Can't get my female house broken. - Page 1

6 month old female, will not stop pooping in her crate. She even walked into the open crate and pooped. I am thinking that she may have become used to going in a crate while being imported. I have had her for three months, and have made very little progress with the house breaking. She doesn't make messes in the floor of the houe, only her crate. I give her numerous breaks outside. My wife is getting pretty impatient after three solid months of this. Does anyone have any ideas? I also give her lots of praise after she poops outside.

Get rid of the crate. Prepare to stay home for the next couple of days. Tie her leash to your arm. If need be, take turns with your wife. This way you can keep running outside when necessary, and there is no chance for an accident. Continue with high praise when she goes. She'll get the message. She's six months old now, and her bladder is big enough to wait. If you're concerned about confining her when you leave home (chewing, destructive behavior), then gate her in the kitchen with very little water. After a month, (be brave), leave home without confining her. She just might surprise you and be the perfect dog. I hate crates. Never used them. My dogs have always been completely housebroken. I would use papers or lately those large wee wee pads till the puppy's bladder was capable of holding enough water---usually around 4 months. Everyone has different views on crates. Like I said before---I hate them. I hope you try my suggestion and it works. Good luck

What kind of cleaner do you use? Cleaners containing ammonia actually enhance the smell of Nr. 1 and Nr. 2 for a dog nose. You think its clean, to the dog its still a "toilet spot" so to speak. Clean the crate thoroughly with just dishsoap, then spray with a mixture of 50-50 bleach and water and let sit for a while, repeat if necessary. And yes, I would remove the crate altogether, at least for a while, and focus on working on a routine. She needs to know her potty times, and then after that is established re-introduce the crate - after her regular potty time and start out leaving her in there for only short times. It may help if you feed her in the crate at that time so that she will associate the clean crate with something other than toilet issues. If you must use a crate because you do not want to leave her home alone, see if a metal wire cage will make a difference. The crate is enclosed, a safe spot to go potty in. A wire crate is open to the room and she may not show the same behaviour when in such an "open concept" crate.

LMH, I have been using a crate for the last 2 weeks. My puppy is only 9 weeks old. I would like to explore not using it. What do you do with the puppy at night? Thanks! Melissa

Sorry folks I'm gonna be the minority here (but I am the one who trains dogs for other people, including housebreaking) .. The crate is the best housebreaking tool you can use...and I've been doing it for years... But before I go on, there are lots of questions running thru my head..... How has your dog been trained to relieve itself outside and what scheduled method have you used to teach it how to hold itself for extended periods of time?? How do you prevent accidents - because that is what housebreaking is all about? How do you watch your puppy every single minute of the day to control its behaviors?? Puppies are learning every minute they are awake and oftentimes they are learning behaviors that you will not like... Dogs need structure and boundaries and I'm curious to know how you have taught your 6 month old baby what is right and wrong in the world of potty manners...

DKiah -- i second your post .. an i would add the crate slao is utilized to enusre the dog has a safety haven , a place of sacntuary / a get away from it all place -- and addtionally , privledges in life are earned by both mhumans and canines alike --your pup will have a better relationship when you attend to it's resources and a crate can help you control the dog's ability to resource -- without certain parameters or criteria .. why would your dog even need you ?? aside from rambling --again i second your advice -- eliminating the crate in the teaching/learning phase is a big , very beig mistake --[ to share , i crate trained all my 12 existing shepherds for a bout 1 to 1.5 years .. hardly ever had to say " NO .. " .. they never learned bad behaviors E.G. chewing , running in the house etc.]

Ditto on the crate. I wouldn't be without one. In fact I own 3 and have only 1 dog.

Gotcha Blitzen!! Had this contest on another list.. we own 35 crates of various sizes and materials!! But we have 6 dogs..

Well, we use a crate and my puppy still chews. I can't leave him in their forever.. although I'd like to sometimes. So, am I supposed to put him in the crate when he starts to bite/chew on things? Also, about the original post: Is it possible that the breeder left the dog in the crate too long and they got used to eliminating in there? Just a thought!

Melissa, until you have your "punisher" under better control stick with the crate, if it is working for you right now. Your pup has to earn his time outside the crate, like he has to earn every other privilege. And a pup can get into a lot of mischief during the night while you are sleeping, or rob you of your sleep. Both can create poor sleeping habits for you and your pup. You are running the risk of creating a host of new problems that then need fixing, but could have been avoided to begin with, so best to avoid them alltogether now. Getting your pup used to being outside the crate for longer periods can be introduced when you have a bit of control, such as when you have leash training behind you, when he knows and respects the rules of the house. And after he knows a few basic commands. For nso, if the crate is where the problems lies, then that needs to be addressed and even if that means going without the crate for a while. Removing the source of conflict is often the easiest way. The dog has to make a different association with the potty-crate connection before the use of the crate can be resumed. I am in favor of general crate use as well, this is why I suggested testing a wire cage instead. It will be similar yet different and may get you different results from what you are getting now. If its not working either you can always return it to where you bought it (after clean up of course ;o)). You might give your puppy potty breaks at the wrong time... Pups have to relieve themselves after they wake up, after they have eaten and after play, and about half an hour to an hour after they had a big drink. If you praise your pup *while* she is relieving herself, she may stop before she is completely finished with her business. And will then finish the business at a later time, and/or inside. Make sure you praise *after* a fully completed job. Be persistent that puppy is really "empty" before returning to the house. Even if it takes a while. Pups learn too quickly if they go for a quick piddle they get a reward faster. or if the weather is bad that they will go back inside faster. Remove anything from the inside of the house and crate that could have enticing smells on it that will create an urge to go there. Blankets need to be claned properly etc. Better yet, don't use anything in the crate or some cardboard if you still expect accidents. Best cleaner for regular potty mishaps is 50-50 solution of vinegar and water. Safe on just about any surface and fabric, and for dogs too. The above mentioned routine is also a very good suggestion. If you take puppy out every 15 minutes she will never get the idea. Have set times and make sure the job was done properly, not just half. Potty times are not play times, they are potty times. Too much excitement, praise at the wrong time, other people etc can interfere with what she is supposed to be doing. Stay neutral. If you get anxious or rushed your pup will pick up on it. I have always taken new or young dogs out on a leash for potty times, and tell them while they are still sniffing to go pee over and over, am quiet the moment they go and then praise when they are finished. After a while the go pee "command" does create an urge in them to do their business on cue. When they are done with Nr.1 I say it again until Nr.2 is done too. Very handy when you have to go somewhere and want the dogs taken care of before, or there is not a lot of time, or when you are somewhere that does not offer the best potty situation ie during transit outside an airport or at a rest stop with cars going by and hardly any green areas for the dog to go.