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I just got a wirehaired mini dachshund on Monday (two days ago) and we have her sleeping in her kennel at night, but there's a problem - every morning when I get up and take her out, she has pooped. I was told that they don't go where they sleep, and I have been exercising her about an hour before bedtime and I stop feeding her about two hours before. This is what we did with our German Shepherd and we didn't have any problems there. Please tell me that there's something I can do because I don't have time to give her a bath every morning AND get ready and off to work.

2006-08-23 04:55:57 · 12 answers · asked by Kris B 5 in Pets Dogs

Well, the kennel is the right size for her per recommendations on the packaging. My fiance works late at night so he stays up with her until about one or two and I get up with her between six-thirty and seven. I don't think it would be a good idea for me to shower with her though - she so tiny and I'm a klutz - one of us would end up with a broken neck.

2006-08-23 05:09:02 · update #1

12 answers

Well, the bad news is...Doxies are notorious for being difficult to house train. I have been in the shelter/rescue business for years and this breed, along with the Bischon are the ones I get the most housebreaking questions about. The key here is CONSISTENCY in your training. Once you have figured out what works, never vary the routine.
If your puppy was crate/house/paper trained when you got her then find out the details and start there. In a large crate you can put papers down in half of it and blankets on the other. Reduce the amount of paper over the period of a couple weeks thus reducing the designated space for pottying; eventually eliminating it. (more on the crate in a minute). Make sure she has one or two toys, good for chewing, in the crate with her. This will help keep her occupied. Do not put food or water in her crate either.
Even as puppies the small breeds have a more difficult time holding their bladder and bowels than do larger breeds of the same age. Don't despair, there is a way!
First, understand that puppies can "hold it" for one hour per month of age, plus one. Example: a two month old puppy can be expected to hold it for three hours.
You can adjust the feeding schedule so that the bladder and bowels are emptied before bedtime. But be sure the pup is getting enough nutrition and water.
Section off the crate so the pup has only enough room to stand up, turn around and lie down again. This does not allow enough space to eliminate without having to lie in it. (oh, but I forgot, puppies seem to think it's a great thing to be covered in their own mess...ick.)
Have you been able to determine when the pup has his accident? Is soon after being kenneled or closer to time to get up? This will help you to know that he either needs to be walked one more time before bed, or needs to get up and out earlier.
When you take him out to eliminate, put him on a leash and take him to the exact same place every time. As soon as he potties you will want to 'name the behavior'. Say "oh good dog, potty outside". Use your high-pitched happy voice and he will understand that you are pleased with what he is doing. (Here is where you have to learn a specific balance; too much praise will distract him from completing the job at hand and not enough will leave a gap in his education.) You are also tagging important things such as "outside" and "potty". This is how people get their pets to potty on command. If he knows the word 'outside' and understands what it means, then it makes everything that much easier. As soon as he completes his 'mission' reward him with praise and affection and a small treat if you wish. (I use bits of cat food or one cheerio when I'm housebreaking rescue dogs. It works for puppies and adults alike.)
Kudos to you for exercising him daily. Make sure you keep up with the walks. I have found that most of the irritating behavior problems people have with their pets could be completely avoided if they would only walk their dogs 1-2 times per day for 20-45 minutes. You mini dox won't require (or tolerate) terribly long walks but she still needs them. Hey, those walks don't hurt us owners either. They are great way to get the blood flowing in the morning or release the tension after a long day at work.
Hang in there. Be consistent, firm, patient and calm and you will have her trained before you know it. She is still a baby and will require lots of extra time until she grows up a little more. I'm sorry the people that sold or adopted the puppy to you didn't prepare you a little better.
You should seriously consider signing up for some basic puppy obedience classes at your local Petsmart store. They have an excellent program. It gives the pup a chance to be socialized with other pets and people which is important. Also...LISTEN to what the trainer is telling you. They are teaching you how to train your puppy, they cannot train her for you. PRACTICE what you learn in class for a few minutes once or twice a day so she really learns it and can show off how smart the two of you are in the next class session. (in my opinion, 80-90% of dogs that end up in the shelters-only to eventually be euthanized-would never have been brought in if their owners had invested in even a minimum amount of positive-reinforcement obedience training!)
Puppies, like babies require a lot of time and attention. She will reward you with her lifetime of unconditional love which is priceless. But--they have to understand what the boundries are and what you expect of them. You are the one that has to teach them these things in order for this relationship (which can last 12-15 years!) to work out successfully. Best of luck to you. (and thanks for putting up with this long-winded response!)

