Re: pooping in her crate, peeing on the furniture, etc

In Reply to: pooping in her crate, peeing on the furniture, etc
Category:   Behavior Problems
Posted by:  Chrissy
Posted on:  January 28, 2003 at 08:52:21

: I really hope someone has some advice for us. We have an 18 month old female.She is sweet and bright, but has some serious problems that we can't seem to solve.There is almost always someone home during the day, we have another dog (who is her best playmate. During the times that we do need her to be put in her crate, she will almost always poop in it or pee. Now her newest problem is that she will eat her own poop. This morning before realizing she had pooped in her crate, she went back in it after she was taken outside and began to eat her droppings. I feed her plenty so there seems to be no need for this. She also has been known to pee on our furniture. She went on a throw pillow just the other day. The breeder told us we could trade her in, but we've had her for a year and she's part of our family. I am due to have a baby...today actually is my due date. I thought she'd have outgrown these problems by now. We are at our wits ends and have no idea what to do. I have tried everything. We try to make sure there's no poop outside so she won't have it available, but we live in New England and there's lots of snow and cold outside.Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I just know she'd end up living outside and doing nothing but breeding. But if we need a more suitable JRT then I guess we'll have to trade her in. :( Thank you for your time. Chrissy from Massachusetts

Response:

Hi Chrissy,

It sounds to me like your terrier has never been totally housebroken, and by letting her have free run of your house you are only setting her up for failure.

A dog that is not 100% on housebreaking should never be allowed to roam around the house, this is one of the reasons we recommend crate training combined with a strict feeding/potty schedule.

My guess she is eating her feces now because she has been scolded in the past when you find it, so she's now eating it to "hide the evidence."

You need to go back to Housebreaking 101 with her. That means a feeding/potty schedule that is strictly adhered to. No feeding treats in between meals (what goes in must come out), you must leash her and take her outside and make sure she does her business.

If she doesn't, she should be crated or tethered to you so you can watch her and take her out again after 10-20 minutes. If she doesn't complete her business, it's the same routine. You cannot let her roam around unattended when she is unhousebroken.

I am providing a link to our recommended books, there you will find one by Shirlee Kalstone that is very good and quite inexpensive. I highly recommend you get this book.

Getting another JRT is not really going to be the answer here, you really need to readdress housebreaking with this one.