thats it, never poops. Doesnt matter if its an hour or all day at work. So we are stumped. any ideas would be helpful. thanks

Your girl sounds like she has a little seperation anxiety, if any medical issues were dismissed. Do toys help? Have you tried a frozen peanut butter stuffed kong? I would try giving it to her before you do any "leaving" routine. Sit with her and hold it, move it around on the floor, get her super interested in it. Then take it away. Get her settled in the crate, then do a little "look what I got" action and give her the kong back. Hopefully she will be more interested in the kong than you leaving. Don't say anything to her. Just leave. She may whine a second or two once she hears the door close, but the interest in the kong will hopefully override her rising to the anxiety stage where she is probably peeing.

Start slow. The first time, try leaving and staying at the door to hear her reaction. Don't go back in if she is whining. If you have to, then don't give her any attention until she settles down and is quiet. That's when she gets the attention, when her behavior is relaxed and not anxious. You can then build up the time you are out of the house. It takes a lot of patience in the beginning, but will pay back in the long run.

This is only one thing you can try. Seems to be the simplest way to find out if it is, in fact, seperation anxiety by her reaction to you leaving. This was the one method that helped my rescue overcome SA. It took about 3 months for him to finally relax when I left. Now he sits at the window and watches me go and is always there when i get home. Gotta love them dogs!

 

[happeybuddy]

I feel you!!

I've been having so much trouble keeping my puppy (He's about 10 months now) from peeing in his crate. He goes out as often as I can take him, and he's getting to the point that he can go longer without going in the house, but it's still difficult. He goes every time I take him outside, like he understands what he's supposed to do, but at the same time, he won't ask to go outside, he'll just find a corner, and do his business. I have no idea how to fix it!!!! PLEASE HELP ME TOO!!! he's very smart, in every way EXCEPT house training. He's perfect in the car, and great on the leash, but in this one very LARGE area, he's having trouble. Thank you everyone for any advice!!

 

[LILYLARUE]

Happey ~ does the pup keep going in the same spots by chance? It could be the odor that keeps attracting him. A good cleaning with an super-duty odor remover.

Have you tried going back to treating, or making it a major play time when he goes outside but ignoring him after you clean his mess inside? Sometimes that helps. They associate going outside with a happy experience and if there is messes inside, mommy doesn't give him attention for a while. It's best if he is right there while you clean it up. Need that quick association from poop or pee on the floor to you ignoring him. They sense you are not happy without you saying anything. Dissappointed looks work on my Lily. You can't scold him after his mess unless you catch him at it. And I don't think yelling or angry behavior helps - it may make him go and hide it next time. Ignoring him after you found it, and a time after he did it, is a better method. Boxer's don't like being ignored do they?

Sometimes, us owners think we are further along than we really are. We are going along at a pace and not noticing the pup is lagging behind. The farther we stroll, thinking he's right there with us, he's really lagging farther. Eventually they will wonder off the path, lost and only doing what they know how. Then the only thing we can do is to go back to the beginning and start the walk all over again. Litterally and figuratively.

 

[NeaGirl]

I put a variety of toys in her crate. Ill definitely try the frozen peanut butter in the kong. She has a kong already but pays no attention to it, she likes her stuffed cow and elephant. Im pretty sure its SA. She doesnt like when I leave her in the truck alone just to run in the bank either. When its time to leave all I have to say is "Nea Crate" and she walks right in. She never wines or barks while she's in the crate. I guess its kind of her saying "Why do you leave me here all day?" I just need to figure out how to stop that.

Happybuddy try steam cleaning the carpet or area where he goes. Lily's right on that, I had that problem when we first started training. She always went in the back room. I had the carpets cleaned and it was like the magic touch. Nea has the house training down now. The last time there was an accident she was sick, not her fault. If its not the fix im sure it will help. Just keep up the routine.

And Lilylarue you're right, Boxers defintely dont like being ignored. I get a big puff everytime the xbox comes on.
Thanks for the tips!!!

 

[calicoray]

Well the pooping has seemed to cease, but the peeing....OMG!!!! Its every day!!!! I actually used one of my baby gates as a divider panel (works REALLY well and saved me 40 bucks ) but it doesnt matter he STILL PEES!!! I am seriously about to loose it!!

 

[LILYLARUE]

Ya know, they do have a "belt" thing that boy pups can use. It goes around their waist covering their peepee and has a pad inside it in case they do pee. I have considered it for my boy cause he tends to mark wherever he goes. And in pet stores, he's horrible! Maybe you could try, just in the house, since peeing is his only issue now. It could be as simple as him being aware he can't really pee "good" with it on so he may learn to ask to be let out. He also won't be "marking" either ( he pees but no smell. Maybe learn it isn't effective) If he pees with it on, it will be uncomfortable as we all know the boys hate when their peepee is wet.

Just a thought. Not sure if it would work for you for training purposes. But for a few bucks, could be worth it.

 

[apollosdad]

calicoray-
how much space are you givng them in the crate? it should only be enough for them to lie down in and not stretch out in. any extra space is too much and gives them enough room to relieve themselves.

also, how long do you keep them in their crate for? and how often are you allowing them potty breaks in order to relieve themselves?

 

[happeybuddy]

Buddy and his crate

About the only thing that my puppy doesn't pee on is this blanket I put in his crate. It was given to me by an ex, and he loves it. Everything else we put in there with him, he either pees on or destroys, but this blanket he loves. When we wash it, he barely lays down in his crate, but as soon as that one gets put back, he spreads it out so it covers the bottom, and lays down immediately. I think it's funny. He's a very good puppy, and he's finally starting to figure out the difference between peeing in the house, and peeing outside. I'm so proud of him!