Crate question

[Guest Anonymous]

I am finding out a little of the bully stubborness. Now we have a schedule that we like to keep but Drey apparently doesnt like it, for the last two days he has poo'd in the crate. I take him out in the morning before i go to work my girl lets him out in the afternoon around 2pm and then i get off of work at 5pm so he is not crated until bed time unless he just goes in there. now for the last two mornings he has poo'd through the night and that is with out before bed. He pood the first night right away, the second night we stayed outside for literally an hour with nothing and he still poo'd throught the night. and i just got a call from her and he poo'd today during the morning and i walked him before i left. Could this be medical? His poo is pretty very soft and and she said that it was like diarreha(sp?)like. I think i will take him to the vet just in case. We need to get on flea and tick preventive stuff anyway.

[Mary's Mama]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. When Mary was little she did not like the crate at all. She would get so upset that she would poo out of stress. Could it be stress? As soon as we stopped putting her in the crate and put her in the kitchen, gated, she stopped having accidents altogether. Stress can cause the diarrhea too. Just a thought. If he goes in the crate willingly and doesn't seem to mind, then I am probably wrong.

Good luck, I have a hard time crate training. Haven't been successful yet. Hoping that changes with Stewart.

[Guest Anonymous]

I really really want to crate train, he is so good in the crate but he just craps and i am SICK OF GIVING BATHS!!!!!!

[gooeydog]

Is he on scheduled feedings? If not, then that might help (you could always go back to free feeding after he had better control if you wanted). Also, I wouldn't stand outside with him for an hour if he won't go, as this may lead to him "playing" you in an effort to be allowed outside longer.... he'll think "if I go quick, they take me right back in, but if I hang around and wait a while, we just stay out here". Take him out to his "area", wait 5 mins or so, and take him back in. If he "produced", he gets to play outside for a few minutes before going in (or if he wants to go in, go ahead and let him in), then you don't have to worry for a while. If not, then take him in, watch him, and take him back out again in 15-30 mins. Same as the last trip. Maybe you could have someone come and take him out once or twice while you're gone?

[DogPaddle]

Great suggestions Goo!
Aside from a feeding shedule that has a last feeding 3 or so hrs before bed, water 2hrs before bed or so, and the 5min bathroom break with play afterwards only for "producing" you might look into the following:
1. The crate size is important, especially to start with. The crate should only be large enough to do any one of the following at a time - stand or sit or lie down or turn around. Any larger and puppy may think - Hey there's enough room for me to go and then I can lie over here. Section the crate off with plywood, chicken wire (or higher gage mesh if nec) etc. if it is too large for now.
2. Questions: What is the surface Drey normally goes on like? Does he have a blanket or mat in his crate? Do you do crate training throughout the day?
3. I have read of a method but have not tried it, this method was on the internet and there were no references but if you were desperate you could comtemplate attempting it. Put plastic or newspaper down under the crate, if the dog messes the crate do not remove him immediatley. This training is best done when you are home and awake. The idea is if the dogs mess his crate and you take care of it right away he is awarded with attention and getting out of the crate, even if its to get a bath :roll: . Don't leave the dog in the crate for anymore than an hour with its mess (I think less would be fine myself, dogs usually don't like being in close proximity to the refuse), then take it out of the crate and put him on a lead outside while you clean the crate, again he is not rewarded for his mess immediatly, then take him in, clean him up if nec and place back in the crate for 5 min then release. :niewiem: I can see the logic behind the method but it might be hard to stomache in more ways than one.
Good Luck - crate training is [i]usually[/i] worth the effort. :D

[Guest Anonymous]

Okay i thought that his crate was small enough but i tought i had beter take a look just in case. He has masive room in there, so i took a box that cut the space about in half this morning and i guess we will know tonight if tat was factor, i guess if i have a bath to give tonight we will have to look into some other options. but i would think that with him going immediately before i leave he would be okay. I read that for eery month old they are they can hold it for that many hours, with some limits. But at 4 months he should be able to make it to lunch time when my girl gets home.

[DogPaddle]

The general rule for crating (and therefore being able to hold it as well) is one hour per month, never exceeding 8-10 hours (I personally wouldn't want to exceed 9 ever unless it was just overnight and the dog wasn't crated alot during the day as well but everyone has to work and people know their dogs best.) Most puppies can make it "overnight" starting anywhere from 2-6 months, although the puppy's definition of morning may differ from yours quite a bit (ahck - I hope never to see another 5am again!)
Oh one other thing - you may have shredded cardboard in the morning, depends on the dog. If you can a more durable material may be better but I think my friend, who has a Czech GSD, used cardboard.

[Rosebud]

:D I crate trained my RR's and they love it. I had the same problem with them during the night only add howling to it. The area they are allowed to have should be just enough for them to be comfortable, they must earn the rest through good behavior. I did not allow my babies full run of the house until they started respecting it, ie. no poop/pee, no tearing up things, etc. I solved the crate issue by getting in the crate with them and laying down to sleep (5-15 min), they got the idea the crate was a den not a bathroom and quit pooping/peeing in it on their own. And cardboard is a favorite of my girl to shread, next to plastic bags (bunnies). The positive reinforcement to going on lead is great, too. It works with off-lead recalls as well. When I'm at the lake I will interrupt play several times and call my RR's to me just to pet them. When it's time to go they don't know if they're going to get some attention from me or have to quit playing and go. Good luck with the crate training, it may take some time but will be well worth it in the long run. :angel: