Soiling in Crate

xxxlisaxxx · 10-19-2007, 05:30 AM

Hi, I have a 2 year old cocker who I trained in a crate with fantastic results. We got him when he was 7 weeks old and I think only a maximum of 5 times did he soil in his crate. However I have just got a Samoyed puppy (8 weeks) and he is constantly soiling his crate. I did read if the crate was to big that this would happen and I then realised I had to swap the crates over as the one I had bought for the Samoyed was huge!!!! Anyway the first night in the huge crate the crate was soiled but the pup was so quiet never heard a word. Last night he was in the smaller crate and cried all night and had soiled his crate so much (with urine). I did get up every 2 hours to let him out to the toilet but this does not seem to be helping much. Even during the day when he is outside and has gone he will still come in and do it on the floor. Can someone please tell me is this just because of his age. I dont mind the accidents on the floor which are to be expected, but I really thought the crate was a definate no no as far as they would not soil in their own bed!!!! As far as the crate otherwise he seems to like it, goes in on his own for a nap if the door is open so all seems ok as far as he is not afraid of the crate. I presume he cried so much last night cause he had no choice but to lie in his urine as the crate was a lot smaller. That sounds afwful that last sentence but I did take him out every 2 hours during the night so I did not neglect him whatsoever. I must admit im totally wrecked, i never had to get up during the night to my first dog at all!!!! Here is a photo of him totally adorable, and will be even more adorable once he knows where the right place to go to the toilet is!!!!

bluesbarby · 10-19-2007, 11:11 AM

When you take him out every two hours is he actually doing his business? If he's peeing every two hours and still has accidents he may have a problem - so have him checked by a vet.
Riley got up several times during the night and he was 12 weeks when we brought him home, 7 weeks is really young.
You need to make sure the crate is cleaned with an enzyme cleaner otherwise the smell will cause him to pee again.
Keep a journal of when he feeds and drinks so you can learn his schedule. Don't let him drink near bedtime.
When Riley was young he never had any freedom. He was either in his crate or tethered to me so I could keep an eye out for any signs he needed to go. I would keep him in his crate and take him out to go every 30 minutes at first (that increased over time), if he went outside then he got some play time in the house (under watchful eyes) if not he went back in his crate for another 30 minutes. I wrote down everything and within just a few days I had his schedule down pat. When they are young like that you have to be potty trained first, then in time they figure it out on their own. I was told he could hold it one hour for every month he was old at night, less during the day.
Good luck.

xxxlisaxxx · 10-20-2007, 05:38 AM

I dont think there is a problem there at all as far as health. The reason I say this is all day yesterday there were no accidents anywhere, I would put him in the crate and remove him every hour and half to 2 hours bring him outside and he would do his business. This went on all day with no accidents in the house or the crate. We took away food and water by 630 yesterday eveing and kept bringing him out up until midnight. Once he went into his crate at midnight we never heard a word until 3am and then again at 6am. So he is totally fine as far as every 2 to 3 hours that he wants to go. When we do hear him barking/crying we come down to him but he has done it in the crate and then when we bring him out he obviously does not need to go. I presume this is purely just age as he has not learned to cry and then go he is obviously crying after he has gone. I am sure we will get there, last night was a big big improvement from the night before and I think that is all to do with taking food away so early in the evening. I have read that they do not get control over there bladders until around 12 weeks so I presume around this age he will cry before he actually does it not after and he is only 8 weeks which is young. Also he has only been with us 3 days so its all new and very scary im sure for him. Maybe we should be setting our alarm clock every 2 hours during the night. I have to laugh because my 2 kids as newborns did not even keep me awake this often. Amazing how such a small animal can have you so tired.

I just think first time round I got a one in a million pup who practically trained himself!!!!!! Im sure it will all fall into place pretty soon.

Dogstar · 10-20-2007, 06:03 AM

If he's crying afterwards, at least he's not happy about sleepign in it- that would make your job a LOT more difficult!

if he's consistantly waking up around 3AM, try waking up and taking him out at 2AM or so. At 7 weeks, he's just not likely to be able to hold it through the night.

xxxlisaxxx · 10-20-2007, 06:31 AM

Dogstar I think you are totally right as far as at least he dont like sleeping in it. I do actually think this pup will be a pure pleasure in a matter of weeks because already he is understanding the routine (during the day) of opening the crate he follows me straight to the grass and does his business. Plus the crate has not been a problem whatsoever. Also to be woken every 3 hours only due to toilet is amazing as I thought he would be crying constantly every night for a few more days yet. He is also understanding "no" commands already so I should not be moaning. I think the getting up during the night is a shock as I never had this from my first dog who we got at 7 weeks. As the saying goes with kids "no 2 are the same". I do think as he matures there will be no problem whatsoever from the signs I am getting at the moment. Like you said I think the secret is getting up an hour earlier to let him out. So setting the Alarm clock is my only option for a few weeks yet. I think i just automatically presumed he would cry BEFORE he did it in his crate as this is what my first dog did, even tho he would not cry when it came to the floor. With my first dog it was a definate no no as far as soiling his crate from day one. Like I said Im sure he was just one in a million anyway

