I REALLY need some help with Smokey
 

I've never had a rescue before. I've raised all my dogs from 8 weeks old. Smokey has some bad habits that I don't know how to break because I've never dealt with them. The biggest one is, he potty's in his crate. Why? I don't know. Every day 4x a day we have to clean scrub his crate down. We take him outside, but he doesn't do anything but explore. He has no potty pattern at all. Like when we brought Chip home, it became apparent that he pooped before he ate in the morning and before bed. He pee'd at more random times, but we could tell when he was about to cause he'd start sniffing around. Smokey on the other hand poops 3-4 times a day and pee's just random squirts just wherever he happens to be. A couple days ago when I was running some errands, Smokey did his dime sized squirt. While Adam was scrubbing the carpet, Smokey squirted again, so Adam started cleaning that spot, and Smokey squirted again... Adam said this went on about 8 times and it was about dime sized. This morning Smokey pooped in his crate around 3:30 A.M. and then again at 7:30 A.M. We cut out food and treats about 6-7 P.M. for him. And the thing is, he tells us AFTER he does it. Of course, I'm asleep at those times and Adam is at work. Smokey doesn't whine or anything. He does it, then starts running around in circles in his crate until we wake up and by then his poop is smushed in and all over him and his crate. It's like he's been reverse trained. I don't get it and I don't know how to help him. Please, I need all the advice I can get. If you all know of even any books I can read about potty training rescues that would be great. I'm so confused, but I'm not giving up on him like everyone else did.

any one?

Oh, I'm really sorry you are having such a tough time with Smokey. How old is he?

My Tinkerbelle is a rescue from a BYB puppy mill but I got her when she was 8 weeks old so it wasn't too hard to get her training started. We still have problems, but she knows what she's supposed to do - it's just a matter of wills!:rolleyes:

If the pup was left in a crate all the time, he's used to being in his own filth, so I don't think the normal technique of crating him in a small space would work. I think you've got a tough job ahead of you. You might try leashing him to you during the day so you can catch him when he squats or lifts his leg and quick put him on the potty pad or take him outside.

I do think if you watch him carefully, you will notice a pattern for the poos at least. He may not give you any warning, but if you time them you may be able to chart something that will help you.

I hope someone with more experience than I have will see this post and offer you some good advice. I certainly feel for you and wish you losts of luck.

Smokey is 7 months old and is a puppy mill puppy but I don't know much about him. I know that the original owner was wheelchair bound, so I don't know if he had the run of the house and was never taught anything or was crated all the time. I hope someone can offer some advice. I think I might have went in too deep this time, but I'm not giving up on him, ever. We'll be right there with him every step of the way.

I am no expert but want to wish you luck... have plenty of patience with him, and watch him close... and praise him when he does go where he should...
Good Luck!
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