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My Puppy keeps messing in his crate at night
14 Answers
Hi,
I am after some help. I have a German Shepherd Puppy called Jake that is just comming up to 10 weeks old, which we purchased from a very respected breeder. Jake is a fantastic pup, very playfull and full of beans however I can't get him to stop messing in his crate overnight.
I am an experienced Greman Shepherd Owner and have had several in the past, including pup's that I have puppy walked for the police and have never experienced this problem.
The cage is the right size for him so when he does mess he simply lies in it!
I have tried everything, to setting our alarm every two hours to let him out (much to the other halfs anoyance) to using a baby moniter so that we can hear if he wants to go out, with no results:
When I come down to let him out, he just looks at me as if i'm stupid goes outside, might have a wee then trots back to bed, where an hour or so later he messes without asking to go out?
When he messes I pick him up tell him off and put him outside where he again looks at me as if to say ' come on dad come out a play'!
It was advised to give him his last meal just before he goes to bed which we did, however this had no results either.
Jakes mess can be slightly loose at times, however he is not ill, and genrally get on well with his food
So my question to you is what now? what can I do to stop this disgusting habit Jake has got, without resorting to a large cork and duck tape?
By the way we feed him 3 times a day (recommended dose etc) on Beta puppy large breed as this is what I have used on all my puppies.
I am after some help. I have a German Shepherd Puppy called Jake that is just comming up to 10 weeks old, which we purchased from a very respected breeder. Jake is a fantastic pup, very playfull and full of beans however I can't get him to stop messing in his crate overnight.
I am an experienced Greman Shepherd Owner and have had several in the past, including pup's that I have puppy walked for the police and have never experienced this problem.
The cage is the right size for him so when he does mess he simply lies in it!
I have tried everything, to setting our alarm every two hours to let him out (much to the other halfs anoyance) to using a baby moniter so that we can hear if he wants to go out, with no results:
When I come down to let him out, he just looks at me as if i'm stupid goes outside, might have a wee then trots back to bed, where an hour or so later he messes without asking to go out?
When he messes I pick him up tell him off and put him outside where he again looks at me as if to say ' come on dad come out a play'!
It was advised to give him his last meal just before he goes to bed which we did, however this had no results either.
Jakes mess can be slightly loose at times, however he is not ill, and genrally get on well with his food
So my question to you is what now? what can I do to stop this disgusting habit Jake has got, without resorting to a large cork and duck tape?
By the way we feed him 3 times a day (recommended dose etc) on Beta puppy large breed as this is what I have used on all my puppies.
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Difficult! Once the taboo against soiling the bed has been broken you are kind of stuck.
I am assuming that the vet has checked him over and he has no physical probs?
I am sure that you know that dogs may not have the neurological wherewithall to be properly houstrained until they are around six months old, until then we are actually managing their continence for them!
I do have some suggestions which I hope might help. First thoroughly clean the cage and the bedding to get rid of any lingering smell. If you can then put it somewhere else and clean the floor where it was. Now comes the hard bit, its called "no error" training and you will LOVE it (not)
Jake has to learn to "go" somwhere else...so for 48 hours, minimum the dog never leaves your side. You can either stay awake (easier if there is more than one of you lol) or the dog sleeps next to where you sleep BUT you have to be a light sleeper. Confine him or have him on a lead but makes sure that whatever you do you can get him outside fast but calmly. Everytime he wakes, you go outside and wait until he goes and he will go...don't talk to him., play with him, anything, just keep him outside till he goes (good job its summer!!) don't let him go anywhere else but outside. You might want to "scent" an area ouside with a little of his poo but don't overdo it, some dogs are fastidious.
When he finally performs in the right place, let him finish and them praise him really well give him food treats, cuddles, whatever but make sure he understands that that performance has hit the reward jackpot....and keep doing it.
I am assuming that the vet has checked him over and he has no physical probs?
I am sure that you know that dogs may not have the neurological wherewithall to be properly houstrained until they are around six months old, until then we are actually managing their continence for them!
I do have some suggestions which I hope might help. First thoroughly clean the cage and the bedding to get rid of any lingering smell. If you can then put it somewhere else and clean the floor where it was. Now comes the hard bit, its called "no error" training and you will LOVE it (not)
Jake has to learn to "go" somwhere else...so for 48 hours, minimum the dog never leaves your side. You can either stay awake (easier if there is more than one of you lol) or the dog sleeps next to where you sleep BUT you have to be a light sleeper. Confine him or have him on a lead but makes sure that whatever you do you can get him outside fast but calmly. Everytime he wakes, you go outside and wait until he goes and he will go...don't talk to him., play with him, anything, just keep him outside till he goes (good job its summer!!) don't let him go anywhere else but outside. You might want to "scent" an area ouside with a little of his poo but don't overdo it, some dogs are fastidious.
When he finally performs in the right place, let him finish and them praise him really well give him food treats, cuddles, whatever but make sure he understands that that performance has hit the reward jackpot....and keep doing it.
