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Drmeighan
Dec 15, 2011, 09:21 PM
Our 8 week old golden will go out side to potty then minutes later potty again somewhere in the house, we try crate training her and it only gets worse we wake up or come home to crates full of poop and she plays it in requiring a bath Every time... She just howls and freaks out all night in her crate she never settles

grammadidi
Dec 16, 2011, 12:17 AM
You must remember that your pup is still just a tiny baby! When they are that young, the best thing to do is crate the puppy when you can't watch her. Puppy must be taken outside first thing in the morning, after she eats, as soon as she wakes from a nap, after playing. Always take the puppy to the same spot to go to the bathroom (on a leash) and always praise the puppy for doing her job outdoors. Her space inside must be limited. So, if you can watch her every moment, she can be in one or two rooms. If you can't watch her for a bit, she should be in her bed... her crate. The crate is best if it's not too large (many cages come with a divider that you can move as the puppy grows). A solid side plastic crate is better for a younger dog and they are easier to clean.

If she does have an accident in her crate, it's probably because she didn't finish her job outdoors, she doesn't go out often enough or the crate is too large. If she has an accident in the house, it's probably because she didn't finish her job outdoors, she doesn't go out often enough or she wasn't being watched closely enough. If she has an accident in her crate or in the house it is imperative that it is cleaned immediately and very well. Do NOT discipline the puppy for accidents. That would be like punishing a baby for wetting it's diaper.

Crating can be a bit 'noisy' at first, but it's important not to give in. Puppy should spend all of her sleep time in there - all night, after play and potty and for short periods when you can't watch her. If you are consistent, she will learn to love it and it will be a spot she will go to for relaxation. If you are using a cage, put a small mat or towel in the cage for her to lay on. (She might chew it, so make sure it's nothing fancy). Put the cage in an area close to you so she isn't lonely. If she is still fussing after 3 days or so, cover the cage with an old blanket to give her some quiet. With younger dogs (under 2 years) I like to give them a couple of safe chewing toys in the crate. A Kong product and a Nylabone are great tools. If you feel the crated time is too long (although puppies sleep a lot so it shouldn't be) you can buy (or make) a small fenced in area for her that you can use indoors or outdoors.

I use a bell hanging from the doorhandle to train my dogs to ask to go outside. At first I try to get the puppy to jump up or hit it so it rings every time we take her out. Later, you will find she will OVERuse it. This is a time where it is important to drop everything and take the puppy out so she KNOWS you listen to her cues. Eventually you can remove it for a few hours at a time while she's awake.

The ONLY other thing I want to add is that if the puppy is soiling a lot and it smells very bad or has blood and/or worms visible she must go to the vet for a checkup. If she seems to be urinating too much, catch a urine sample and take it in to be checked for any problems. Parvo and distemper would be my main concern and it's better to rule them out than take a day too long to diagnose these deadly diseases. Young female dogs can also have some minor urinary tract problems that they will grow out of.

Hope this helps! I have raised more than 20 dogs over the years and it worked 100% of the time for me.

Hugs, Didi