Help With Housè Training 9 Month Olď Puppy

[gorilla_woman85]

We have got a west highland terrier *** from a breeder 8 weeks old. She was trained on newspapèr then we went to crate training. Since we have started crate training she still pees in her bed even though we take her out every half hour or when we saw her circling to squat. We have even removed all bedding and baskets from crate and she will still use it as a toilet. She has a lovely temperament and is very affectionate. We have had no toilet issues in any other part of the house other the kitchen where her crate is for several months. She is a well behaved dog in the sitting room and car when she goes out with no toilet accidents.Any help/advice would be very much appreciated

[pixie373]

Have you given the crate a good spray to destroy any previous smells? It may also be worth moving it, if you can, to try to reduce the association.

[RATTER15]

You say you are "taking her out" you mean letting into the garden or taking her for a walk. I think if you were to take her for regular walks until she pee's and then go over the top with praising her and showing lots of excitement. Dont go home until she has peed. Do not punish her peeing indoors but loads of excited praise when she does pee outdoors, maybe some doggy treats as well.

[gorilla_woman85]

When I say 'take her out' it is on a lead I never just let her go into the garden for a toilet on her own as I wish to praise her when I see her go. She is walked several times a day for an hour or so and will go 99% of the time will toilet and still go when home. I have cleaned the crate with sprays recommended by the vets every time I see that she has gone. I will however see if we could move the crafe somewhere else.

[woofgang]

oh dear. So you have taught her its okay to go in the house on newspaper and its ok to go in her crate and now you don't want her to? Why do you want her to be in a crate?

[gorilla_woman85]

She was newspaper trained by the breeder not us, did what the vet told us which was to move the paper closer to the door until she was able to go outside after her second set of vaccines, when that didn't work we where advised to crate train her, which was also recommend by a dog behaviourist and vet so we took there advise. Which hasn't worked as we expected it to. I started the thread to ask kindly for advise not to be got at, which is what people seem to want to do I have done what I have with our dog under professional advice and it seems not to have worked

[woofgang]

so why do you want her in a crate? I am not saying that she shouldn't be just asking why?

[hc4361]

Unless she specifically needs to be crated, it seems obvious that the crate should be dispensed with and her bed moved to another room, preferably a new bed so there are no lingering urine smells.

[gorilla_woman85]

I have been crating her under professional advice to try and break the toilet habits in the kitchen, i have this afternoon gone out and bought a new bed and am clearing space to remove her from the area she frequently reuses for toilet indoors. If i had known it wouldn't have worked i would have given something else a try sooner but when you have got professional advice i thought that was what we should do, it is our first dog and i feel we are letting her down and need some guidance but seeing as a behaviourists and vets advice hasn't worked i was looking for other peoples help if possible. Many thanks

[woofgang]

Sorry you have had a TON of duff advice from everyone including the vet. If it was me I would be starting again from the beginning. Get rid of the crate, get rid of any paper and have the dog to sleep in your bedroom at night. Settle her to sleep in a box or a brand new bed. keep he out of the kitchen unless you are there to keep 100% eye on her. Carry on with the out every half hour, on waking, before and after feeding. If she is in your secure garden then no lead is needed but keep her under close observation. If she stirs at night then get up and take her out. Your whole objective is that she will have no chance to make a mistake and mess in the house. If she does that is your fault because you are managing her continence :) . Clean up any accidents calmly and without comment, they were your fault remember!! Watch her carefully and learn what she does BEFORE she squats and get her outside at that point. Loads of praise and fuss after she had been outside. If she really has learned that the crate is the place to go, you might try putting the crate out in the garden with the door fastened open or removed to help her to re learn the right place to go.

Seriously, I know you didn't mean it but what you have done is taught the dog that the right place to go is in the crate or in the kitchen. :(

[jakep]

'Several times a day for an hour or so' is too much walking for a nine month old dog.

[maggie01]

I hate crates. But my dog is 10 months old and loves hers. It was supposed to be temporary but she only goes in it at night. I was advised to take paper out. Well they were pee pads and just leave her bedding. Dogs rarely soil heir bedding. It worked for mine. Maybe yours doesn't think if it as a bed if it's not cosy. I also part cover the crate at night. Good luck. I m sure she will get

[maggie01]

I have a shih Tzu. Not the easiest to get clean