[driftkid316]

I plan on crate training my new 2 1/2 month old Pit Bull very soon but have some concerns. For now, we leave her in the laundry room, which isn't too big. She pretty much whines and cries for a long time when we leave her alone in there. I make sure she goes pee and poop before leaving her in there and i have only left her for only about 1-2 hours at a time. But every time i come back, she has pooped and peed,walked around and laid in it and has spread it everywhere. I'm worried when i start crate training, since it is more of a confined space, she will go even more nuts and poop and pee and make a even bigger mess. Also these incidences have been only over a 1-2 hour period, soon i start school so it might be up 4 hours at a time. Is she doing this because she doesn't want to be in there? is she scared so she poops? i do not want to have to give her a bath everyday. which i hear is not good. What can i do to make her feel better in a confined space and alone. I do leave toys in there with her, but then i just have to wash those toys every time. This is my first puppy so any help or advice is greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!

[NefAndWord]

A pit for your first puppy is a brave move. I love pitbulls, but they are a breed that can be a bit more challenging to train. The key with a crate is to get one that fits her. Make sure that she has enough room to stand up and turn around, but no more than that. The idea is that dogs don't want to "go" in their bed, so it will encourage her to learn to hold it.
Also, if she is 2 1/2 months, she may need to go potty more often than that. They say that every 2 hours a puppy that age should go out, at least. But from my personal experience, when both of my dogs were that young (i shouldn't say "when", one of them still is that young!) they needed to go out at least every half hour. Sometimes more than that.
Also, I don't know if you are or not.. but a feeding schedule should help with the erratic pooping.

[Lightwingcreations]

Here's an article from Clicker Solutions that might help you transition your new pup to his crate.

http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001/crate.htm

This site has many, many great articles on training and conditioning dogs so look it over, you never know what might pop up with a puppy. Good luck with your little guy.

[Mad4Dogs]

Originally Posted by driftkid316

I plan on crate training my new 2 1/2 month old Pit Bull very soon but have some concerns. For now, we leave her in the laundry room, which isn't too big. She pretty much whines and cries for a long time when we leave her alone in there. I make sure she goes pee and poop before leaving her in there and i have only left her for only about 1-2 hours at a time. But every time i come back, she has pooped and peed,walked around and laid in it and has spread it everywhere. I'm worried when i start crate training, since it is more of a confined space, she will go even more nuts and poop and pee and make a even bigger mess. Also these incidences have been only over a 1-2 hour period, soon i start school so it might be up 4 hours at a time. Is she doing this because she doesn't want to be in there? is she scared so she poops? i do not want to have to give her a bath everyday. which i hear is not good. What can i do to make her feel better in a confined space and alone. I do leave toys in there with her, but then i just have to wash those toys every time. This is my first puppy so any help or advice is greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!

Does your crate have a divider with it? If so, put that in to train him/her to hold it. Midwest Life Stages Training and Travel Crates come with dividers in them. Here's the site... http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2035804&Ne=2. I did the same for my Sadie. I had the divider in enough so she had enough room to lay down but can't soil her bed. Then every week or so, I would move the divider further back until it she graduated from it. It will take time. I hope this helps. Let me know how he/she does. Also don't leave toys in the crate with her with out someone watching. They may chew a part of the toy and get hurt. If it's a kong, that is hard that's fine. Nothing soft.