peeing update - Page 1

i posted a message about the trouble i was having with my pup peeing when ever in the house thanks for all the responses it has helped...now he only pee's when i try to convince him to go into the crate sometimes he goes and no problem other times he will not come if i call him and will pee when he gets close to the crate ....any ideas besides beeing paitent and why would he be afraid of the crate anyway ?

Find a treat that he REALLY likes and give it to him only when he goes in the crate. For example, I give my girl one dried pig ear a day and only when she goes in her crate. When I tell her "Bedtime" I had better have the crate door open or she will try to go though it so she can get her ear. And be consistant, keep those special treats near the crate and make sure he gets one immediately when he goes in.

Have you tried using a "really, really" special treat (my dogs love a hollow marrow bone stuffed with liverwurst)? I know this was mentioned to you in another post. I would try that and "don't" close the door. Sit with him and give him praise, then let him come out. When you do close the door try making his time in there short. I realise he has to sleep in there at night, but if you work with him during the day so he can feel he doesn't have to be locked up a long time, praise and treats too, hopefully he will come out of his anxiety over the crate. Maybe he is claustrophobic (sp) who knows. I have one that will go lay in a crate all the time with the door open but lock him in and it sounds like a war going on. Luckily he doesn't have to be crated anymore!

Hadn't thought of stuffing a bone with liverwurst.... Rikka, you are in for something special tonight!! Woo Hoo!

Try to COAX him that before going to the CRATE; he should relieve himself first // he does not want to stay in a STINKIN crate and if hes not peeing, dont crate him yet.. Let him think that the crate is his refuge so he not make it dirty // GSD are clean animals and they learn through repitition ,.. habit forming,.. and soon they develop understanding...

Is it possible that you have harshly scolded him in the past and he is relating it somehow to the crate/inside? PLEASE think about this. If this is it, you MUST start serious positive reinforcement IMMEDIATELY to overcome his fears! When I was naive to many things, I once had a GSD that I was training and he was not paying attention and just being crazy - well, I had the leash and mildly cracked it on his thigh and said "Blibe!" at the same time. Well, he thought lightning had struck and had no earthly idea what had happened to him - he made a mad dash for the front porch and didn't look back. Eventually I had to change the command because from that time on, any time I would say "blibe", he'd crouch, pee himself and run for the hills! Needless to say, I'd never have that soft of a dog again, but you have to be SO careful with dogs that have a tendency to be sensitive. Is this dog on the sensitive side?

I agree on the special treat thing. All my guys eat in their crates, so it's a mad dash to go into the crates at dinner time. The "new" ones in the house always picked up on this very quickly. And those crate doors better be open! It's just so much routine now that I'm not even sure how the whole thing got started. They all go into their "respective" houses. One even has to jump into it because it's on top of another. It's quite the "send away" of sorts.

ProudShepherdPoppa Let me know what Rikka thinks of a liverwurst bone!! It is also a great way to give pills, they go down so quick they think medicating is great!

Yes, feed the pup in his crate and a treat every night when he gets locked up. I had a crate hater and after a month or so of always a treat or food waiting inside, they will associate it with something good, not fear or loathing.

I'd watch my body language and tone and if he won't come to you, have a leash or a tab on him so you can control how far away he can get (or can't) .. My puppies all learn the word "cookie" and it has great meaning and when I want them to go into something ....I hold them by the collar and tell them about their cookies and let them see me toss it to the back of the crate (a small crate).. then I keep holding them until they are scrambling to get in and get those treats.. before you know it, puppy is racing into the crate and turning around to wait for her cookies!! I'm sorry, how old is this puppy and what is his history and crate experience..also describe his attitude and demeanor at other times whent he crate is not in the picture...