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    chantell10's Avatar
    chantell10 Posts: 6, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jan 6, 2006, 11:45 PM
    Puppy still pooping in crate
    All right, so I wrote a few months ago about my problems with my puppy pooping in his crate. He is now over 6 months old and still doing it. I am quite sure that he has never really bonded with his crate and I do not know how to remedy this. He does not have accidents inside the house (besides the occasional dribble when he gets excited by company). However, he consistently poops in the crate when I am at work and recently when he is sleeping in there at night. I am a really light sleeper and if he starts to whine, I will take him outside and put him immediately back in whether he goes, but on the past few occasions, he has only whined AFTER he has gone in his crate. It has unfortunatey been difficult to keep a really strict schedule with him because I am a waitress and the times and duration of my shifts fluctuates greatly. I praise him VERY highly on the rare occasion that I arrive home and he has not soiled his crate. I scold him a little when he has, but since I don't catch him in the act, I don't scold him very harshly. I have had him since he was 9 weeks old and after cleaning up after him, sometimes multiple times a day, I feel as though I am reaching my wit's end. I need ANY alternatives that anyone can give me. (By the way, he is a chewer, so leaving him outside of the crate would not be my first choice). I also live in an apartment, so there is no conveniently fenced yard. Please Help!
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
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    #2

    Jan 7, 2006, 05:13 AM
    This is a difficult problem. I went back and looked your original post and my suggestions. I really do not have more ideas. If you have done what I had said and is isn't working, you must try something else. As a last resort, talk to your vet. You should have already explored the possibility of a physical problem, but this doesn't sound like one. Ask about anxiety medicine. I hate to suggest that, but this does look like you are out of other options.

    Leaving him loose in the house or a ''safe'' room will expose him and you possessions to the dangers of chewing without relieving his resentment of being left alone.
    chantell10's Avatar
    chantell10 Posts: 6, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Jan 7, 2006, 08:49 PM
    Thanks for the reply. I had talked to the vet about it a few months ago and she did not have any further suggestions and seems to think that he is perfectly healthy. The thing is that he doesn't whine or bark when I leave and will even be lying down napping in his poop when I return. I try to make sure that he gets plenty of exercise (about an hour or so at the dog park) before I go to work and he is left in there for any length of time and whether it works or not is really hit or miss. I hate the idea of putting a dog on 'anxiety medicine' either and I am not sure that I even really buy into the idea that this works for humans. Perhaps, however, there is room for optimism. I disassembled his metal crate yesterday afternoon and left it that way for awhile. I then reassembled it in a different position. I am sure that I will never figure out this dog, but for the very first time since I brought him home, he crawled into the crate without being asked to and lied down to take a nap. Usually he would try to lie on my bed or sofa. He did the same at bedtime. Under unfortunate circumstances, I ended up having to work over my regular shift today and was gone for 9 1/2 hours. To my very big surprise, I came home to a clean crate and he went when I took him out after I got home. I cannot be sure that this will continue, but I can only hope. Thanks for replying again... your advice is very helpful, in at least that it keeps me from losing my mind.
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
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    #4

    Jan 8, 2006, 06:21 AM
    I don't have any explanation for that. People and dogs don't think alike. I just hope moving the crate continues to work. Thank you for sharing your experience.
    chantell10's Avatar
    chantell10 Posts: 6, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Jan 11, 2006, 07:44 AM
    Well, it worked for like three days... he pooped while I was at work last night. If anyone has any further suggestions...
    luvmydoxie86's Avatar
    luvmydoxie86 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Jan 18, 2006, 11:27 AM
    Just Maybe...
    I suggest maybe buying a ceramic or stuffed dog, make sure that it looks REAL, place it beside his crate. Make sure that the NEW dog is facing him in his crate.
    Seeing a "big dog" go all day without making a "mistake" might make your puppy think twice about having an accident! ;)

    Let me know if this works for you!
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
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    #7

    Jan 18, 2006, 12:34 PM
    Go for it. And please post back whether it works on not. I can remember putting ''Puppy slippers'' down in front of a crate hoping to comfort a new puppy. It didn't work that well, and eventually I discover the trick of laying down in front of the crate until the puppy went to sleep.
    Melik80's Avatar
    Melik80 Posts: 3, Reputation: 2
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    #8

    Feb 26, 2007, 05:57 PM
    Easy solution, that will not work unless you stick to it to a T. A mistake means a loss of all progress.

    1--get a steel wire crate, with a divider that is adjustable so you can increase or decrease the size of the crate.

    2--adjust the crate so that the dog can only stand up and lay right back down. DO NOT give enough room for the dog to turn around or move other then just standing up and sitting or laying back down or it will soil.

    You started a bad habit and it will take months of doing this with NO accidents to correct this action. Your dog is soiling out of WANT, not out of NEED. You have sound feeding schedules and if your times you take the dog out are sound by doing this you take away the dogs option to WANT to soil inside. Since the dog will not NEED to soil while in the crate, problem solved.

    I have had over 8 pit bulls and use this with every last one and it has NEVER failed me. Tough love is what is needed at this time. Most people give the dog toys, add extra to it's crate, give it attention and free reign of the house it is WRONG. You are praising the behavior. You should take away attention and ANY treats or toys or praise until the actions stop.

    When you come home and there is a mess show the dog no attention, when there is no mess then give chew toys, play and have fun with your dog. When it's time to leave take it all away and put the dog back in the crate.

    NEVER should a dog soiling inside have free reign of a house, a room, or anything for that matter until the dog respects the space that you have already gave it nomatter how small.

