Its most likely a training issue, Ginger is a little over a year old and is crate trained from when we brought her home from her litter. Now most times she has free run and uses a Piddle Pad. Zero accidents other then occasional hang fire, but she always comes for butt check after a #2 and if it dropped before she gets to us she will point it out. We had a pee pad in half the crate till she was about 6 months, after taking the pee pad out she had a few accidents in the crate but learned quickly.


We crated her at night till about 6 months, then only if we left her home for Doc or shopping. We are going to a reunion in Vegas and taking her so we are crating her more often to get her re accustomed to 3 or 4 hours crate time. She loves her crate and goes in as soon as I open the door, we give her a cookie and a toy, but she just goes to sleep as soon as we are out the door.


First clean crate so no smell, then leave open, we used it as a toy box so she would go in and out at will. We have a food and water bowl, but for four hours you don't need that, but give her a treat inside the crate to get her to enter on her own. Crate her for short periods where you go into other room, minute at first and build slowly. When you come back to let her out, hard to explain, but quickly try to open crate, you need to do this before she whine or gets excited. A treat to occupy her while you open crate might help, but if she whines before you get her out, tell her "No" and leave till she settles. Don't let her jump around excited after you let her out, ignore till she settles.


If she was crate trained before you just have to walk it back to before the 3 weeks, think about yourself, did you do anything different after the 3 weeks, anything change in routine? And yes the video is great to see what your pup does, ours sleep mostly unless she hears something out side, she will bark for about a minute if that. Again training, don't let your pup bark for nothing, train them that when you say "thank you its OK" you are aware and its ok, we don't allow her to keep barking.

One more thing, if not already, teach your pup a potty command, makes life much easier, At night before going to bed she goes potty and will sleep till I get up or longer, at least 8 hours. Same thing going somewhere, "Go Potty", she goes and then into crate.

IMO I don't think its as much of a training issue. Crated for 4 hrs.. let out to go. Then another 4 hrs. IMO the dog isn't happy being in the crate all day. I think a pen with the crate open and a place to potty would be better . But ime these breeds just need alot of attention. I'm not sure shes getting enough? The few hours every night isn't cutting it.

What size is the crate, I should have asked, ours is 2'X3' so she can move around. The crate has a bottom, a pen does not so it can get messy while training and some will climb or jump out.

I hate crates think they are humane.
Get an exersize pen with pee pads in it.
At least till she's trained....

I don't think they are if used right. Winnie is crate train to sleep in the evening. If I stay up to late she will scratch on the baby gate to leave the room to go to her crate and go to bed. She sleeps in a large crate at night to keep her safe from the stairs,being stepped on ect.. She will sleep all night till I wake up to let her out. But there is a spot for her to go if needed. Never has. Both my dog don't get full run of the house unattended. But they get to stay in the family room, kitchen area baby gated in. It safer for them. Plenty of room. Moki sleeps on the bed but hes a bigger dog. Winnie will get crushed.

:thumbup:

I agree that properly used and not abused, crate training can provide great emotional and physical safety and security for a dog and allows them to be calm, safe and happy- especially in the event that they need to be crated for travel, vet, groomers, boarding etc. Crate training can also create some great opportunities for one on one training and bonding if you have multiple dogs and that can be very beneficial for their independent development and overall wellbeing.

I'm sorry I meant used as mentioned with previous owner presenting her problem pee'er.

Since you're at work a lot I would try to train her to go pee/potty on the pee pad. Get a puppy apartment that is a open crate that has divider for the bed and pee pad area. That seems to work great for a lot of dog owner to train going on the pee pad.