My dog has been very hard to train; I quit my job to help her; I am still crate training (4yrs now). Why do I

Answer 1

Crate training is highly affective technique, I have a German Shep. that did wonderful with it. Tips, make sure the crate is small enough, you don't want the dog to have too much room to move around or it will just potty in there. They don't like to go in there beds.
Dont give your dog, food or water right before bed and make sure it goes to the bathroom right before bed.
I wouldn't put the dog in the crate untess its bed time or your leaving the house.
So when you're around leash the dog to you. Don't ever hit the dog if it messes in the house or it will think you're hitting it for using the bathroom and won't want to go in frount of you.
Carry it outside and always say GOOD DOG! or whatever praise to pick when it goes outside.
If its a puppy its bladder control wont be as stong so make sure you don't wait too long to let it out after food or water.

Answer 2

??? You have been trying to housetrain her for 4 yrs??! Wish you had provided more info for better advice. She is an adult dog so I know she can hold a good while. Why are you still crating her?
So now you are home a lot?

These are the basics. If all tried and failed then need more info.
First thing in morning you take her out to play and potty. When she goes you really praise her, even a special treat. Give her time to do her thing. You can't just put her out the door. You got to interact and let her know she is doing good. If no real yard, then you walk her for a really good walk.

Keep an eye on her while in for signs she is resltless or going to door and repeat the basics.

By midday she goes out again.

Late afternoon, early evening out again

Before bedtime, last thing you do is let her go out. Then in crate until morning.

If you are trying to go back to work then you have to ease her into a morning out and the minute you get home. You have to go out with her so can praise what it is you want!!! If not a fenced yard then a 20'-30' cable tie out depending on size. If live in apartment then find a park or open grassy area you can use for exercise.

The crate needs to go. At best take the door off and use for her bed, not a place of punishment. There is no reason a 4 yrs old dog cannot hold quite a few hours and why she is not housetrained, without crating. You must have let the situation go on and on and now she is used to whatever you allowed to happen.

Housetraining takes a positive attitude and lots of praise.

Answer 3

are you sure you are not being too soft on her? Sounds a bit much to still be trying her to get used to the crate after 4 years, I kind of feel perhaps you should give up on that if niether of you can get it! Tell us what the problems are, and I 'll write a better answer. If you REALLY want to crate her, throw in toys and chews and rugs and t shirts with your scent on, and a tasty treat, let her go in and shut the door and walk away and LEAVE HER THERE no matter how much she screams until she is quiet and then go back and tell her how good she is. Just keep doing it. Don't leave her in it for more than 4 hours, as she will mess herself and that's not fair........don't know if this helps but at 4 I would get some help - maybe a personal trainer can come to your place and help you both? The above answer is great too - there is a book called the Dog Whisperer and it is the best advice around.

Answer 4

Okay what is it you are trying to train her to do and how are you trying to train her?

If you are trying to get her to get into a crate put a soft towle to lay on and treats. Not stupid dog biscuits, real treats like a few bits of nice cool boiled chicken in it. Don't close the door. When you put the treat in the carte say her namke then crate. "Bonnie Crate" . do this everday a couple times a day. Put her food in her crate. Make the crate a nice place for her. Afetr a few weeks when she is used to teh crate then try shutting the door.

If you are talking about teaching her to not wet or mess in her crate. Well got news for you. Your dog needs to go out at least every 4 hours. Yes I know. I don't care what the manuals or the pet shop people tell you. Some dogs can go 6 or 8 hours with out wetting or messing but MOST can't. Most people who use crates so the dogs don't mess or wet in thouse while they are at work come home on thier lunch hour and let the dogs out to wet.

. ND not going pee for 8 hours is just as bad for a dog as it is for a human! Ask your vet!

