Peeing in crate?

Saki · March 2013

Hi all, I'm a proud new owner of a Shikoku puppy for a week now. It has been a tough week for all of us, but she's a quick learner. She is 9 weeks old now and I think she does understand that her business has to be done outside. She started a few days ago to show me the door or get my attention by crying while trying to jump on my legs. The next step she will have to learn is when I bring her in the basement, she will have to understand that this is still not the place to pee.

Here's the real problem: Although she accepted her crate, goes in it by herself and sleeps in it no problem and makes her nights without any accident, whenever I force her to go in it because I cannot supervise her (going groceries or just getting in the shower) she cries and scream and .... pees. Even if we just came back from outside and did pee, she will still pee in her crate.

I think she does that because she's upset, but since dogs don't like to be in their pee, why is she doing it? I cannot catch her in the act, because I'm not around at that time and even if I stay around, it will happen in a split second and notice what she'd done a bit too late. Is this just a phase that will go away with time?

lineofeld1 · March 2013

When you say force her to go in the crate, how exactly do you get her in the crate when you cannot supervise her?

Hinata23 · March 2013

You can do a couple of things to help her associate the crate as a good things and not just a place to sleep. Maybe try giving her a chew in her crate when you're showing. I say shower because you're in the house and won't take long to check up on her. That said, you can also give her treats inside her crate throughout the day, as well as feeding her her meals, so she can associate the crate with yummy things. When you're leaving I would toss in a yummy treat for her and walk out quickly (don't linger...)

I would give her a chew (bullystick or some durable) and stay with her for 3 minutes before walking away.

If you're only putting her in her crate for bedtime and when you're leaving then she can associate the crate with you leaving her alone.

lineofeld1 · March 2013

@Hinata23 brought up some good points. I had good luck with Kongs filled with kibble and maybe a bit of peanut butter or canned dog food to make it a bit more challenging for the pup to get it out. Something to keep her occupied while she is in there.

She is 9 weeks old though, and she does not have total control over her bladder. She might not be peeing on purpose, but because she is not used to being left alone in her crate, which can be stressful on such a young pup. So that is probably what I would work on, putting her in her crate (with a chew toy) and leaving her for short periods of time and increasing that time gradually with a treat if she does not cry. It is all a work in progress though, just do not expect to much to quickly, or you will find yourself often frustrated, and that will not bode well for yourself, your pup and the training because they can sense our moods to a degree.

Saki · March 2013

I always put a chew toy in her crate to keep her busy. I'm writing to you wright now and she's in her crate eating that bone. ... It's a quiet time for her now.

When she's really awake and full of energy, I have to push her little butt into the crate and close the door fast before she gets back out. When it's nap time or quiet time for her, I have no trouble getting her into it; she doesn't fight it.

Even if I stay next to her, she will go crazy anyway. I tried to put her in the crate, which is facing the sofa, and I sat down there but she was so upset that she peed anyway. For her, it was playtime, not crate time and I did put 3-4 toys and treats to keep her busy.

By the way, she's not crazy about treats and I tried like 5 kinds of them. I thought she would go crazy for dry liver or peanut butter, but no.

I don't think it's a question of being stress that I leave her alone, because if it's her "quiet moment" or nap time, she's ok and does not make a fuss.

She does try do dominate me by humping on my leg and I correct her right away by putting her on her back for 30 seconds.

StaticNfuzz · March 2013

Typical. Stress comes in multiple forms and not always at times we humans would think. 9 weeks is young and there are many stages to go through. I would ignore it and provide some treats and turn a blind eye, unless she is getting so worked up that she is throwing up or biting the bars of the crate. Put some newspapers in the crate until she is a bit older.... Accidents will happen. They are easy to clean up. Create value in the crate. Crate games is a good way to go
Susan Garrett's dvd is a great help.

It might also be helpful to get her to a puppy class at least once a week and also make sure she is completely worn out before leaving the house. If you are located in the U.S. please take a look at http://www.trulydogfriendly.com/blog/?page_id=4 and free downloads from http://www.dogstardaily.com/free-downloads

"She does try do dominate me by humping on my leg and I correct her right away by putting her on her back for 30 seconds."

Avoid this and please review the following by Ian dunbar: http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/down-dirty-humping-sex-status-and-beyond

http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/mounting.html

following page will be useful as well as its resource links.

http://www.woofology.com/alpha myth.html and http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/AVSABdominance_statement.pdf

Good luck to you
Snf

Saki · March 2013

Thanks Snf, I will take a look at your links. Yoko is already registered to the next puppy class which start March 30.

Edgewood · March 2013

Some shikoku will relieve their bladder when young and upset (especially if you are leaving them). They generally grow out of it, and I expect she will too, being only 9 weeks old

Peeing in crate?

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