i know they aren't suppose to, BUT.. - YorkieTalk.com Forums

brittahnee · 03-06-2008, 05:41 AM

Sophie ALWAYS potties in her crate.
i don't leave her in for an extended amount of time.
i'll put her in there while i take a bath or if i have to run errands that she can't come with me.
but it seems that she thinks thats where she's supposed to potty?
as soon as i put her in, she potties in her crate.
i hate it becaue i have to end up giving her another bath because she's stepped in her poop and what not.
she's 3 months old, if that helps?
someone please give me advice, its driving me crazy!

SladesMommy · 03-06-2008, 05:54 AM

Well my first step would be taking her outside to potty right before you put her in the crate. Also how big is her crate? Many pups will potty in their crate if its too big for them.

brittahnee · 03-06-2008, 06:01 AM

uhm, its an extra small crate -- i'm not too sure of the dimensions.
but i've tried taking her outside right before.
shell do it outside AND in the crate.
i just don't understand it.

Ladylavender · 03-06-2008, 06:37 AM

The crate may still be too big. How big is Sophie? if she is 2-3 lbs, a standard small crate is still too big. You will need to block off about 2/3 of the crate with towels or boxes so she cannot get to the back of the crate. She should have just enough room to lay down and turn around.

Where did you get her from? She may have gotten used to pottying in her cage/crate when she was at the breeders.

I would 1. block off the crate to make it smaller and 2. then I would spread some food or treat crumbles in the space that's left. this way she will smell the food and this should be her indicator not to mess in this area, since they will not mess where they eat.

brittahnee · 03-06-2008, 06:42 AM

she's about 3 pounds.
i have a kennel that comes with the seperator so i'll put that in and see what happens.

well at the breeder, i don't think she was kept in a cage,
so i don't think that's it.

Ladylavender · 03-06-2008, 06:54 AM

Definitely use the separator and try to get the space as small as you can. I promise you, this will do the trick (because she was not "pre-programmed" to go in the cage by the breeder) along with scattering food in there.

KimluvsLexie · 03-06-2008, 08:07 AM

Tucker used to do this and he was 5 months! I think his first owner kept him in a crate 80% of the time so he thought that is where he should go potty. I started leashing him to me and even taking him with me when I took a shower. He would just lay down on the bathroom rug and take a nap. That way he has no chance to potty somewhere inappropriate. Making the crate smaller didn't work for Tucker, but it worked for Lexie so that is usually a very useful tool, but when all else fails you have to keep your eyes on them at all times. I would even catch him walking into the crate and he would walk out with piddle all over his paws! It was so frustrating, but I just posted in general chat of Tucker's recent potty success, so keep your chin up. She's still very young and if you are consistent it will happen!

hha · 03-06-2008, 08:21 AM

some dogs just do not care if they pee or poop in their crates...I was never big on crate training, I always felt they needed room to play, run off energy, etc...My youngest is 7 mos. old, and although, she's pretty much pee pad trained, at night, she will still use the pee pad that we have in there...

03-06-2008, 05:41 AM	#1
brittahnee YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 383	i know they aren't suppose to, BUT.. Sophie ALWAYS potties in her crate. i don't leave her in for an extended amount of time. i'll put her in there while i take a bath or if i have to run errands that she can't come with me. but it seems that she thinks thats where she's supposed to potty? as soon as i put her in, she potties in her crate. i hate it becaue i have to end up giving her another bath because she's stepped in her poop and what not. she's 3 months old, if that helps? someone please give me advice, its driving me crazy!

03-06-2008, 05:54 AM	#2
SladesMommy Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ATX Posts: 4,513	Well my first step would be taking her outside to potty right before you put her in the crate. Also how big is her crate? Many pups will potty in their crate if its too big for them. __________________ GIGANTIC DOG CLOTHES SALE!!! <--- CLlCK!

03-06-2008, 06:37 AM	#4
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 733	The crate may still be too big. How big is Sophie? if she is 2-3 lbs, a standard small crate is still too big. You will need to block off about 2/3 of the crate with towels or boxes so she cannot get to the back of the crate. She should have just enough room to lay down and turn around. Where did you get her from? She may have gotten used to pottying in her cage/crate when she was at the breeders. I would 1. block off the crate to make it smaller and 2. then I would spread some food or treat crumbles in the space that's left. this way she will smell the food and this should be her indicator not to mess in this area, since they will not mess where they eat. __________________ Sheila and Sweet Millie Sage and Jasmine Rose

03-06-2008, 06:54 AM	#6
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 733	Definitely use the separator and try to get the space as small as you can. I promise you, this will do the trick (because she was not "pre-programmed" to go in the cage by the breeder) along with scattering food in there. __________________ Sheila and Sweet Millie Sage and Jasmine Rose

03-06-2008, 06:01 AM	#3
brittahnee YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 383	uhm, its an extra small crate -- i'm not too sure of the dimensions. but i've tried taking her outside right before. shell do it outside AND in the crate. i just don't understand it.

03-06-2008, 06:42 AM	#5
brittahnee YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 383	she's about 3 pounds. i have a kennel that comes with the seperator so i'll put that in and see what happens. well at the breeder, i don't think she was kept in a cage, so i don't think that's it.

03-06-2008, 08:07 AM	#7
KimluvsLexie YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Springfield Posts: 483	Tucker used to do this and he was 5 months! I think his first owner kept him in a crate 80% of the time so he thought that is where he should go potty. I started leashing him to me and even taking him with me when I took a shower. He would just lay down on the bathroom rug and take a nap. That way he has no chance to potty somewhere inappropriate. Making the crate smaller didn't work for Tucker, but it worked for Lexie so that is usually a very useful tool, but when all else fails you have to keep your eyes on them at all times. I would even catch him walking into the crate and he would walk out with piddle all over his paws! It was so frustrating, but I just posted in general chat of Tucker's recent potty success, so keep your chin up. She's still very young and if you are consistent it will happen!

03-06-2008, 08:21 AM	#8
hha No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seneca, SC Posts: 2,837	some dogs just do not care if they pee or poop in their crates...I was never big on crate training, I always felt they needed room to play, run off energy, etc...My youngest is 7 mos. old, and although, she's pretty much pee pad trained, at night, she will still use the pee pad that we have in there...