Crate training and housebreaking ???

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Crate training and housebreaking ???

Posted : 4/20/2007 11:57:05 PM

Hello all!
I have a new mini Dachshound puppy, Willie, who is about 12 weeks old right now. I am have trouble with him in his crate training. He can go all night and not wake up to eliminate. I put his bed and a blaket in with him to help him keep warm at night (He also sleeps in the same room with me)But when I leave during the day he always eliminates in his crate. I have tried leaving his blankets in and taking them out. I have even tried putting a small amount of the poddy pad in with him but he just keeps making a mess. It does not matter how long I am gone, if it is during the day he pees! I am beginning to feel that he is doing it because he is angry at me.

I am also having a problem because the breeder paper trained him. He won't eliminate outside. I have been able to give him a command and he will pee but he won't poo! I am worried since I live with my parents right now(my house burned down) and they let their yorkies eliminate wherever and don't clean it up that it is causing a problem with me housebreaking him even though he only goes on the paper. We move back into our house in 2 months and I don't want this to be a continuing issue. Please help! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have crate trained and house broken my Rat Terrier and a Lab with no problems but now I don't know what to do.

Thank you,
Karmin

glenmar

Posted : 4/21/2007 6:25:11 AM

The general rule of thumb is that a pup can hold it for one hour for each month of age, plus one hour, during the waking hours. They are able to hold it longer at night. I have personally found that the larger the breed the more true this rule is, the smaller the breed, the less accurate. So, bottom line is that your pup is too young to be expected to hold it all day.

Since he is already paper trained, try adding an exercise pen to his area during the day. I do that when I foster a liter and it works great. They quickly learn that the only place INSIDE to potty is on that paper in the pen. And I think rather than work against that, I'd continue to reinforce since you are living in a less than desireable situation right now. I'd rather have a pup poop on paper than all over the house like the others are doing. Yikes. That's gross.

Chuffy

Posted : 4/21/2007 6:49:35 AM

I second Glenda.... and really rack up the reward when he does ANYTHING outside - the best ever treat (which he only gets at toilet time) and don't just praise him - throw a freaking party!