Chuffy
Posted : 3/14/2007 9:19:42 AM
Has she had a vet check to rule out an underlying medical condition (liek a UTI)?
When you first trained her to the crate what size was it? A too-big crate can often be the root cause of this problem - the pup pees one end and sleeps the other rather than learning to hold it and thus overcomes the compunction against eliminating on or near their bed. How often/how long was she left in there? It doesn't take many times of being "forced" to soil the bed/crate to overcome the dog's natural inhibition against it.
Puppies learn to eliminate in connection with a substrate. When they get used to "going" on a certain surface or in a certain place, they will strive to get to that place or hange on until they get there to eliminate. Also, simply
being in that spot is enough to stimulate them to need to go (even if they have been recently). So if you are vigilant and take the dog out to the garden very frequently, particularly when they need to "go", the garden becomes that spot for them. If you've slipped up and allowed accidents to happen in the crate, then the crate becomes that spot. That might be what has happened here?
Assuming this is the problem, changing the bedding to a completely different substance may help - have you tried that? Or taking the bedding away completely - she may be a lot less happy about lying in it if there is no bedding to absorb it. What are you using to wash the bedding - is it enzymatic (biological)? If not, no matter how thoroughly you wash it she will still be able to smell traces of her waste on it which would encourage her to keep using it as a toilet.
Is she fed in the crate? I had this problem once and solved it by feeding in the crate, leaving water (non spill bowl) in there and leaving those bowls down all the time. It worked - presumably he had no compunctions about soiling his bed but he still didn't feel comfortable toileting near his food and water bowls. Perhaps you could give this a try.
If it is the CRATE that is stimulating her to "go" (not the
bedding) could you gate a small area (like a cupboard) to use in the same way as the crate and start over, ensuring she is never left in there too long and always "goes" before and after confinement?
I suggest upping the ante reward-wise for good pottying. What does she get at the moment for toileting in the right place? Make it as high value as possible and increase its value further by saving this treat for outdoor pottying only.
ETA: I don't understand this bit?
She knows when she goes in her crate because for a split second she acts upset but then she gives me the "You know you love me mommy" look!! and she is happy go lucky from then on!!
It sounds as if she is scolded for toileting in the crate - have I misread that? Just in case: No dog should be scolded for incorrect toileting, ever - not even if you catch them in the act and even less so after the fact. It also sounds like you are perceiving her appeasement behaviours as "she knows she has done wrong" which is a common error..... she is only appeasing you because she picks up on the fact that you are cross, upset or frustrated, not because she "knows what she has done". Put her away somewhere quietly while you clean up to prevent/minimise this... also I have heard that it is somehow rewarding for dogs when they see owners handling their waste although I don;t know how accurate this is (??)