Crate training whoas! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Lucyluu · 06-28-2005, 06:50 AM

Hello everyone. I am new to YorkieTalk and also a new mommy to Sir Edmond! He is 4 months old and Ive had him for about 3 weeks. I desperately need help with potty training.
I am crate training him and training him to relieve himself on pee pads. He sleeps in his crate during the night and during the day when I am at work. I come home during lunch to let him out and play for a little bit. He is 2.5lbs so his crate is very small. He has just enough room to lay down and trun around in it. Here is the problem!
He will not hold his potty while he is in his crate and inevitably pees and poops every day and night in his crate. When I come home for lunch to let him out- he has already done his business in his crate. When I wake up in the middle of the night to let him out- he has already done his business in his crate! I try to get him to go potty before I crate him and leave, but he doesnt ever go potty! I was always told that they didnt like to soil their beds- but this doesn't seem to be the case with my Edmond. His crate is small, so if he relieves himself in his crate he is forced to lay in it. It's not like he can pee and poop on one side of the crate and sleep on the other.
When I am home I left him have free roam of the house but I watch him like a hawk. He is slowly getting the hang of pooping and peeing on the pads when I am at home with him. Here is my question ( I know you guys are wondering if I have a point here) Why is he relieving himself in his crate and not holding it and how can I get him to stop doing this?????!!!

Carolina girl · 06-28-2005, 07:27 AM

Where did you get him?

Lucyluu · 06-28-2005, 07:36 AM

I bought him from a breeder.

Hickey007 · 06-28-2005, 07:37 AM

I don't know how many hours at a time you are leaving him in there but during the day it could be that he just can't hold it for that long. If he has to go and he's held it for as long as he can he will go in the crate, he has to. I might recommend pinning him up into maybe the kitchen or a bathroom with a pad during the day while you are at work, this way he has access to the pad and when he really gets the hang of the pad he will be able to use it during the day. Also he will have a little more room to play. Then at night while you are at home if there's ever a time when you can't watch him put him in his crate but make sure to let him go potty when his normal time would be. Just keep being patient and maybe try a couple different things and find what works out best for you.

Crating didn't work with Reagan. I was at home with her all day. I would leave her out then aobut 10-20 minutes before I would take her out to go I would put her in her crate. My thinking was that she wouldn't go in her crate so I can put her in there and she will hold it for a bit then I will take her out and she will go, instead of me leaving her out to roam and not catching her in time and her going on the carpet. But this didn't work(really any form of crating didn't work for us). I swear she thought it was her potty. As soon as you put her in she would go the bark like "I went let me out now". But crating has worked for so many people so I'm not saying don't try it. Just keep working and you'll/he'll finally get it, trust me.

Lucyluu · 06-28-2005, 07:43 AM

Thanks Courtney. Also, sometimes when I am home he will walk into his crate, pee and then walk out. So I have had to start keeping his crate door shut to keep him from doing this. I discussed my problem with his breeder and she seems to think he may have made his own little personal bathroom-his crate! She suggested I purchase a wire play pen for him. And put his pee pad on one end and he can play and sleep on the other side of the pen.. When he lived with the breeder, this is what she raised him in.

Hickey007 · 06-28-2005, 07:54 AM

That's actually the same thing my breeder recommened. I have to say we didn't do it but it really sounds like it would work. She said to get a play pen, put it in the room we are in most, place a pad in it, and whenever we are not directly playing with her to put her in her pen.

I will also say that it sounds like your crate is the right size, so that doesn't sound like the problem. Another thing, we can now put Reagan in her crate, to sleep at night or just if we need to, and she won't go in it. So even if now he thinks he can go in his crate you can train him to think differently eventually. You'll get it though I promise. Our pup was definately not one of the star pups like some are on here. But she's got it now. I think the most important part is that you train yourself. Make a commitment to do the same thing everytime, once you find out what works for both of you, and stick to your guns. I can say this b/c we didn't and living with my mom previously and seeing how good she is at housebreaking I can tell you that how you behave is really the key to housebreaking. Don't give up and stay patient, but also stay consistent.

