Re: Crate training

Posted by: Heather Reid
Posted on: October 29, 2001 at 20:17:32

In Reply to: Crate training
Posted by: Tracy
Posted on: October 29, 2001 at 19:29:49

Question:

: I know you hate it when we ask repeat questions, so hopefully this is a unique question..

: I got Lucy Aug 27. She slept with us for the first week. We introduced the crate 3 wks later. Didn't make her sleep in it, but did feed her in there so she would be comfortable. We are litter training. Not teaching to go outside and inside, just inside. From reading the site I know we shouldn't have let her run free in the house until she was housebroken, but we screwed up. She was doing SO WELL for the first week or so. Now she will go 1/2 way in and then finish on the floor, or just skip the box all together. The problem now is going backwards. We are beginning by feeding her in the crate, waiting 30 minutes, taking her out putting her in the box, she doesn't go then back to the crate. Etc. She is flipping out. Today is only day 2 and she is crying up a storm. My question is, wil she ever get used to it? How long do I allow her to cry? I don't want to traumatize her against the crate. Thanks a lot. Sorry for such a long post!

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Hi Tracy,
I don't think anyone here has experience with litter training (other than with cats), but I can't imagine the end result would be much different than paper training, which has a very low success rate among owners. Dogs often don't associate the box as "the place" to do their business; they only decern indoors and outdoors. You really should be housebreaking your puppy, which means she learns to potty outside. That is how crating training was intended; it is a method of creating a den to help housebreak a dog. Allowing her to go indoors will certainly be hindering that process, as will training inconsistenies-- sometimes crating and sometimes allow her to roam.
Another reason paper or litter training is not the best choice is that it is a reason not to go outside, which can lead to a bad habit of not exercising your terrier. They need outdoor play time several times a day. If you don't exercise her properly, you'll be back here asking about her distructive tendancies and possibly testy attitude-- common results of boredom.
There are many posts, FAQs and articles about housebreaking. Please check them out and reconsider allowing her to use the indoors as a toilet in any form.
Good luck!
Heather