I need help crate training my Shih tzu puppy?

Question

I just recently added an 11wk old Shih Tzu to my family. I am trying to crate train her, but it seems to be impossible. I take her outside after she eats, drinks, and wakes up from her naps, but nothing seems to stop her from using the bathroom in her crate. The crate is only big enough for her to stand up in and lay down in. She poos and pees all inside the crate and she has to be lying in it because the crate is very small. When I take her outside, we stay out there for about 30mins or so and she does not use the bathroom outside at all. But as soon as I bring her in the house and put her in her crate, about 3 seconds later I start smelling her poo or pee. Someone please help because this is really frustrating me. (I bought some of that spray that you are supposed to use when you want them to "go" where you want them to, but it doesn't seem to be working)

Answer 1

Shih Tzus love attention! When she has an "accident in her crate, you probably make a fuss over it. STOP! That just re-enforces that behavior.

What you need to do, is keep her outside longer, until she goes. Once she goes outside, make a real big deal out of it! She needs to know that going potty outside it the best thing in the world and it makes you really happy.

When she has an accident inside, just clean it up and don't say or do anything to her. She will see that "accidents" don't get reaction, so she will try to stop having them.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://bitly.im/aL2U2

A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

My puppy wouldn't go outside for the LONGEST time. You need patience and lots of praise. You may need to keep the puppy out for more than 30 minutes. Keep it active (chasing toys and running around) and it will likely have to go and have no choice. Also, carry treats with you and when it does go make it seem like the greatest thing in the world and give it a treat. It will associate the act with the reward. It is still very young and controlling its bladder and bowels is still a challenge. In time you'll have a well trained dog and you'll forget all about the difficulties of the training process.

Answer 5

First I would definately invest in some puppy pads, or at least newspaper to make clean up easier! I would take the pup outside about once every 1.5 hours and make sure that you praise her or give her treats. It may even be a good idea to invest in a circle pin to put her in outside so that you don't have to be right there next to her. (Some dogs like their privacy.) Hopefully this helps.

Answer 6

Sounds like the breeder didn't take care to keep things clean for the pup. The dog's natural instinct to keep her sleeping area clean has been overridden by the breeder's carelessness....which means a lot more work for you. Chances are good that she was also scolded for peeing/pooping and now she 'hides' to avoid this. So : Remove any bedding that's in the crate, and use Nature's Miracle or another kind of enzyme cleaner to clean the tray. You need a lot of patience, and some super rewards (chicken, cheese, liverwurst, steak) to reward her immediately, as soon as she potties outside.
Here are some links to articles. Though there is a lot of good advice within these pages, I disagree with the scruff-shaking advice in the 2nd - punishment is definitely *not* the way to go with this dog! Good luck.

Answer 7

I guess the "odour" is already there.Try some odour remover? Heard vinegar and water works well for removing odour but I've not tried it myself. My shih tzu always do it on the same spot too, due to the odour..Mine's too late to change as he's 3 yrs old.

Try not to scold her, she might just eat up the poo thinking that she's not suppose to poo..

Answer 8

When do you crate her? Is she on a schedule?

The crate sounds like the perfect size. She is only supposed to stand, sit and lay down in. If it were bigger, she would go poop or pee on the other end.

When she uses the bathroom in the crate, do you clean it immediately?

What does she lay down on inside the crate? I used old towels for my dog when he was a puppy.

I wouldn't use the spray stuff. Those don't work.

I would say.... go potty...go potty...go potty.... until he went potty. Then I would say, "Good boy potty!" I would pet him afterwards. He loves it when I put him and say "good boy".

Be patient and persistent. She will eventually get it.