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bgesler · Jan 1, 2011, 05:51 PM

I have a pappillon puppy who is 12 weeks. I have had her for a couple of days and I am trying to crate train her and house train her. She is picking up on the urinating outside well but the pooping is another issue. She hasn't pooped in the house but in the crate she does. Almost every time that I leave her in the crate. I have it sectioned off so she has enough room to lay, sit stand. She has only pooped twice outside and I have praised her and rewarded her with a treat when she did. I take her out 20 minutes after she eats because they say take them out right after and she won't go poop. I'm out there for 10 minutes and she will pee walk around or I'm walking her down the street and then just come sit at my feet. So I bring her in and 20 minutes later I have her outside again walking her trying to get her to poop. Same thing. I know I need to be patient since I have only had her a couple of days, but I just want to make sure I am going about it the right way.

Wondergirl · Jan 1, 2011, 06:19 PM

Did you get her from a pet store or a backyard breeder? If so, all she knows is pooping in her crate. No one ever took puppies out of the crate to play with them or walk them.

If this is the case, you have your work cut out for you. You will need extraordinary patience and love, and never hit her or shove her face into her poop. There are Dogs Experts here who will give you excellent advice and some tried-and-true techniques to help train her. (We deal with tons of questions about puppies from pet shops and bybs.) Also, check on the sides of the screen or in the Dogs category for previous questions people have asked about this.

Alty · Jan 1, 2011, 08:18 PM

First, how big is the crate. You mentioned sectioning it off. The crate should only be big enough for the pup to stand, turn around, and lay down. Any bigger than that will promote pooping and peeing in the crate.

WG is also right. If this was a pet store puppy, or a puppy from a byb, than it's likely that pooing in the crate is all the pup knows.

Another fact to consider. Your pup is only 12 weeks old. Most dogs don't really gain control of their bowels and bladders until they're at least 4 months old.

Keep up with the positive reinforcement. Make sure that pup isn't spending too much time in the crate (at 3 months of age no more than 3 hours a day). Take pup outside often. Lots of praise when she does her thing outside. Go nuts. Petting, treats, jumping up and down. Make sure she knows that she did good.

Above all, patience. She's a baby. It takes time. :)