[Jasperpoo]

I have an 8 month old puppy that I have had for less than a month. We are not sure of his history but think he lived in a breeders kennel until he was 7 months. So he is quite behind with most things. We have managed to get him out walking on a lead and he is semi house trained. He got the pooing part right away and we have only had 3 in the house and all times was our fault as we had left him too long without access to garden. He is peeing inside tough a lot and I think it is marking as he did it this evening right after a walk where he had lots of pee's. He was castrated a week ago, it seemed to stop the marking for 2 days but as he feels better he is up to it again.

We tried crate training but he just went bananas when we put him in it. He destroyed 2 crates, one metal one he actually removed bars with his teeth and got out when /i had to leave him for 3 hours. The minute he goes in he goes mad. We don't know his history but he was in bad shape when we got him so perhaps this is due to something in his past.


Can anyone suggest a way to house break without a crate?

He never pee's or poo's at night provided he has a late walk and sleeps on our bed so we know he can hold it in. His peeing must be a marking of some sort I am sure. Sadly I never catch him in the act so I can't tell him off.

Any idea's. Its so hard when you start with a damaged animal as we spent the past three weeks getting him back to health and now he is healthy he is a little sod!

Thanks in advance..

[Just Dahlia]

Congratulations on your new family member:D
I'm sorry, but I don't have an answer for you. Someone will be around soon and they have plenty of answers.
It's a wonderful thing you did:) What kind of pup is it? Large? Small?

[Aurora_Bell]

Wow sounds like he suffering from separation anxiety. A lot of times dogs that suffer from anxiety can settle themselves with a bit of confidence building. Obedience classes are a great way for him to get mentally stimulated as well as a bit of physical stimulation. It's a great bonding experience for the two of you as well. You could also look in to behavior modification classes. Most rescues come with an agreement to complete at least one set of classes. And you essentially did rescue him. Sounds like his living conditions were horrid.

You could try barricading him in a hallway or a section, but it sounds like he is very destructive. I would try and work with him on the crate. Start by moving the crate in a social area, the kitchen or the living room. When ever you feed him, place his bowl in the cage, and leave the door open for him. When he get s bone or a toy, he gets it in the crate. It also helps if you get a special toy or treat used only when he goes in the crate.

If it's possible, about a half hour before you get ready to leave, spend some time just treating and praising him going in the kennel. It doesn't always have to be treats either, you can use his morning kibble. Take a handful and kind of make a trail with it leading to the kennel, throw some in the back, and when he goes into get it, start dropping more kibble from the holes above him. Now it's a magic box where treats fall from the sky. Close the door around, but don't lock it. Get him to exit and repeat.

The most important part is consistency. It's going to take time for him to get used to the crating issue. It's not going to happen over night, so if at first you don't succeed, try again.
Good luck! What breed?

[Wondergirl]

He probably was born in a cage, grew up in a cage, lived in a cage, and maybe had urine and feces falling on him from the cage above. He considers any closed-in space a cage, a prison. You want him to discover that a cage or kennel is a GOOD place to be, his safe place, his private place.

You have to erase that "cage = bad" idea out of his brain. I know it can be done--with a lot of love and patience from you. Dog experts and owners will come along with suggestions that have worked for others. (I'm a cat person and don't know much--about dogs. :D)