Part two...I exceeded post length
I didn't know what I was doing, but we have always "no error" trained our dogs over the last 20 years. We are now on puppies 4 and 5. These have been a bit slower to catch on than the rest because the breeder had paper trained them so they had to unlearn that first...still they were clean immediately and dry within 4 weeks provided we adhered to the schedule (out on waking, out after food, out before going in car, out on return home out after or during excited play and by default every 30 mins during the day. During the night, out EVERY time they wake.
Its not as bad as it sounds as they very quickly sleep through on this regime. The first few nights are lively, after that it settles down.
and good luck....this DOES work!
I didn't know what I was doing, but we have always "no error" trained our dogs over the last 20 years. We are now on puppies 4 and 5. These have been a bit slower to catch on than the rest because the breeder had paper trained them so they had to unlearn that first...still they were clean immediately and dry within 4 weeks provided we adhered to the schedule (out on waking, out after food, out before going in car, out on return home out after or during excited play and by default every 30 mins during the day. During the night, out EVERY time they wake.
Its not as bad as it sounds as they very quickly sleep through on this regime. The first few nights are lively, after that it settles down.
and good luck....this DOES work!
Eyebrows! Firstly i think you are a wind up merchant to get a reaction!!! Secondly i do not discriminate!! Third and last point - why post something like that on this site when powell1832 asked a genuine question and got a very good answer from a knowledgeable person. It was in bad taste!!
I very much doubt you own a dog (god forbid if you do!) - is there nothing else you can do with your time???
Have a nice evening. :o)
I very much doubt you own a dog (god forbid if you do!) - is there nothing else you can do with your time???
Have a nice evening. :o)
*Back on Topic*
he may have too much food in his system when he goes to bed. Try feeding him an hour earlier until the problem stops. I do not feed my dog after 7 pm, I limit the water after 10 pm, I go to bed about 12:30 am and he does fine. Make certain he has ample time to void & deficate before bed pups are notorious for going outdoors and wanting to play, make certain he walks enough to do all his elimination.
he may have too much food in his system when he goes to bed. Try feeding him an hour earlier until the problem stops. I do not feed my dog after 7 pm, I limit the water after 10 pm, I go to bed about 12:30 am and he does fine. Make certain he has ample time to void & deficate before bed pups are notorious for going outdoors and wanting to play, make certain he walks enough to do all his elimination.
OK thanks for your replys, that is apart from the 10 year old on the site who I think must be going through a bad pathch at school!
I have a few sleepless nights ahead of me, I will was all his bedding now and go from there. I have spoken to the vet and there is nothing wrong with him in that respect, he is a dog with a strong mind set so I hope he breaks befor I do! I will update you with how well it goes.
I have a few sleepless nights ahead of me, I will was all his bedding now and go from there. I have spoken to the vet and there is nothing wrong with him in that respect, he is a dog with a strong mind set so I hope he breaks befor I do! I will update you with how well it goes.
You say that the crate is the right size? try restricting the room he has a bit more, just so long as he has enough room to stand and turn around, and perhaps you could try to cover the crate, it may make him settle better, the trouble as you must know, each time you come down to him the more he will do it, a difficult one, I have kept GSD's for over 35 years and have only used a crate with the youngest, fortunately she was good, have you tried him out of the crate? might be worth a try.
I have never crate trained a puppy, and it has never taken more than two weeks to train one to be 'dry' day and night. Basically, I take puppies out after food, when waking up, every hour in between, and when they are sniffing 'with intent'. When I take a puppy outside, I use a word I am comfortable with like 'wee wee', if puppy has an accident, as long as I can catch him 'in the act', even if they have finished I still take them outside so they associate where they should 'do it'.
If his poo is slightly loose it may not be suiting him, and it could be part of the problem, I would suggest a better quality food, with a gradual changover.
If his poo is slightly loose it may not be suiting him, and it could be part of the problem, I would suggest a better quality food, with a gradual changover.
My current two are the first that I have had a crate in the house for and I don't know why I haven't always done it. I DON'T use it for toilet training....as I said, I do no error...same as Jules77. but it has been a boon when they were smaller and I couldn't keep an eye on them....everyone needs the loo sometimes lol or had to get the vaccum cleaner out when they were at the chew everything stage....last thing i needed was an electrocuted puppy
Contrary to pupular belief, although it is magnificently comfortable and they are happy to go in there when asked, they don't view it as their den. They do wander in and out but never sleep in there, preferring the floor or a settee.
Once the chewing stage is over, we will get them a proper bed....I wonder if they will use it!!
and of course they travel in a crate in the car
Contrary to pupular belief, although it is magnificently comfortable and they are happy to go in there when asked, they don't view it as their den. They do wander in and out but never sleep in there, preferring the floor or a settee.
Once the chewing stage is over, we will get them a proper bed....I wonder if they will use it!!
and of course they travel in a crate in the car
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