GreatDaneMom · 10-20-2007, 04:52 PM

i just think 7 weeks is too young to be taken away from mommie and litter mates. i know most go at 8 weeks, and its only a week longer. but they learn so much in a week. good luck with your pup, it seems like youre starting to get it under control

xxxlisaxxx · 10-20-2007, 06:29 PM

My new Pup is 8 WEEKS!!! My first dog who is now 2 was only 7 weeks when we got him. My first pup was the only pup the mother had and I am wondering if this is why he was so fantastic from day 1!!!! Makes you wonder dont it???

GreatDaneMom · 10-20-2007, 06:44 PM

i got mine when she was 9 wks, and i wish i could have waited longer... not that she was bad by any means, she was actually amazing... but they learn a lot being with their littermates and mommie. i dont think being an only dog had much to do with that. have you cleaned the cage with an special clean like Petzyme or something? if you havent, this could be another reason why your pup keeps going in the crate. theres smells there YOU cant smell, but he can

Durbkat · 10-20-2007, 06:49 PM

How much does the dog weigh? The reason I ask is because if it doesn't weigh alot it will have to go more often. When I got my dog at 9 weeks he only weighed. 3.6 pounds and went about every half or or sooner. He woke me up about every half hour or so the first few weeks needing to go. Then after that he could stay in the crate till 4 am.

Dakota Spirit · 10-20-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durbkat

How much does the dog weigh? The reason I ask is because if it doesn't weigh alot it will have to go more often. When I got my dog at 9 weeks he only weighed. 3.6 pounds and went about every half or or sooner. He woke me up about every half hour or so the first few weeks needing to go. Then after that he could stay in the crate till 4 am.

I've never heard of that - not in all my readings.

Care to share the source?

Durbkat · 10-20-2007, 07:11 PM

People here have told me and it seemed to make sense since he had such a small bladder.

GreatDaneMom · 10-20-2007, 07:55 PM

i love to hear how tiny everyones pups were when they got them... lol, when we got Chloe at 9wks she was already about 10lbs

xxxlisaxxx · 10-21-2007, 06:24 AM

Well I am starting to agree with the "bigger the dog" the longer they can hold it. My Samoyed (Max) is a big lad already at only 8 weeks. I dont know exactly what he weighs but he is going to be a big dog I would guess he is anywhere between 7 & 10lbs already!!!!

I knew I had picked the best little lad out of the litter. Last night was great. All day did the hour and half to 2 hours out of the crate, he follows me straight out to do his business, has playtime and then back to crate again. Midnight was his last trip out and we went off to bed. At 2.30am he started to bark so I came down and let him out he did no1 and No2's outside but best of all NO SOILING IN HIS CRATE

Only touble we had last night was after he done his business, back to the crate he went but he barked for an hour solid. I went down and corrected him with the word "NO" for about 5 minutes and he eventually stopped. Started barking again around 4.30am (about time for toilet again) let him out did business and again NOTHING IN CRATE. When I put him back in not a word out of him no barking so the word "NO" is working well and he seems pretty quick to learn. IM STILL TIRED FOLKS!!!!!!!

xxxlisaxxx · 10-21-2007, 08:27 AM

Just thought I would post a photo so you could get some idea of how big he is. I say 7 to 10lbs as he feels like the weight of a newborn to me, my guess is 8lb!!!! he will be going for vacination in a week so i will know for sure then.

My daugher who is holding him is 9 (a very tall 9) so you will get some idea.

Durbkat · 10-21-2007, 10:37 AM

Wow, its a big one. I bet it weighes 10 to 15 pounds already. Have you taken it to the vet yet, they would weigh it and then you would know how much it weighs?

xxxlisaxxx · 10-22-2007, 05:57 AM

I am bringing him to vet Saturday for 10 week injection so it will be interesting to find out his weight. As far as everything else he is turning out to be a perfect txt book puppy. Last night his last visit outside was at 1130pm and we heard no more until my husband got up for work at 6. The crate was clean so Max has managed the art of holding onto it already and he is just turning 9 Weeks. I think crate training is fantastic I cannot recomend it enough. At last a full nights sleep and it has only taken 5 days!!!!!

Dogstar · 10-22-2007, 02:21 PM

Don't jump on it TOO quickly- I'd keep offering him times to go out at night for at least a week or so Just in case- it's a LOT easier to prevent a problem now with a few more short-sleep nights than it is to correct it later.