[Applesnfeathers]

We have had our newest little girl for 6 days and unfortunately we both work Monday-Friday jobs. We have been crate training her and while night training has been very successful, day training has been quite messy. I'm the one that comes home from work first and I'm always met with a huge poop mess in her crate. Our other dog NEVER pooped in his crate at this age and gave us no trouble. I'm getting up around 530 to 6am to make sure she potties, eats breakfast, potties some more before we leave for work but still there's a huge mess in the crate! I'm getting very discouraged and need some advice on any tips or tricks that I can enable to stop these day time disasters?

 

[storyist]

So you're crating this baby all night and then all day? That's asking a lot. Try to find someone who can let her out midday and maybe play with her a bit.

 

[Applesnfeathers]

We have no choice. We have no extra income to pay for the doggie daycare or any close family or friends that can consistently visit to let her out. She is not enclosed in the crate at night. The door is left open and if she needs to potty she uses her pad that is right outside the door of it or wakes us up to be let out. Our 3 year old German shepherd had no problems adjusting at a young age and never made huge poop messes that he rolled around in.

 

[Knute]

Well, first you may be expecting too much from a young pup for potty training.

Second, you could add a floor grate to the crate, then line the pan with potty pads. This wont eliminate the mess, but it should help to reduce the mess.

Third, for a pup to be crated all day is quite alot of time. Reality, the pup shouldn't be crated for more than about 4 hours at a time.

 

[storyist]

All puppies aren't the same any more than all babies/children are. Stop thinking about how your other dog could handle what this puppy can't and start thinking about what you can do to help this puppy handle it. I bet you can find someone in your neighborhood who would let her out for a few bucks. If you can't handle that, what happens when one of those dogs needs a vet?

 

[Applesnfeathers]

How dare you assume that I dont take my dogs to the vet. They are well cared for and loved dearly! I will obviously have to make adjustments to my routine and life. I was looking for support and advice but clearly this forum isn't about that. I should have looked at this forum closer and realized it just full of people who judge

 

[Applesnfeathers]

How dare you assume that I dont take my dogs to the vet. They are well cared for and loved dearly! I will obviously have to make adjustments to my routine and life. I was looking for support and advice but clearly this forum isn't about that. I should have looked at this forum closer and realized it just full of people who judge. Also the only neighbor we have is the one we rescued her from who was abusing her.

 

[Knute]

Wow.....bit harsh dont ya think Applesnfeathers????

I offered 3 suggestions. You can use if you wish or not use as you wish.

Truth is.....not all pups are the same. Human babies potty train at different rates, so do puppies. A pup locked in a crate may be well loved, but it is not getting the social time and interaction time with its care givers. It is a bit like loving a child but locking the child in their room 18 hours/day. The child will likely mature into a maladjusted adult. Dogs are not much different.

Potty training is a long journey. Frequently it is a long trip and will test your patience. Crate training can also be difficult depending on the dog. Some are very comfortable in their crate, other dogs want and need to be with their humans. Learn your dog's traits, characteristic, needs and personality. Then you can adjust to the process that works best for that dog.

BTW, no one said you didn't take the dogs to the Vet.

Good Luck. I think you may be on your own.