[rwolt]

We have a 9-week old Golden Retriever. She sleeps in a crate next to our bed and is a gem: quiet, doesn't soil or pee. When we leave her alone (for only 2 hours maximum at this point), she has been consistently pooping/soiling her crate. It seems like separation anxiety or perhaps some form of protest. She understands when she goes outside that she is to eliminate there and she does. She is very young and hasn't learned yet how to signal to go out so there are accidents, but we assume that will come. The crate pooping has us stumped. Could it be her food? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[labman]

Exactly what goes on in those furry little heads is hard to say. If you do a Search here, you will find several old threads about bowel movements in a crate and much of the same advice from me. Could you be convinced he is doing it deliberately to protest being crated? If so, it certainly is effective isn't it? Many ''experts'' say no way. It may be the anxiety, ''I am so upset, I could... ''

I think the first step is to eliminate the bedding. You might try wood shavings instead. If you do, let me know how it works. Racks do well with small puppies and urine, but often stools stay on top.

Having a good pack structure reduces such problems. The dogs see all the
People and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
The pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
Outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by
Reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
Or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
A treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/. As top dog, you have the right to crate him. It is his place to wait quietly for your return. At his age, keep sessions short, a few minutes for several repetitions. Steal a few minutes several times a day, and in a month people will be marveling what a good little puppy.

If you are feeding almost any commercial puppy chow, I doubt if it is part of the problem. The more concentrated, meat based products would help if it was a physical problem of holding it. An adult chow should be OK now, and better after 4 months, slowing growth and allowing more time to develop strong joints.

[rwolt]

Thanks, labman. We aren't using bedding. WE also are trying to maintain a "top dog" status. We're leaving her with no fanfare and are reuniting with no fanfare. In short, we are requiring her to handle this while at the same time respecting the fact that she is very young. Her soiling the crate has been occurring when we leave around 9 a.m. She is attended to again at 111:30 and 2 and 4:30 when we arrive home. The first time we leave is when she seems more prone to do this and it is also the time when either my wife or myself are doing the "leaving". The other times it is our grown children. We feel it is more related to the separation, although she shows no anticipatory anxiety when we show signs of leaving, etc.

Any additional help would be appreciated.