Re: housebreaking problems

In Reply to: housebreaking problems
Category:   House Breaking
Posted by:  Sherry Sheppard
Posted on:  February 22, 2002 at 13:28:31

: I have a 9 week old JRT that I have had for 3 weeks. I read all I could about crate training. I know they love their crates. I know they won't soil their sleeping area. Mine breaks all the rules. He hates the crate...SCREAMS when placed in there (sounds like a rabbit being slaughtered.) He urinates and defecates in the crate...whether he is in their for a short time or longer. We take him outside...he knows to go "to the bathroom" outside, because he always does. However, that doesn't stop him from running back inside and going in the house moments later...or in his crate if that's where we have put him.

: I know that our schedule is part of the problem...there are days when he is alone in the crate for several hours. I teach, but my husband's schedule is different each day. Some days the puppy is with someone all day, other days he might have to be alone until the afternoon.

: Am I doing something wrong? Can I effectively housebreak "Baylee" with our schedule? Should I find him a new home so he can be with someone all the time? My family really loves this little pup and want this to work, but I feel I must be doing something wrong to see no progress in 3 weeks time.

: HELP!!!

: Sherry

Response:

Hi Sherry,

First of all this is only a 9 week old puppy that doesn't have much in the way of any control over his bowels and bladder.

And as far as the crating goes, you have to tough that one out. It's a battle of the wills there. If you go and try to reassure the puppy he's won because to a puppy any attention whether good or bad is GOOD to them.

Please do a search in our Go to Ground search engine. Housebreaking is by far the number one question asked here and there are tons of posts that have valuable information for you.

However, you do need to get yourself a book titled "How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days" by Shirlee Kalstone. It's in paperback is devoted exclusively to the subject and is under $7.

Although I have to say I don't think Shirlee has ever tried to housebreak a JRT, so don't go by the title!

I'll provide a link to our books page and if you like you can order it directly from there.