Advice on crate training do's and dont's - YorkieTalk.com Forums

alonsdale · 06-25-2006, 07:44 AM

Hi there - Millie is 9 weeks old. I'd like to use a crate to train her but I think it's early days for this ?

I've just tried today to use the technique shown in this link - http://www.darnfar.com/Dog%20Trainin...ng_a_puppy.htm - ie. feed her in her crate then take her out straight after she's finished. I left the room for literarally 5 mins whilst she ate and came back to find she'd pooed instantly in her crate! She's been for a wee outside only 5 mins before going in the crate. I took her out anyway but she just wanted to play. I've now placed her back in her crate for a sleep (i've cleaned up don't worry) and she goes berserk for a while before settling down.

She seems to love having the crate door open and having a roam around the kitchen with just access to water and her pee pad, she also clambers into her open crate for a sleep when the set up is like this. If she's in the kitchen she will go on her pad 95% of the time. This is the set up we have adopted for her overnight as it's the only time she's doesn't howl the house down.

I've put a used pad outside where I'd like her to go outside she sniffs it a lot but hasn't shown signs of doing it there - go toilet 20 times over doesn't seem to do the job.

I know she's so young at the moment so wanted all you Yorkie lovers advice on what has worked for you - i know they are all different and have their ways. I'm going back to work tomorrow so will probably crate her in the morning and come home at lunch, feed her and let her out to play/pee, then leave her to roam in the kitchen with a pad in the afternoon - do you think that's getting her into a bad habit or gradually getting her used to the crate ?

YorkieGuru · 06-25-2006, 08:25 AM

I have crate trained all my dogs and they seem to do just fine. I just brought home a new puppy as well and am trying to train her as well. I only leave her in her crate when I am gone or at night. If I have things to do around the house I leave a gate up in the kitchen.
Usually after my dogs eat they have to go outside to poo poo. You will have accidents while they are small, so dont fret. It took my last yorkie a while to get it, but now he has no accidents unless I'm careless on my part.
I personaly dont leave food in their crates, I have them eat before being put in there. I take away the water 2 hours before being put to bed as well.
I come home at lunch and let them out as well, so that helps alot.
They also have dividers you can set up in their crates to make it smaller. As they say a dog wont lay where they potty, even though mine did as pups cause they just cant seem to hold it that long. I just lay newspaper inside and clean it up everytime. My lil one is getting it, it just takes time. I had no problems with my other dogs, and I'm sure I'll get past this with her as well.
So I'm sure yours will too. Just stick with it and praise the heck out of em. Your dog will learn to love and feel safe in their crate. (just like you said) So I wish you luck.

alonsdale · 06-25-2006, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkieGuru

I have crate trained all my dogs and they seem to do just fine. I just brought home a new puppy as well and am trying to train her as well. I only leave her in her crate when I am gone or at night. If I have things to do around the house I leave a gate up in the kitchen.
Usually after my dogs eat they have to go outside to poo poo. You will have accidents while they are small, so dont fret. It took my last yorkie a while to get it, but now he has no accidents unless I'm careless on my part.
I personaly dont leave food in their crates, I have them eat before being put in there. I take away the water 2 hours before being put to bed as well.
I come home at lunch and let them out as well, so that helps alot.
They also have dividers you can set up in their crates to make it smaller. As they say a dog wont lay where they potty, even though mine did as pups cause they just cant seem to hold it that long. I just lay newspaper inside and clean it up everytime. My lil one is getting it, it just takes time. I had no problems with my other dogs, and I'm sure I'll get past this with her as well.
So I'm sure yours will too. Just stick with it and praise the heck out of em. Your dog will learn to love and feel safe in their crate. (just like you said) So I wish you luck.

Thanks Kim - good tips, i'm trying to find a divider as i think the smallest crate we got her is still too big. I'll put down some paper in the meantime and hope she goes on there instead of her bedding everytime - constant washing at the moment! Unfortunately she is so small she walks straight thru the baby gate we put up! Several attempts to block it up and she got out - determined little mite that she is! I don't think i like putting the food in her crate, she is fine eating it where she has been next to her water bowl and at least doesn't go instantly afterwards!!

Erin · 06-26-2006, 10:01 AM

She's 9 weeks old. She doesn't know she needs to go until 5 seconds before it's too late! Give her some time, it will get better.

Rem&Silkmom · 06-26-2006, 11:06 AM

In the beginning you have to watch them like hawks. As soon as she is done eating and everytime take her outside and say go potty. when she does do the pee pee dance. And tell her she is the best thing since sliced bread.

If you catch her pee or poo in the house gently pick her up say "no, outside" I used to pick up Chance's poo and take it outside and put it in the grass.

