A little worried about the crate method...

[Annie8575]

I have a seven month old mini who is starting to get the idea of housebreaking, but cannot be left alone. We have a small carrier and a large crate for her. She sleeps in the carrier, but I was afraid she would be cramped during the day if I left her in it while I was at work, so we got the big crate. She goes potty in her crate, but never, never, never in her carrier. Is it okay to leave her in the carrier all day? I worry about her hips. Also, does anyone know anything about doxies wetting the carpet for attention? Thanks!

[Scott in Ottawa]

I am having potty training problems as well. We have had 9 week old Finnigan for a week, during which time he has been great about going outside. He does not know to go to the door yet, but he does know that grass means pee/poop. The problem is when we leave him. For whatever reason he pees in his crate! He will poop on the newspaper/puppy pad provided, but has no problem peeing in his bed. Today I removed the crate and put a blanket down, he pee'd on the blanket. Not sure what to do now. Lock him in his crate? Up to now we have been confining him in a room with his crate door open.

[smalldox]

I am ALSO having problums housebreaking my puppy. She is 12 weeks old and almost had it, when my sis let her roam in the house unsupervised for 2 hours while i was away. Naturaly, she had mistakes. Now my mom is threating to send her away for somone else to house break! Does anybody have a method that works?

[Sherri]

I am no expert, but from what I understand, if the crate is too big for them they may go potty on the area they are not sleeping in. Normally a dog will not go where he sleeps. The crate only needs to be big enough to turn around in. My dog finally began to "get" the potty-training after I stopped leaving him in the breezeway and began locking him in the crate all day. It becomes a safe place for them and it is not mean.

[shelley]

Keeping them in the crate all day may be the problem. I have trained several but I only keep them in a crate at night and then my first goal in the morning is to get them outside. It may take a while but one day the lightbulb flashes and they won't consider the house for a bathroom

[Cindi]

There is no way a 12 week old puppy, and sometimes all the way up till 6 months old, can be expected to 'hold it' for longer than 3 hours at a time. They are just CHILDREN. Crating, after 20 years experience with these darlings, is the best way to train but you might have to play with it. If your crate is huge, paper 1/2 and put bedding in the other half. Eventually they will get the message but allowing them to make the mistake in the house will only delay your progress. The smaller the crate the better UNLESS you are planning on leaving them in there for longer than 2-3 hours when they are very young. 6 month old puppies should be able to hold it for 4-6 hours but since they are still on twice a day feedings (and if you leave them water in their crate) don't expect it always to work. Some babies learn faster, some babies are slower. They are each individuals. And by the way, sending them away for housetraining will work in that person's house but most likely they won't transfer that method to your (their own)house. AND, you really don't know how your dog was treated while they were away at 'housetraining camp'. Sending your dog away for training of any kind, IMHO, is the wrong way to go.

[jj9399]

I am thinking about getting a doxie (we always had one when I was at home) but am worried about the training. Crate training sounds like a good idea, but hubby and I work all day and would not be able to let the pup out every 2-3 hours. Any other suggestions?

[Cindi]

My suggestion would be, if you definitely are not going to be able to come home at lunch time, is to get an older dog. something older than 6 months. It isn't fair to get a 10-12 week old puppy and then leave it for up to 8 hours 5 days a week.
The older dog, although possibly not crate trained, will have better bladder control and will be better able to entertain itself in the crate for that long of a time. Leave him plenty of safe toys, get a crate that is big enough for him to have a potty area and play area, and possibly leave a radio or TV on so that he thinks someone is there.

[Heidi'sPerson]

We got Heidi when she was 6 weeks old (really young), and she was so tiny that by the time we realized she was peeing, she'd be done! It took a while to paper train her (which she and my parents love for the winter time), and she eventually got the idea that "outside" means potty time. She doesn't really go to the door, either - she just kind of follows my parents around until they realize she wants to go out. Also, when my dad makes her mad (like doesn't give her people food), she sometimes gets him back by having an "accident" (altho I guess in this case it would be an "on purpose"). Smart doggies!

Anyway, the work and frustration is definetely worth it to have these loyal, smart little dogs. Be patient! You just have to "out-stubborn" them.

[db1212]

I would say that originally I was unsure of crate training my 3 year old long haired male. But I set out to try it and it was the best thing I ever did. We never left him longer than about 4 hours until he was almost 9 months old and after that we have never had any problems. He even loves his crate (although part of that is because we always used to give him a treat for even going neat it as a puppy and never used it as punishment) In general, if you use the crate as a positive thing and don't leave them in it for too long, they won't mind it. If the crate is so big that they go in the crate, just but a box, or something else that will take up space, in the back of the crate so they do not have so much room. They won't go where they sleep, so it makes it a little easier.

I can't even remember the last time Otto had an accident in the house. It is at least a year if not longer (and that includes the occassional 10 hours away).

[DOODLE#5]

My Dachshund Barkley is 8 1/2 wks old and he is the most affectionate puppy. He has only been in the family for 4 1/2 days. We have not gotten much sleep, but he is getting better. He hates his crate, he actually bites the door. We usually put him in for bed around 10:30p.m. and he barks, crys and makes the saddest noise. The first two nights I came down stairs and slept w/ him on the couch and he slept pretty good. I don't want this to become habit because he seems pretty smart.

