I have an 8 month old rot-husky mix. She is a shelter rescue we took in when she was 8 weeks old. At first she was perfect in her crate, then we had to kennel her at 3 months for a week when we went out of town. After that, she will go to the bathroom in her crate about once/twice a week.
At first we thought it was separation anxiety, so we've tried everything we read, the low-key hello/goodbye, getting a smaller crate, changing her food, taking her to the vet, monitoring/changing her feeding schedule, rewarding her when she goes outside.. nothing works. Sometimes we come home and her crate is clean, and sometimes not so clean. It doesnt happen on any particular day of the week, and she's great otherwise, she even rings a bell to go outside when we're home and has her own potty area outside that she uses regiliously.
We've had no other problems with her and she exhibits no other symptoms of separation anxiety. Please help! How can I get her to stop going in her crate??
2006-11-08 16:39:24 · 17 answers · asked by Corky 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
She goes in the crate because it doesn't bother her to lie in her accidents anymore due to that week you went away. Unfortunately, you've probably wrecked the whole crate thing now. You'll have to gate her into an area of the house and come home often during the first few days to make sure there are NO accidents in her area...then hopefully you'll have her retrained. When dogs stay in kennels they often lose their house training because they are locked up with their accidents. Next time, try a pet sitter, you'll have better luck, and your dog will be much happier!
2006-11-08 16:57:29 · answer #1 · answered by Redawg J 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know it is hard when you work all day and have a pet that you really love and no where for him to stay all day. I have the same problem. We have a toy poodle who is now 1 year and a half. What I have been able to do is when both my husband and I are at work, I will put him in the crate, but I will come home at lunch and run around and play with him for about 45 minutes before putting him back in for the rest of the day. I feel really guilty, but he does not like to be outside alone for a long period of time and this has been our best solution. He has never used the bathroom in his crate, but did have trouble in the house until almost a year. We have a small crate big enough only for his bed and water dish. Hope this was helpful.
2006-11-08 16:53:26 · answer #2 · answered by Amy P 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Oh my holy mother of god....if you're leaving a dog in a crate all day while you're away you should be reported to the authorities. People that do this because they don't take the EASY EASY EASY time of a couple of weeks to care and train their dog make me more angry than anything else possibly could on the planet. Your dog is being emotionally and physically abused and if you do not realize this then you shouldn't have a dog!! A real Vet will tell you it is extrememly unwise and unhealthy to keep a dog in a crate all day .... that is just unbelievable to me!! What is wrong with everyone today?!! It is heartbreaking indeed. Train her to be in the house....spend the time for god sakes....you think you have trouble now?? wait until she gets older....the damage you do now will come ten fold at you later. from an owner of four dogs and trainer of hundreds. good luck
2006-11-08 16:45:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes when they are at a boarding kennel, they don't get to go out often enough and have to resort to going in the kennel. Unfortunately, this weakens the instinct that tells them not to go in their den. Make sure you feed her well in advance of putting her in her crate, and that she has gone to the bathroom outside as well. A good physical workout before crating will help too. Then she will settle in and take a nap. It should resolve with some time and patience.
2006-11-08 16:45:42 · answer #4 · answered by piper 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
here's an idea:
dont leave her home by herself all day!!! if you can't be home w/ ur dog, to let her outside to go to the bathroom, she's gonna have to go every once in awhile and thats a risk you have to be willing to take when you leave ur dog w/ no way to let herself outside... how would you feel if you were left in a crate all day and you REALLY had to pee or poop and no one would let you out, you'd have to relieve urself eventually and because you have left her w/ a kennel she may feel unsure that you will come back.
and in response to what someone has said after i posted this about puting a diaper on a dog... that is just weird and sick... how about we also let you wear a diaper all day and if you make a mess in it, it will just be a lesson for you... some people SHOULD NOT OWN PETS!!!!!!!!!
2006-11-08 16:45:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can't believe that you keep her in a crate all day
why did you even get a dog?
When you got to go you gotta go
why should she hold it just because you want her to
Find a better home for her
2006-11-08 17:01:10 · answer #6 · answered by love2bake&eat 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i agree no one should ever leave there dog in a crate all day long ..not to mention the emotional damage your doing to the dog.and physical damage having to hold it all day....what if a fire starts in your home what will the poor thing do then ...no one thinks of that..
2006-11-08 16:57:15 · answer #7 · answered by pantherblack05 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
my sister had the same problem -- she has a neighbor let the dog out for a while during the day ..
2006-11-08 16:50:09 · answer #8 · answered by confused 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
somebody should lock you in a crate all day, and lets see where you go.!!
2006-11-08 16:53:07 · answer #9 · answered by MIGHTY MINNIE 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you try not going to the bathroom all day long?
2006-11-08 16:42:23 · answer #10 · answered by david o 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