Crating Issues While At Work
Oppy is just over a year old but is still not quite trustworthy enough to be left out in the apartment while we're at work. He's always been pretty good about not peeing or pooping in his crate but the last couple of weeks he's been horrible about it. He's not pooping outside when we get home which leads us to believe he's doing it in his crate and eating it. We're not around during the day so we can't scold him or correct the behavior. The only thing we can think of is putting the divider back into his crate so he has less room. Does anyone else have any ideas of how we might be able to correct this behavior? I'm hoping it's just his "teenage years" and it's something he'll outgrow, cause we can't have him making a mess every day.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alice on
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First you would have to make sure he is actually pooping in his crate. Have you found any evidence of him pottying in the crate? When was the last time you actually saw that he'd gone in there? It won't help to start over with potty training if this isn't even the issue. Has he eaten anything that may have caused an obstruction? That could keep him from going to the bathroom. Is he eating normally?
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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How long is he left alone in his crate and does he get a long walk before (minimum 20 to 30 min)? If he is crated 8 to 9 hours you may be expecting too much unless he is vigorously walked before you leave. I have heard feeding some crushed pineapple in the food will make the bm's pretty unappetizing but it would be better if you were sure he was doing it. I think generally 4 to 6 hours for a young dog is plenty. Is there a doggie day care he could go to once or twice a week or someone that can let him out mid day? their needs can vary some, Sparty will easily go all day where as Izzy really is pushing it if she goes longer than 6.
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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on
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I would start by putting a white sheet or towel in the crate, even if he eats the poop, it might make some mark, so you can be sure he's actually pooping in there - sometimes if you're feeing a good food, there's not as much waste.
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Permalink Reply by Matt & Hilliary on
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Sorry, I should have been more specific. We have found poop marks on his blanket and it smells like urine. He's normally left alone for about 6.5-7 hours. I wouldn't be so worried if he just couldn't hold it that long, but he's shown us for quite a while now that he is capable of doing it, it's just the past couple weeks that he's started relieving himself again. We put the divider in his crate today, here's to hoping I don't have to give him a bath when I get home.
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Are you leaving food or water in the crate with him?
We live in an apt and we both work 8am-5pm. My husband takes him out before work then I come home during my lunch break at 12pm and take him out, then I take him out again when I get home at about 5:10pm and my husband takes him out between 9pm & 10pm. He poops in the morning and after work but not at lunch or before bed (so every other time). He pees every time though and I have to let him pee at least 3 times to be sure he is empty. Finn does not get food or water in his crate. He eats before work and after work. He's a year and a half old and we now leave him uncrated once in a while and he still does not have accidents. We go 4-6 hour between potty breaks (other than during the night) but I know he can hold it longer. I think he's had to wait 7 hours before.
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His normals schedule is like this: Take him out for poop/pee about 8am, breakfast right after. I leave for work at 8:40 and he's in his crate with no food or water until about 3:30-3:45 when Hilliary gets home where she immediately takes him out to poop and pee. He'll then get to go out to pee sometime between 7-9ish then one last time to poop and pee at midnight before I go to bed.
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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That sounds about right, keep up the good work! Relapse do happen between 1 & 2, Oppy will get there :)
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Update: Yesterday we put the divider back in the crate and he had no messes. Should find out in about half an hour if he had another good day.
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