Hi everyone,

Crate training was going so well until this morning, he's been going into the crate for about an hour at a time lately with no real problem at all. A bit of noise for the first 15 minutes and then he would settle down.

Monty decided he wanted to get up at 5am this morning and wouldn't stop his noise, so i got up, not a problem. (because of the neighbours)

About 9am, i thought i'd catch an hour or 2 sleep so in his crate he went. Again for the first hour he was fine. After that point he started playing up. I left him for about 1.5 hours and came back in. He soiled and pee's in his cage and made sure he stamped on it a few times. Also, knocked over his water bowl etc. Just finished cleaning everything now

So, where do i go from here?

I got phycio on my knee tomorrow at 11am and will be out for around 2.5 hours.

Any ideas?

Darren

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Previously know as darrenwis

He was letting you know he wanted to go to the loo. You ignored him so he soiled his crate.

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Build your own Blingee

I would tend to agree, that is probably the case.

How old is the puppy? It is possible he simply can't hold on for long when he is awake, so an hour is really enough to be in a crate at any one time. It'll be different at night when he is asleep. I am guessing he needed the loo at 5am aswell, so the best thing would have been to let him out to the loo and then put him back in the crate with a Kong. He may have gone back to sleep.

You might simply need to accept that leaving a young pup for 2.5 hours in his crate during the day is too much. So either get someone to puppy sit or accept a wet floor when you get home. It is cruel to shut a puppy in his bed if he will not be able to hold on long enough.

I think people do sometimes forget that a crate is first and foremost a 'bed' for their pup. A safe, cosy place to be. As an added bonus it helps toilet train. However, it is not meant to make our puppies fit around our lives because we can shut them in whenever we feel like it.

Crates have been popular in the states for much longer and are massively over-used there. I'd hate to see the same situation here.

He can normally hold it in for around 2 hours, and he went just before i put him in the crate... He is a really good pup and we are proud

At night he sleeps in a pen in the bedroom, and then we have a crate in the lounge for short periods. I agree it is cruel to keep them in the same place for long periods.

What me and my partner were thinking was to give him the freedom of the kitchen in the day?

Whatcha think?

Regards,
Darren

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Previously know as darrenwis

i DONT THINK THAT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA, OBVIOUSLY MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO DANGERS AROUND, PLENTY OF NEWSPAPERS AND MAYBE A TOY OR TWO. LEAVE HIS CRATE OPEN FOR HIM TO GO IN AND LEAVE A RADIO ON, iT IS UNAVOIDABLE SOMETIMES AND YOU ARE DOING THE VERY BEST YOU CAN WITH HIM.

I also think he was doing it to let you know he needed to go to the loo. Whenever he does this, just go to him take him outside let him do his business then put him back in his crate. Don't give him any fuss etc (apart from rewarding him when he goes in the garden). Because if you continue to ignore him when he "plays up" he is just going to keep soiling in his crate, which you really want to avoid, so it doesn't become habit. I know it can be difficult to tell if you puppy is whining/barking for attention or because they need the toilet. I rather take the risk and go and let them out in the garden, than then come in to find a load of pee and poo in the crate. Afterall, it is you who toilet trains them and controls when they can go out, until they get the hang of letting you know themselves.

I know you say he normally goes about 2 hours, but that can change imo. One day they might only need to go every 2 hours, then another day they might only be able to hold on for 1 hour... or different throughout the day.

I know you are worried about leaving him tomorrow, so maybe put him in a pen? with one end as a toilet area (if he really needs to go and cannot hold it in anymore). It can be difficult having a puppy eh?

I'm not sure how old your puppy is, but if he is still young then he isn't going to be great with holding on.

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I love a bit of sponge on my bob....