My dog is a boxer/terrier mix. I don't own a crate, since I don't like them. What should I do overnight,?

Question

He's trained to go outside. But at night as I do't have a crate, he would do it around the house. I put down pretreated pads in the kitchen and tried to restrict him in the kitchen, but he cried all night and I let him out, so when I woke up next morning, he did many times on different spots on the carpet. What should I do to keep him from doing it around the house when no one is around to let him out???

Answer 1

I guess my first question would be...what don't you like about crate training? If it's used in the proper way, it's actually better for your dog than letting them run free. Until a few years ago, I felt the same way...and had the same problems. Then I tried it and was amazed at how effective it was and how little my puppies minded it.

Look at it this way. If you had an infant or toddler, would you let them wander your home unsupervised?? I compare my kennel (I don't like the word crate...sounds like I'm shipping my puppy somewhere) to a playpen or crib. It's a place to put my puppy/dog so that I know that she is safe when I'm not able to give her my full attention. My puppy also seems to like having her own space and many times will sleep or play in her kennel even when the door is wide open.

Kennel training is also the ONLY way I've found to housebreak my dogs when I'm sleeping. They don't potty in their kennel and will make enough of a ruckus to wake me if they really have to go.

Answer 2

How old is he? If he is an older dog, he could be having incontinent issues. He also could have a UTI. Restrict his water intake. Depending on what your sleeping schedule is, stop his water intake 2-3 hours before YOU turn in. A crate is the best option, but since you don't have one, you could buy a baby gate and keep him restricted to one room. The whining will cease after about a week. You just have to be strict with your self and don't give in when he starts whining. Have you tried letting him out once or twice during the night? Another option is to keep him in the bathroom with the door closed.

You didn't say what type of accidents he is having. If he had diarrhea, it was not his fault.

Answer 3

I'm going to be very frank with you-if you don't want to get a crate, then you may want to start saving money for new carpet.

Actually, you can restrict the dog to the kitchen. Just because he cries and whines doesn't mean you have to let him out. If you let him squall he will eventually figure out that you are not going to come "rescue" him & he will stop. (Might take a few nights, but he will figure it out!)

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Why don't you like crates? After a dog gets used to a crate, it becomes his own bedroom. You will see when the door is left open he will start going in there on his own to kind of get away from it all. He/she will whine when they first start getting put in there and you will just have to get used to that. After awhile it will stop. Putting pads or paper down isn't a good idea. Later on when they are trained to go out, and when they have to go out & can't, anything laying on the floor will be for him. Your coat, sweater, anything.

Answer 5

Couple things:

a) don't give into the whining. the dog is training you - if you ignore the crying, the dog will give up - thought it may take a week or two of sleepless nights.

b) get a crate - the dogs are pack animals, den animals, the crate is COMFORTING to the dog (especially at night) because he'll be surrounded (guarded) on all sides and won't feel the need to worry and fight to protect himself when confined.

seriously... a crate is a wonderful thing for your animal. dogs love them.

Answer 6

Crates are great things! Don't let your emotions get in the way of doing a good thing for your dog. My dog loves his crate. He sleeps in it at night because he wants to, not because he has to. We leave the door open all the time and he goes in it on his own. Why don't you like them?

Answer 7

I know you said you don't like crates, but they are the best for at night. I had the same problem with my dog at night and got a crate just for night time, have it next to my bed. Its soo nice not waking up and having to clean up poop and pee.
Having said that...the only other alternative is to get a baby gate and confine him to a certain room, one that has tile or vinyl flooring so its easier to clean up. Is your bathroom closer then the kitchen since he cries at night? I would also continue to use the pads.Even thou they say they are pre-treated, it doesn't always work for all dogs, I would suggest dabbing up your dogs pee with one of the pads so his urine scent is on it and hopefully that will draw him to use it. Good Luck!

Answer 8

I never liked crates either but my puppy feels it's her safe haven when she's tired, I did let her sleep on her bed when we first got her since I don't like hearing her cry and being she was so young to be away from her mom that I immeditaely had no problem with her snuggling up on me and sleeping in my bed. Then she got a bit bigger and I was worried about her falling off the bed then I started putting her back in her crate and she stopped crying at nite.

Answer 9

How old is this dog?

You said that he is trained to go outside, so why doesn't he wake you when he needs to go? My dog whines and jingles her tags when she needs to go out during the night. I always make sure that she goes out before we go to bed, and most of the time she is good until around 6.

You can buy exercise fences that just confines the area that he can travel during the night. They are not that expensive but will keep your dog where you want him.

Answer 10

You need a crate. Why do you not like them? Is it because of your feelings or the dog's? Dogs do like crates, once they get used to them. If you don't want to pick up dog crap around the house get over your dislike of crates and buy one. They work wonders.