When Kimbo was first learning not to potty in the crate, I kept 4 clean towels (all the same color and type) handy. If I even saw a hint of a pee spot, I immediately changed out the towel. I would have to do this 3 or 4 times a day. I even dabbed his tee tee with a tissue so that he wouldn't get a drop of residule pee on the towel!! I wanted him to really get used to crating in a clean, fresh environment. At night, I washed the dirty ones that I wasn't using in hot water. We'd start all over in the morning. It took him about 3 weeks to get good at it. I also had to block off some of the crate area with his favorite toys. His crate is small, but he's so tiny that he still had some room to potty away from where he was laying. I'm off work for the summer so I had plenty of time to sit and watch him in his crate. When he would start to whimper and circle, I would take him out and set him on his potty pad. If he pottied, he got lots of praise and 1/3 of a Cheerio. Now that we have very few crate accidents, if any, I can put nice bedding in there. I don't have to wash it every single night!! |