yorkiemomiee · 06-28-2005, 08:57 AM

I was wondering, do you by chance line the crate with newspaper? Some breeders start potty training with newspaper and maybe he's going on the newspaper instead? and if since he's so young and just couldn't hold it until you get home and has done his buisness in the crate once or twice already he may have just marked it as one of his potty spots and even after cleaning the area it's hard to break the cycle of going there even if it's wrong. That's from my experience anyway. I decided not to use wee wee pads and go for the newspaper with Kiko because I knew he understood that already as a potty spot and so far it has worked well for me. Maybe if the breeder was using newspaper you could give that a little test? I dunno just a suggestion..I had the same problem with pads with my first a long time ago, the newspaper has worked much better this time around. Good luck with whatever you choose

typerk · 06-28-2005, 09:53 AM

I think you are simply leaving him too long in his crate and he is learning to go in there. He needs to be let out more frequently so he can learn he will have ample chances to go outside his crate. But him being 4 months, he should be able to hold it for long periods. I just think he needs a lot more training time on the pad and he is not getting it because of the long periods of lonliness.

MaxiMillion · 06-28-2005, 11:40 AM

I know that puppies' bladders aren't very big b/c it is under developed so what I do is when I am at work i gated a section of the living room for Maxi. She has a pee pad spot where she goes pee and poo (sometimes she'll go poo under the couch

) Her water bowl is easily accessible and her bed is on the opposite side of wherever her peepad is. They will know what the pee pad is for. Your puppy might be in the crate for too long. Plus, Maxi can run around and get some energy out during the day when I am at work.

Lucyluu · 06-28-2005, 11:55 AM

I have ordered a play pen for Sir Edmond. I will keep him in it during the night and while Im at work. On one side it will have his pee pad and the other his bed. His breeder really thinks this will work, because thats how she raises her yorkies. Hopefully this will work. Thanks guys for all the helpful information!

06-28-2005, 06:50 AM	#1
Lucyluu Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11	Crate training whoas! Hello everyone. I am new to YorkieTalk and also a new mommy to Sir Edmond! He is 4 months old and Ive had him for about 3 weeks. I desperately need help with potty training. I am crate training him and training him to relieve himself on pee pads. He sleeps in his crate during the night and during the day when I am at work. I come home during lunch to let him out and play for a little bit. He is 2.5lbs so his crate is very small. He has just enough room to lay down and trun around in it. Here is the problem! He will not hold his potty while he is in his crate and inevitably pees and poops every day and night in his crate. When I come home for lunch to let him out- he has already done his business in his crate. When I wake up in the middle of the night to let him out- he has already done his business in his crate! I try to get him to go potty before I crate him and leave, but he doesnt ever go potty! I was always told that they didnt like to soil their beds- but this doesn't seem to be the case with my Edmond. His crate is small, so if he relieves himself in his crate he is forced to lay in it. It's not like he can pee and poop on one side of the crate and sleep on the other. When I am home I left him have free roam of the house but I watch him like a hawk. He is slowly getting the hang of pooping and peeing on the pads when I am at home with him. Here is my question ( I know you guys are wondering if I have a point here) Why is he relieving himself in his crate and not holding it and how can I get him to stop doing this?????!!!

06-28-2005, 07:27 AM	#2
Carolina girl YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 320	Where did you get him? __________________ Love is... when your puppy licks your face even though you left him alone all day! Izzabella and Cindy

06-28-2005, 07:37 AM	#4
Hickey007 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 789	I don't know how many hours at a time you are leaving him in there but during the day it could be that he just can't hold it for that long. If he has to go and he's held it for as long as he can he will go in the crate, he has to. I might recommend pinning him up into maybe the kitchen or a bathroom with a pad during the day while you are at work, this way he has access to the pad and when he really gets the hang of the pad he will be able to use it during the day. Also he will have a little more room to play. Then at night while you are at home if there's ever a time when you can't watch him put him in his crate but make sure to let him go potty when his normal time would be. Just keep being patient and maybe try a couple different things and find what works out best for you. Crating didn't work with Reagan. I was at home with her all day. I would leave her out then aobut 10-20 minutes before I would take her out to go I would put her in her crate. My thinking was that she wouldn't go in her crate so I can put her in there and she will hold it for a bit then I will take her out and she will go, instead of me leaving her out to roam and not catching her in time and her going on the carpet. But this didn't work(really any form of crating didn't work for us). I swear she thought it was her potty. As soon as you put her in she would go the bark like "I went let me out now". But crating has worked for so many people so I'm not saying don't try it. Just keep working and you'll/he'll finally get it, trust me. __________________ Courtney

