Two problems - Weeing in crate and barking

[jessmerce]

We got our little yorkie Franklin when he was 4 months old and he is now 8.5 months. Generally the potty training is going pretty well and he rarely has accidents around the house. Our issue is with the crate. I read over and over that dogs won't go to the washroom in the space where they sleep if the space is small enough, but apparently Franklin is the exception. We put him in the crate when we are having dinner so that he doesn't beg, when we leave him at the house while we're gone and my boyfriend puts him in the crate throughout the day while he works. Sometimes Franklin will be great and just sit there or sleep until we are home or finished doing whatever we are doing (we've left him for 3 hours without any accidents). Other times though, he whines a lot or we will come home and he will have had an accident, even if we've been gone an hour. He has even had an accident when locked up while we eat dinner. I should also point out that we always take him out to go to the washroom before he is put in his crate. Its like he is doing it beause he is mad at us. Any suggestions?

Other issue is that he barks like a little crazy puppy at any and all dogs. Its getting to the point where we get a bit embarrassed because we can't have a conversation with people if they're dog is around because Franklin is barking his head off. We have tried the horn that hisses and we have tried water with a bit of vinegar. Should we be adding more vinegar? Any other kinds of sprays? Any other suggestions?

[diva_vida]

Maybe he has separation anxiety that's causing him to go while he's in the crate? I know my puppy hates when he's in the crate and I'm in the apartment lol. Does he sleep on blankets or a bed or is his crate too large? I've read that sometimes you have to toss the blankets or bed if they keep going on them if they've been soiled. Does he have safe toys in his crate to keep him occupied or is he in there by himself? Hopefully someone can give you some suggestions!

About the barking, my puppy Reese is 4 months and barks at every dog and every person, but I allow him to go up to the friendly dogs and sniff them and then he always wants to play lol. Maybe he needs to be shown that these dogs aren't a threat to him or you. Or is he play barking? Reese is such a yapper when he wants to play!

[sandy simpson]

My Jojo barks and my friend gave me a barker breaker. It gives off a loud sound when he barks. It seems to work. I will never use a shock collar but this is ok

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by jessmerce

We got our little yorkie Franklin when he was 4 months old and he is now 8.5 months. Generally the potty training is going pretty well and he rarely has accidents around the house. Our issue is with the crate. I read over and over that dogs won't go to the washroom in the space where they sleep if the space is small enough, but apparently Franklin is the exception. We put him in the crate when we are having dinner so that he doesn't beg, when we leave him at the house while we're gone and my boyfriend puts him in the crate throughout the day while he works. Sometimes Franklin will be great and just sit there or sleep until we are home or finished doing whatever we are doing (we've left him for 3 hours without any accidents). Other times though, he whines a lot or we will come home and he will have had an accident, even if we've been gone an hour. He has even had an accident when locked up while we eat dinner. I should also point out that we always take him out to go to the washroom before he is put in his crate. Its like he is doing it beause he is mad at us. Any suggestions?

Other issue is that he barks like a little crazy puppy at any and all dogs. Its getting to the point where we get a bit embarrassed because we can't have a conversation with people if they're dog is around because Franklin is barking his head off. We have tried the horn that hisses and we have tried water with a bit of vinegar. Should we be adding more vinegar? Any other kinds of sprays? Any other suggestions?

Hold the vinegar. You risk doing serious harm to his eyes. I would work on general obedience training using positive reinforcement methods, socialization, and de-sensitization. Practice daily in the house (basic obedience) and outdoors.

I understand the battle -- my Max is an excitement barker when he sees other dogs, but he improves tremendously the more we practice and are out and about. He regresses when we go long periods of not being around other dogs.

For potty problems -- when you say Franklin is crated while your boyfriend works, what is the longest he is crated? If the timeframe is really long, it might be too long for Franklin to hold it. Then during shorter periods of crating, Franklin might be figuring he won't be having a potty break any time soon, so he may as well relieve himself.

Would you be open to using a piddle pad?

[SaraJB]

I completely understand what you're going through with the peeing in the crate. I only adopted Hailey in October and she's 6 years old but she has separation anxiety. The first time it became an issue was when my boyfriend was over and I closed her out of my bedroom while we were in there. She peed right in the middle of the living room carpet. She'd never gone inside for the two months I already had her. I knew I needed to crate train her if I was to ever have alone time with my boyfriend again. For the first few weeks, Hailey peed and pooped in her crate and it was definitely to tell me she hated the crate. Now that she's used to the crate and has somewhat accepted that she can't be on my lap at all times, she no longer pees or poops in her crate. She seemed to accept the crate better once I became more predictable and routine about when she was to go in it. Maybe you could try being routine about when your pup gets crated. I hate crating her but her separation anxiety seems a little better now.