2006-08-23 05:46:22 · answer #1 · answered by wibbsite 3 · 2 0

Being a puppy the metabolism is higher than a grown dog. I would increase the time element and see if that helps. Stop feeding the puppy about three hours before bedtime and take her out for about 90 minutes if you have the time. You have to find the right combination. Most dogs want to go within an hour of eating but if she is really curious and active she might not be ready when you take her out. I would never go to sleep before I had taken her out and actually see her poop! Also, she will poop whereever she smells her last deposit. Clean out the kennel well with bleach and then put in fresh bedding. Good luck!!!

2006-08-23 05:06:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Two reason why she is pooping in her kennel - #1 The kennel is too large for her, and #2 you are still feeding her too close to bedtime.

Try a smaller kennel or add more blankets to make it seem smaller - you can add some stuffed animals, pillows, etc to give her less space.

It is different for every dog on how long to make them go w/o food before bedtime. Continue to move the time up by 30 minutes until you have found a time that works. I take my dog's food and water away at 6 p.m. every night. I also make sure that she does her business outside before we go to bed - otherwise - I wake up to a mess!

Good Luck!

2006-08-23 05:05:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Consider taking her food away like 4 hours before bedtime. Also, consider getting up once at night for just a few days or so until she gets her BODY on a schedule. Kennel training works. The smaller the dog, the harder the training. It may take weeks, even months. Be sure you use a word or two like "HURRY UP" at the place you DO want her to poo. Then if she goes in her crate, tell her firmly NO HURRY UP in the kennel!" Be SURE to clean the crate with white vinegar and water to destroy odors, never anything with ammonia. Good luck mom!

2006-08-23 05:34:49 · answer #4 · answered by WriterMom 6 · 0 0

we had the same problem with our puggle for a little while. Is the kennel large (for the dog)? maybe it feels like it has the room to poop AND sleep in the same area. a smaller kennel might help. Or it might just be a waiting game. Our puppy pooped in her kennel several times during the night before it stopped completely. Patience may be the only thing.

You could shower and wash up the dog quick at the same time. Our puggle LOVES showers.

2006-08-23 05:04:51 · answer #5 · answered by echo7 2 · 0 0

the problem is that she is a puppy and she doesnt have a set routine for her bowel movements. As she gets older she will hold it until she can go outside but right now she is little and cannot. Our dog waits until we take him outside in the morning to go to the toilet. Puppies do go to the toilet where they sleep cos they cant hold it like older dogs, also they dont know its wrong just yet. Try buying Wee Wee Pads (Training pads) and place it away from the kennel.

2006-08-23 05:09:27 · answer #6 · answered by nicole 3 · 0 0

Is the kennel too large for the dog. Maybe if you gave her less space, she wouldn't poop in the kennel. Could you take her out in the middle of the night until she adjusts?

2006-08-23 05:04:31 · answer #7 · answered by bf1025 2 · 0 0

Well considering she is just a puppy, there may not be much you can do at the moment. Just like an infant, the puppy will grow out of this stage. You can wake up and take the puppy out in the middle of your night, but other than that, not much. House or cage training for puppies doesn't usually take too tong, but it does take patience and persistence. Good luck.

2006-08-23 05:05:42 · answer #8 · answered by mixemup 6 · 0 0

Dogs usually won't go in their sleep areas. She might be in the crate to long. You might want to put her food away 3-4 hours before you put her to bed. Do you make sure she goes potty before you put her to bed? She is also a lot smaller than a German Shepard with a smaller bladder, and smaller bowls.

2006-08-23 05:09:26 · answer #9 · answered by duh 3 · 0 0

Perhaps try getting up a bit earlier?(If it's recent -happened -an hour- earlier- poo)
otherwise, you might want to let the dog sleep in a larger space with some newspapers down, so he can avoid the mess!

2006-08-23 05:03:44 · answer #10 · answered by rachprime 3 · 0 0

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