My Poor Baby
 

Beowulf is 7 months today. I feel so bad because I had to put him in his cage today while we're gone for work because he has been having accidents all week and can't be trusted to roam the house. Well he was panting and his tongue was out and he was shaking and I felt so bad for him I almost caved and let him out but I didn't. :( I haven't seen him pant like that when put in his cage I have seen him shake but not pant. Is he going to be okay?

Noo everything is fine he's going regularly, he just really hates going in his cage. Idk if maybe its cause we put him in there when he's in trouble or if we want him to go potty, he pooped twice and peed when I put him in there and then the panting started so maybe he thought he was in trouble and didn't know why? :confused: I feel so bad though my little baby I wish I can bring him to work with me:(

Some people talk about how their babies are cage trained and I get so jealous. Max hated the cage from the very 1st day we tried to put him in there. We gave up and just kept him confined to the kitchen where he couldn't do much damage (no carpet). Maybe you could try one of those round open cages I've heard some folks talk about. It's not as confining but still limits where he can mess. I am sure some people will disagree with me but I don't think all dogs can be cage trained and be comfortable in there. We can force them to stay in the cage but what is it doing to them psychologically? Like humans, some dogs adapt and some will not.

Mine are all caged trained....but I do not ever use the crate as punishment...that is strictly for naps and overnight and if I have to leave the house....and in stormy weather, everyone goes to their cages so I can locate them all and gather them up in an emergency....mine love their crates and are very secure and safe and comfortable in there....I throw a sheet over the top, like a bird cage and all is good!

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Crate is NEVER to be used as punishment if you want them willingly go in it. I have never used a crate for any puppy I ever had, I confined them to the kitchen. My cousins all have crates for their yorkies and their babies LOVE their crates, they hide their "stuff" in it, take their "Don't bother me" NAPS in it, that is their "safe haven". Try an x-pen for confining him to a small area. You can place his crate , pee pads, toys food and water bowl and he will still have room to walk and play.

My dogs absolutely *hate* any crate, so we never forced it upon them as I don't believe in confining animals in really small spaces if they can't handle it. Instead, we bought an Iris Pen and used that when they were puppies.

Well its not a crate its like a caged play pen its really big and spacious but he hates being confined in it. My bf thinks he's taking to my personality as I'm a bit of a drama queen and he's acting like he's hyperventilating when I put him in his cage now, he did it again this morning but I let him out :D I hope there's no accidents when I get home. So what do you all suggest I do to correct behavior like accidents? He knows he's wrong but he does it anyway. How do I correct that? Obviously putting him in the cage is not working.

I tried to use the cage to confine him in the kitchen but the little rascal always found a way out lol and I don't have $$ to spend on one of those little fence things right now. I'll get one eventually though.

Instead of any cage, is there a way for you to block off a room? Perhaps the kitchen since if he does have accidents in there, it'd be easy to clean up. As he gets older and better with potty training, you can open up his space little more.

Do you leave toys in his cage? Or maybe a treat dispensing toy to keep him busy. For me, the treat toys work great since they're food driven.

Yes, he's definitely food driven. He learned high five in like 10 min. with treats:rolleyes: I usually don't but yesterday I did put a treat in his kong. I have to buy him a fence to block him in the kitchen but I just don't have it right now with the Holidays and all.

I use this ball for my two. Just put some kibbles inside and they roll it around so the kibbles would fall out. If I want to keep them busy a little longer, I put the ball under a small blanket so they'd have to "dig" it out.

Pet Supplies : Pet Toy Balls : Omega Paw Tricky...
Video of Zoey "digging" for her treat ball:

Oh that's pretty cool! Thanks! Your babies are so adorable:D makes me want another one:rolleyes: I would have to put a treat inside though he's not too crazy about his kibble. Did you get the large size?

No, small. It doesn't have to be kibbles. Sometimes, I cut up boiled chicken (I keep frozen) and put it in. You can also buy chicken liver from grocery stores and boil/freeze to use those as well!

My baby boy hates the cage -- he thinks its prison. He has anxiety issues when he's nervous or scared, so he definitely shakes, pants, and yawns in confinement (cage, kennel, small room, car). It could be real anxiety.

Do you have a pee pad in the crate? I have a playpen for Lacy, with her bed, water and food dishes and a UGO potty, and she uses it all the time now when she has to go and she is in her crate. If you don't have a pee pad in there, try one, or try a UGO potty. I use Natures Miracle Housebreaking Spray on the pad, and it has sure worked for Lacy.

I agree that you should never use crate or any kind of confinement as punishment or discipline. Dogs don't understand time out or why they are being "put away", same thoughts on people who stick their dogs nose in their poop when they have an accident - they have no idea why you're doing that. (Not you, just speaking in generalities)
You said you put him in his crate when you want him to go potty?

As far as accidents go, I'm assuming you mean in other parts of the house not in his crate?
Some Yorkies take longer than others to be 100% potty trained. If he has an accident, don't make a big deal out of it, just clean it up well so no scent is lingering. Continue praising him whenever he goes outside.

Our little girl hasn't gone in the house in over 6 months (she's 16 mo old), then last week, she went two nights in a row. She hates to wake us up so it wasn't really her fault. She hates going inside even though we have never once scolded her for an accident.
She is so good that she goes potty in demand outside. If you say "Go potty", she immediately goes, if we said it ten times, she'd force it ten times!
I LOVE these smart little dogs!

P.S. Mia was never crate trained. She slept in it when we first got her, then she got her jaw caught on one of the hinges (shaped like a J), after that, forget it!

When my dogs were puppies I kept them in the kitchen with news paper and or wee wee pads. The kitchen floor was tile so it was easy to clean , every day. They had enough room to play and had water bowl and toys. I was able to work with out worring. They also had their beds. I don't like crating my dogs when I am not at home. Just my opinion. Any tile or easy to clean surface is good.

Tina