Re: Still going in Crate

In Reply to: Still going in Crate
Posted by:  chris
Posted on:  November 28, 2001 at 10:39:24

: Hi, I've got Shirley's housebreaking bible, read it, and crate-training my JRT. Bear with me while i go through my routine.

: On a daily basis, he's brought out once i'm up at 7-ish , perhaps second time at 9am/8.45am he has eaten, once at mid-noon at 12, 1 or 2pm. If i'm home later, he'll be brought out at either 5 or 6pm. Once home, he's walked at 7 or 8pm. Another time at 9ish. Final potty time at 11 or 12am.

: He still has his accidents inside crate. Eg. today he peed at 2pm and by 5pm,he peed inside the crate. Totally out of norm. We did not give him more water than usual. It's been 2.5 weeks. Why is he still not able to hold his pee? Besides today's incidnet, there are other times he don't bother to hold and just let go.

: Yes, i'm cleaning as thorough as i can. with enzymes cleaner and all that. What's wrong?

: As i bring him quite alot, i wonder if this makes him not to bother about holding or attempting to hold at all. Ie. he's grown too used to frequent walks...so whenever he gets out of his 2 or 3 hours' relief interval, he just lets go.Is this the problem i wonder?

:
: Thanks!

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Hi, Chris,

First of all, how old is this dog? If he's a puppy, you're expecting way too much from him. And even if he's not a puppy, 2.5 weeks isn't much time to be expecting full housebreaking.

I would suggest that if you have a terrier who soils the crate, he shouldn't be kept in the crate while you're away. Put the crate in a contained area that he can leave to relieve himself. Once eliminating in the crate becomes a habit, it's hard to break. They'll build up a tolerance to sitting in their own waste.

If this dog is under 6 months old, it's not uncommon for him not to be able to go extended periods of time without having to "go." If he's and adult he just needs more time and patience. 2.5 weeks is not much time at all.