06-28-2005, 07:54 AM	#6
Hickey007 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 789	That's actually the same thing my breeder recommened. I have to say we didn't do it but it really sounds like it would work. She said to get a play pen, put it in the room we are in most, place a pad in it, and whenever we are not directly playing with her to put her in her pen. I will also say that it sounds like your crate is the right size, so that doesn't sound like the problem. Another thing, we can now put Reagan in her crate, to sleep at night or just if we need to, and she won't go in it. So even if now he thinks he can go in his crate you can train him to think differently eventually. You'll get it though I promise. Our pup was definately not one of the star pups like some are on here. But she's got it now. I think the most important part is that you train yourself. Make a commitment to do the same thing everytime, once you find out what works for both of you, and stick to your guns. I can say this b/c we didn't and living with my mom previously and seeing how good she is at housebreaking I can tell you that how you behave is really the key to housebreaking. Don't give up and stay patient, but also stay consistent. __________________ Courtney Last edited by Hickey007; 06-28-2005 at 07:57 AM.

06-28-2005, 09:53 AM	#8
typerk YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Irving, TX Posts: 252	I think you are simply leaving him too long in his crate and he is learning to go in there. He needs to be let out more frequently so he can learn he will have ample chances to go outside his crate. But him being 4 months, he should be able to hold it for long periods. I just think he needs a lot more training time on the pad and he is not getting it because of the long periods of lonliness. __________________ http://www.dogster.com/?156534.

06-28-2005, 07:36 AM	#3
Lucyluu Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11	I bought him from a breeder.

06-28-2005, 07:43 AM	#5
Lucyluu Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11	Thanks Courtney. Also, sometimes when I am home he will walk into his crate, pee and then walk out. So I have had to start keeping his crate door shut to keep him from doing this. I discussed my problem with his breeder and she seems to think he may have made his own little personal bathroom-his crate! She suggested I purchase a wire play pen for him. And put his pee pad on one end and he can play and sleep on the other side of the pen.. When he lived with the breeder, this is what she raised him in.

06-28-2005, 08:57 AM	#7
yorkiemomiee Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 109	I was wondering, do you by chance line the crate with newspaper? Some breeders start potty training with newspaper and maybe he's going on the newspaper instead? and if since he's so young and just couldn't hold it until you get home and has done his buisness in the crate once or twice already he may have just marked it as one of his potty spots and even after cleaning the area it's hard to break the cycle of going there even if it's wrong. That's from my experience anyway. I decided not to use wee wee pads and go for the newspaper with Kiko because I knew he understood that already as a potty spot and so far it has worked well for me. Maybe if the breeder was using newspaper you could give that a little test? I dunno just a suggestion..I had the same problem with pads with my first a long time ago, the newspaper has worked much better this time around. Good luck with whatever you choose

06-28-2005, 11:40 AM	#9
MaxiMillion Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Manhattan, NY Posts: 87	I know that puppies' bladders aren't very big b/c it is under developed so what I do is when I am at work i gated a section of the living room for Maxi. She has a pee pad spot where she goes pee and poo (sometimes she'll go poo under the couch ) Her water bowl is easily accessible and her bed is on the opposite side of wherever her peepad is. They will know what the pee pad is for. Your puppy might be in the crate for too long. Plus, Maxi can run around and get some energy out during the day when I am at work. __________________ Liz & Maxi

06-28-2005, 11:55 AM	#10
Lucyluu Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11	I have ordered a play pen for Sir Edmond. I will keep him in it during the night and while Im at work. On one side it will have his pee pad and the other his bed. His breeder really thinks this will work, because thats how she raises her yorkies. Hopefully this will work. Thanks guys for all the helpful information!