He caught on rather quickly but he was little and if I ignored the signs he would poo in the house. So we started bell training so I could hear him ring the bell to go outside. It took alittle of the pressure off of having to watch him.

If she goes outside then you know you can let her run around alittle in the house and not have to worry as much. But don't be fooled. Chance would go pee then two mins later need to go back out to poo.

Developing a routine is very helpful also, then you will start to recognize that your baby pretty much will go potty at the same times everyday if you have a feeding schedule.

Crate training is the best way to teach them to hold thier pee and poo. Chance is 7months old and accidents are few these days. Good luck and remember it takes time. Chance did not hold his poo all night until he was 6 months old. and still every morning he runs outside to poo at 6am sharp.

06-25-2006, 07:44 AM	#1
alonsdale Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, England Posts: 13	Advice on crate training do's and dont's Hi there - Millie is 9 weeks old. I'd like to use a crate to train her but I think it's early days for this ? I've just tried today to use the technique shown in this link - http://www.darnfar.com/Dog%20Trainin...ng_a_puppy.htm - ie. feed her in her crate then take her out straight after she's finished. I left the room for literarally 5 mins whilst she ate and came back to find she'd pooed instantly in her crate! She's been for a wee outside only 5 mins before going in the crate. I took her out anyway but she just wanted to play. I've now placed her back in her crate for a sleep (i've cleaned up don't worry) and she goes berserk for a while before settling down. She seems to love having the crate door open and having a roam around the kitchen with just access to water and her pee pad, she also clambers into her open crate for a sleep when the set up is like this. If she's in the kitchen she will go on her pad 95% of the time. This is the set up we have adopted for her overnight as it's the only time she's doesn't howl the house down. I've put a used pad outside where I'd like her to go outside she sniffs it a lot but hasn't shown signs of doing it there - go toilet 20 times over doesn't seem to do the job. I know she's so young at the moment so wanted all you Yorkie lovers advice on what has worked for you - i know they are all different and have their ways. I'm going back to work tomorrow so will probably crate her in the morning and come home at lunch, feed her and let her out to play/pee, then leave her to roam in the kitchen with a pad in the afternoon - do you think that's getting her into a bad habit or gradually getting her used to the crate ?

06-25-2006, 08:25 AM	#2
YorkieGuru Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 655	I have crate trained all my dogs and they seem to do just fine. I just brought home a new puppy as well and am trying to train her as well. I only leave her in her crate when I am gone or at night. If I have things to do around the house I leave a gate up in the kitchen. Usually after my dogs eat they have to go outside to poo poo. You will have accidents while they are small, so dont fret. It took my last yorkie a while to get it, but now he has no accidents unless I'm careless on my part. I personaly dont leave food in their crates, I have them eat before being put in there. I take away the water 2 hours before being put to bed as well. I come home at lunch and let them out as well, so that helps alot. They also have dividers you can set up in their crates to make it smaller. As they say a dog wont lay where they potty, even though mine did as pups cause they just cant seem to hold it that long. I just lay newspaper inside and clean it up everytime. My lil one is getting it, it just takes time. I had no problems with my other dogs, and I'm sure I'll get past this with her as well. So I'm sure yours will too. Just stick with it and praise the heck out of em. Your dog will learn to love and feel safe in their crate. (just like you said) So I wish you luck. __________________ KIM Proud mom of LOUIE and ELLE and ABBIE

06-26-2006, 10:01 AM	#4
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,227	She's 9 weeks old. She doesn't know she needs to go until 5 seconds before it's too late! Give her some time, it will get better.

06-26-2006, 11:06 AM	#5
Rem&Silkmom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 833	In the beginning you have to watch them like hawks. As soon as she is done eating and everytime take her outside and say go potty. when she does do the pee pee dance. And tell her she is the best thing since sliced bread. If you catch her pee or poo in the house gently pick her up say "no, outside" I used to pick up Chance's poo and take it outside and put it in the grass. He caught on rather quickly but he was little and if I ignored the signs he would poo in the house. So we started bell training so I could hear him ring the bell to go outside. It took alittle of the pressure off of having to watch him. If she goes outside then you know you can let her run around alittle in the house and not have to worry as much. But don't be fooled. Chance would go pee then two mins later need to go back out to poo. Developing a routine is very helpful also, then you will start to recognize that your baby pretty much will go potty at the same times everyday if you have a feeding schedule. Crate training is the best way to teach them to hold thier pee and poo. Chance is 7months old and accidents are few these days. Good luck and remember it takes time. Chance did not hold his poo all night until he was 6 months old. and still every morning he runs outside to poo at 6am sharp.