    If you do this it will work if you don't it will continue.
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
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    #9

    Feb 26, 2007, 07:37 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Melik80
    Easy solution, that will not work unless you stick to it to a T. A mistake means a loss of all progress.

    1--get a steel wire crate, with a divider that is adjustable so you can increase or decrease the size of the crate.

    2--adjust the crate so that the dog can only stand up and lay right back down. DO NOT give enough room for the dog to turn around or move other then just standing up and sitting or laying back down or it will soil.

    You started a bad habit and it will take months of doing this with NO accidents to correct this action. Your dog is soiling out of WANT, not out of NEED. You have sound feeding schedules and if your times you take the dog out are sound by doing this you take away the dogs option to WANT to soil inside. Since the dog will not NEED to soil while in the crate, problem solved.

    I have had over 8 pit bulls and use this with every last one and it has NEVER failed me. Tough love is what is needed at this time. Most people give the dog toys, add extra to it's crate, give it attention and free reign of the house it is WRONG. You are praising the behavior. You should take away attention and ANY treats or toys or praise until the actions stop.

    When you come home and there is a mess show the dog no attention, when there is no mess then give chew toys, play and have fun with your dog. When it's time to leave take it all away and put the dog back in the crate.

    NEVER should a dog soiling inside have free reign of a house, a room, or anything for that matter until the dog respects the space that you have already gave it nomatter how small.

    If you do this it will work if you don't it will continue.
    I don't see much new there, and don't think it really addresses the problem. I don't like steel crates. I think the plastic ones are much more like a natural den. I have had very good luck with 17 puppies in them including other breeds besides Labs.

    Anybody needing good housebreaking advice should see the sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251809
    Melik80's Avatar
    Melik80 Posts: 3, Reputation: 2
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    #10

    Feb 26, 2007, 07:58 PM
    You would have to be a blind novice with dogs to make those statements.

    1--there is much new there. Like for instance the notion of not giving your dog free reign and giving it treats and added things when it messes up to try and stop it from messing up further.

    2--It very well addresses the problem. This dog does not go in the house out of a need to relieve itself. The dog goes cause it just wants to due to becoming accustomed to doing just that. That is why the dog does that.

    Shortening the space severely stops the dogs from doing that and takes away it's comfort zone of going in it's crate. Eventually this will stop the dog from doing it. Which will lead to the dog being conditioned to go outside since it has absolutely no space to go in it's crate anymore. Now the dog is programmed.

    So you have had 17pups or whatever, I used to breed pit bulls and I have had over 30 litters. This is the fastest and most effective way I have EVER heard of and TRIED.
    Melik80's Avatar
    Melik80 Posts: 3, Reputation: 2
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    #11

    Feb 26, 2007, 08:05 PM
    Oh and by the way, the plastic crates although might be more like a den:

    1--have less air flow, and less visability for the dog which can equate to serious problems later on.

    2--are nothing and I mean NOTHING for a pit bull or rottweiler puppy or grown dog to destroy. I don't know about other dogs... ie... labs... put when you are talking about strong working breeds that destroy other dogs and are built or were built to fight or guard, they will chew a plastic crate to pieces eventually in the midst of anxiety.

    Some steel crates are not even enough.

    The goal is not to give the dog some ancient den similar to what they might have lived in hundreds of years ago, the goal is to contain the animal, keep it clean and from soiling while being contained and if the dog has anxiety to ease that as much as possible while in the crate by creating the most visibility possible

    Think about it.
    englishbullsrule's Avatar
    englishbullsrule Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #12

    Nov 11, 2007, 09:10 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Melik80
    Easy solution, that will not work unless you stick to it to a T. A mistake means a loss of all progress.

    1--get a steel wire crate, with a divider that is adjustable so you can increase or decrease the size of the crate.

    2--adjust the crate so that the dog can only stand up and lay right back down. DO NOT give enough room for the dog to turn around or move other then just standing up and sitting or laying back down or it will soil.

    You started a bad habit and it will take months of doing this with NO accidents to correct this action. Your dog is soiling out of WANT, not out of NEED. You have sound feeding schedules and if your times you take the dog out are sound by doing this you take away the dogs option to WANT to soil inside. Since the dog will not NEED to soil while in the crate, problem solved.

    I have had over 8 pit bulls and use this with every last one and it has NEVER failed me. Tough love is what is needed at this time. Most people give the dog toys, add extra to it's crate, give it attention and free reign of the house it is WRONG. You are praising the behavior. You should take away attention and ANY treats or toys or praise until the actions stop.

    When you come home and there is a mess show the dog no attention, when there is no mess then give chew toys, play and have fun with your dog. When it's time to leave take it all away and put the dog back in the crate.

    NEVER should a dog soiling inside have free reign of a house, a room, or anything for that matter until the dog respects the space that you have already gave it nomatter how small.

    If you do this it will work if you don't it will continue.
    I agree with this answer, but it could also work in a regular crate that's more den-like. I have an English Bulldog who pooped and peed in her crate. She had lots of toys, so she would poop in a corner of the crate, then strategically place her toys on top of the poop to cover it up or hide it from me. Obviously she knew she did something wrong. I removed her toys and partitioned the crate so her room was limited at night. Also, I removed any kind of absorbing cushioning (dogs will pee on anything that absorbs fluid which prevents them from laying in it). Guess what? It worked. She stopped peeing and pooping in the crate. I did this for about three weeks and gradually let her have more room and a some toys. She hasn't had an accident since - so I agree with the tough love for now.

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