[Cindi]

I don't blame him. He was probably not mentally mature enough to WANT to sleep by himself. This is going to make some people upset at me but: when puppies are mentally mature enough to leave their littermates and mothers, they will be seeking places to sleep by themselves. Until that time, they are NOT ready to leave. Some puppies (and breeds) are ready to leave young, say 8 weeks, and some are not ready until 12-14 weeks (My wires usually do not leave until 11-12 weeks but some have left as early as 10) Standards seem to mature faster, too. It's a maturation thing and every puppy in a litter can be as different as puppies from different breeds are different. Let the puppy sleep in his crate next to your bed with your hand in the crate as much as possible. Try a heating pad and a lambskin 'puppy' for him to cuddle with...he may be getting slightly chilled (after all, he was used to sleeping in a pile or alongside another warm body). He will eventually grow out of this but it will take some work on your part. Also, during the day when he is napping, put him in his crate (with a treat if he wakes up) and make him aware that napping is OK in the crate. Immediately when he wakes up he should go outside but he should also be treated quietly and calmly so he doesn't think that as soon as he wakes up there should be lots of 'stuff' going on.
Hope this helps.

[WOTANSMUTTI]

I've trained 3 diff. types of dogs in the house. With Wotan, my dachsie, he had a crate to sleep in at night or when I needed to lock him in. The kitchen was babygaited and covered with wee-wee pads as his "day-care" when I was at work. Of course, you have to dachsie proof the lower part of that room! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

Basically,pups have to go out everytime there is a transition in their routine.Like:

1. Getting up
2. After eating
3. Before sleeping (or crating)
4. When hoomans get home
5. Last thing you do at night b/f bed and first thing you do b/f anything in morning!

I just resigned myself to get less sleep until Wotan was older. I would get to bed at 11:30P, wake up at 3-4AM if I heard noises, and then take Wo out when I got up at 5 or 6AM. Wotan never pooped in his crate except when he had a loose stool. It's important to put the cute puppy BACK to it's own bed and ignore the crying at first.Otherwise be resigned to have that little guy sleep with you!

Good Luck with the toilet training!
Smiles, Sonja

<font color="#00FFFF" font size="1">[This message has been edited by WOTANSMUTTI (edited June 25, 2000).]</font>

[Penny's Aunt]

Puppies that pee in their beds are usually ones that were in a cage most of the time & HAD to pee there, because there was no choice. They think it is the thing to do. You might consider using a tether instead, which is what I am doing (no room for crates, & the tether can be moved from room to room). I am using plastic-coated steel cable from the hardware store (light, strong, chew-proof) with clips at the ends. If you want instructions on how to make them, let me know. My pup has NEVER soiled her tether area.

You must take a puppy out every hour or so. Sometimes they won't do anything, but they need the chance. ALWAYS TAKE A COUPLE OF TASTY TREATS WITH YOU. As soon as they squat, give some quiet verbal praise; as soon as they are finished with peeing or pooping, have the treat ready. This means IMMEDIATELY. One treat & enthusiastic praise for each completed job. This will reinforce that they get a treat for doing their business outdoors.

The first few times especially, take some of the soiled paper from the house or crate with you & put it on the ground where you want him to go.

Do a little playing AFTER they are finished. Don't make the mistake of taking the pup right back into the house (unless it's the middle of the night). Puppies like to play & explore; if you take them right in, they may hold their urine so they can play or sniff around, then pee in the house.

Young puppies are not used to sleeping alone. I tether my pup beside my bed, with her blanket on top of a rubber mat. If she was lonely, all I had to do is drop my arm over the bed & touch her, & she calmed right down & went to sleep. She didn't need food or playing or cuddling... she just needed to know someone was near.

<font color="#00FFFF" font size="1">[This message has been edited by Penny's Aunt (edited June 26, 2000).]</font>

[Becky's Mom]

I know nothing about potty training because believe it or not Becky Ann was paper trained when we brought her home at about 10 weeks. But I always thought that crates were cruel until we went to Florida and wanted to make her as safe as possible in the car. We put lamb's wool in the bottom then her foamy dog bed at the back on top of that. (The bed is a small one used for kittens and the crate is small dog.) We then put her favorite toys in there. That was all it took. That is her space and she is very protective of it. When she feels threatened in new situations she runs to her cage. It has been so beneficial. She doesn't even mind if we shut the door as long as she has something to cuddle and chew on. I know this is not house breaking but it did get her used to her crate and she now loves it and so do we.

[Shay's mom]

If you would like to get a doxie, but do not have the time during the day at home to take the little pupper out, I have your answer....RESCUE, RESCUE, RESCUE!!! I just rescued the MOST BEAUTIFUL 2-year old long-hair red mini female about 3 months ago. Crate training is the only way to go for potty training. The crate MUST be small enough, yet big enough for the dog to lie comfortable in it. I crated Shay all day while I was at work (9-10 hrs) then took her out of the crate and outside the second I got home. They do eventually get the idea after about a month or so. I still leave her confined to the kitchen now with the door to her crate open and she holds it till I get there. 2nd important thing...SCHEDULE!!! Keep your pup on a schedule and they will know when to expect to go potty.PLEASE RESCUE IF YOU CAN. THERE ARE TOO MANY DOXIE'S THAT NEED GOOD HOMES! GO to
http://www.drwp.net/needhome.html