Hon dogs are not stupid. What is it you are trying to teach your dog? It should not have taken 4 years! Give me an email if you like. I want to help. I have 12 dogs myself

Answer 5

Put in a doggie door, allowing the dog access to the yard continuously.
If crate training isn't working stop doing it, you are no longer "training" you are confining.
My dog is in a small laundry room with a doggie door that leads to a large yard during the day while I work. It trained her to potty outside. She didn't want to potty in her room. It trained her quickly.
In fact I don't think she messed once after I put in the doggie door. I let her in the house at 6pm for the night and let her do her duty around 10 before we go to sleep. She does not mess in the house at night, and in the am I let her into her room and she goes right out and does her thing.
SOME BREEDS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO POTTY TRAIN!!! Especially small high strung breeds, like min pins, and jack russels...

Answer 6

Do you think that it could be a seperation anxiety issue? I now have a 12 year old chihuahua. I got her earlier this year when my mother passed away. The whole time she was at my mother's she would go go go and go(potty), for 11 12 yrs. well when she came to live with me the same thing. I tried the crate didn't work because she pulled a couple of nails out the first night i put her in there so that was no longer an option. then i tried a diaper and read about the seperation anxiety and she is house trained after 11 or 12 yrs without being trained. so try this and see if it will work.



Many dogs experience separation anxiety when left alone. They will often whine, bark, cry, howl, chew, dig, scratch at the door, soil the house or destroy your home and yard. We often unintentionally train our dogs to behave this way because whenever they throw this kind of tantrum when we leave, we quickly come back to reassure them, give them attention or even a bone or biscuit. If you do this, your dog will soon learn that he can control you with emotional blackmail.
Long, drawn-out farewells can create separation anxiety problems by first exciting your dog and then making the isolation more obvious when you're gone. Just when he gets all worked up and ready to play, suddenly you disappear. With all this energy, your dog will either try his best to get you to come back or he will have to vent his energy in some other way. Since he can't build model airplanes or invite his buddies over for a hand of poker, he does doggy things - like chew, dig and bark.

Perhaps it is not separation anxiety after all! We often think our dog is destructive because he is angry and spiteful that we left him, but he could actually be just trying to have some fun since there is nothing else to do. He may be relieved to be able to do those things he normally can't do when you're home. He may be thinking, "Thank goodness the owner is finally leaving! Now I can chase the cat, dig up the tomatoes, get in the trash, and bark at the neighbors. They never let me do those things when they're home."

Some dogs with separation anxiety are stressed, nervous and insecure when they are left alone. They express this nervous energy in typical dog fashion - chewing, digging, barking and house soiling.

To prevent separation anxiety, dogs need to feel happy, secure, and comfortable when you're away. It's important to give them things to do while you're gone. Provide them with lots of toys, such as a kong or havaball stuffed with treats, or a digging pit. in the yard. Often another companion pet can help alleviate the boredom.

Another way to prevent separation anxiety is to set aside scheduled time periods to give your dog undivided attention, play and exercise. A happy, well-exercised dog will usually sleep contentedly during the day while you are gone. Be sure that one of the scheduled play sessions occurs before you must leave for the day. Give your dog a chance to settle down before you leave and don't make a big deal of your departure - just leave without any emotion or commotion.

If your dog is already experiencing separation anxiety, then gradually accustom him to your leaving. Practice leaving and returning several times a day until he gets used to your departures and realizes that you are not abandoning him forever. Gradually leave for longer and longer periods of time, but start out by leaving for just 5 minutes and returning again.

Answer 7

Take her to a pet training place. Or get someone to help you train her. Or get a movie on training dogs. You shouldnt quit a job to train a dog.

Answer 8

go back to your job to get some cash then contact the dog whisperer if you can and then take your dog to the vet. cause i mean training for 4yrs your dog must have some head damage(no offense)

Answer 9

I found the book The Kohler Method of Dog Training to be very helpful. Also, be sure to keep your dog with you as much time as possible, it will help him to have respect for you and create a bond.

Answer 10

well, you are dedicated, that's for sure.
crates are NOT unnatural, they simulate the "den" that pack dogs live in in the wild. They are not likely to soil their "den" because dogs like clean living quarters. Some dogs, however, are not easy to train. I would hire professional help if you can. Good Luck.