Pooped in crate ...."Time-out" coincindence?

Chubs · 01-02-2008, 07:59 PM

Was shocked this morning to find that Sugar pooped in her crate! This was the first time in the 4 months we've had her. She sleeps with me and makes it through the night. We get up at 5:30am and I take her out to go pee. Then I come in and she goes in the crate until I get in/out of the shower and dressed for work, about 15-20 minutes. Then I take her out and she poops. She very rarely does both on the same trip no matter what time of day. Well this morning she went poop in the crate......Now here is the coincidence part. Last night I gave her "time out" in her crate a few times, this was also a first for her. Her jumping up and biting is getting out of control, and I had to try something new. And it actually worked.......But now I am wondering if there is any connection between using the crate as time-out last night and pooping in it this morning. Anyone have any thoughts on it?.........Take it easy.

RonE · 01-02-2008, 08:03 PM

Yes, it's a coincidence.

Dogs are incapable of premeditated vengeance. That's why they are generally easier to get along with that we are.

But please be careful about using the crate for anything resembling punishment. You want it to be a happy, safe place.

wvasko · 01-02-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chubs

Was shocked this morning to find that Sugar pooped in her crate! This was the first time in the 4 months we've had her. She sleeps with me and makes it through the night. We get up at 5:30am and I take her out to go pee. Then I come in and she goes in the crate until I get in/out of the shower and dressed for work, about 15-20 minutes. Then I take her out and she poops. She very rarely does both on the same trip no matter what time of day. Well this morning she went poop in the crate......Now here is the coincidence part. Last night I gave her "time out" in her crate a few times, this was also a first for her. Her jumping up and biting is getting out of control, and I had to try something new. And it actually worked.......But now I am wondering if there is any connection between using the crate as time-out last night and pooping in it this morning. Anyone have any thoughts on it?.........Take it easy.

Yeah what RonE said, a crate is your dog's home inside your home. It's never to be used as punishment. I think people have the idea that a crate is a prison cell. Plus dogs can have an accident occasionally.

Chubs · 01-02-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvasko

Yeah what RonE said, a crate is your dog's home inside your home. It's never to be used as punishment. I think people have the idea that a crate is a prison cell. Plus dogs can have an accident occasionally.

I know I was real hesitant about doing it, but nothing else has worked. And the jumping and biting clothes, skin or whatever she can grab really gets ridiculous sometimes, like she has totally lost control of herself. I have no idea what to try next. My son can't even come downstairs most times, she just goes nuts jumping up and biting him as soon as he steps off the stairs. I've even tried a rolled up newspaper a few times but I just felt to awful doing it. Help!!!!!!

Inga · 01-02-2008, 09:04 PM

Chubs I think you need to get back to some basic obedience with your dog. You need to set up some situations with your son coming down the steps while you have your dog on leash. Sit, son comes down stairs treat in sit or down position. Correct with leash correction if needed. Calm and easy training. Increasing exercise might help as well. I don't know where you are from but if it is some place cold like where I live. It is not easy to get enough exercise. Try walking at Pet stores and obedience training to wear him out.

RonE · 01-02-2008, 09:05 PM

I'm sorry, I don't remember how old your dog is.

But the excited jumping and nipping sound like symptoms of too much pent-up energy. Punishment is unlikely to be effective. Distraction and rigorous exercise are better options.

I don't mean to minimize what a pain this is. For six months, I had a 65# Plott hound that did what you're describing. My only recourse was to run her ragged until she was too exhausted to be obnoxious.

Now we're working on Molly.

Chubs · 01-02-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

I'm sorry, I don't remember how old your dog is.

But the excited jumping and nipping sound like symptoms of too much pent-up energy. Punishment is unlikely to be effective. Distraction and rigorous exercise are better options.

I don't mean to minimize what a pain this is. For six months, I had a 65# Plott hound that did what you're describing. My only recourse was to run her ragged until she was too exhausted to be obnoxious.

Now we're working on Molly.

She'll be 6 months next week. She is also getting spayed this Friday. Does spaying calm them down at all? Never had a female dog so I don't know.

Mudra · 01-02-2008, 09:22 PM

My dogs are both crate trained as well and are both 9mos old. However, they never had any accidents like that inside their crate even when they get in trouble the whole day. I dont use the crate as a punishment. I always make sure that when they go inside their crate, they go to their special place where they will feel safe and happy.

It could be just a coincidence. Im pretty sure, no dog who is properly crate trained will poop inside their crate for vengeance.

(They revenge in some other ways, like chewing your favorite shoes LOL)

Observe her again. Why dont you try water spraying her when she's being such a brat?

RonE · 01-03-2008, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Does spaying calm them down at all?

The behavior I mentioned from my Plott was AFTER she was spayed. There are a lot of good reasons to spay and neuter. Behavior modification isn't one of them.

Quote:

They revenge in some other ways, like chewing your favorite shoes LOL

That's not vengeance. That's boredom.

Quote:

Why dont you try water spraying her when she's being such a brat?

Again, I'd look to the dogs daily routine for the cause instead of punishing the dog. The closest thing to punishment I'd suggest would be to ignore her (as hard as it is) when she acts like that and reward her when she settles down. And I'd seriously step up the exercise program.

Abbie · 01-03-2008, 04:03 PM

I have to say I have read a ton about the crate and it is suppose to be a happy place. Correcting for bad behavior is not in the crate. Alot of energy burning will help with the biting and jumping. At least it has for me in the past. Good luck and don't give up. One day you will think wow I can't remember when she did that.

LMH · 01-03-2008, 10:22 PM

I don't think there is a connection between the pooping in the crate. I see a lot of people saying that you shouldn't punish by using the crate. My dog is crate trained(well he's 2 now and i haven't used it for about a year) but when I was using it, he liked his crate very much. Even when he was being unruly I would put him in is crate to settle him down. I don't think he thought of it as punishment cuz it's not like I would taunt him when he was in it. I would just take him to the crate when he was jumping or biting and after about 15 min he would settle down and i would let him out in a very happy mood. He never didn't want to go in his crate after those time. He still liked his crate and felt safe. Just don't put him in there in a mean way and then yell at him or verbally correct him.

FilleBelle · 01-03-2008, 11:44 PM

I would like to point out that using the crate as a punishment and using the crate as a place to take a quiet time out are two different things. I think a crate can effectively be used as a place to contain and calm a dog who has gotten out of hand without the dog seeing it as a punishment.

However, this only works if everything else is a go...the dog is getting more than enough exercise, knows its basic obedience, etc.

wvasko · 01-04-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

I'm sorry, I don't remember how old your dog is.

But the excited jumping and nipping sound like symptoms of too much pent-up energy. Punishment is unlikely to be effective. Distraction and rigorous exercise are better options.

I don't mean to minimize what a pain this is. For six months, I had a 65# Plott hound that did what you're describing. My only recourse was to run her ragged until she was too exhausted to be obnoxious.

Now we're working on Molly.

Say it again, I like the minimize the pain statement. I agree whole heartedly, It's just a baby dog. The original post about the poop scandal, I assumed was about a much older dog. Oh well!!!