So why does our dog lay in its own urine??
 

We used to have a large crate for the dog to stay in while we're sleeping and while we're at work, but we use the divider now to section it off so it's a lot smaller b/c that will help with crate training. So basically, there's two sections of space....one for sleeping...and one for elimination....we lay down newspaper on one half for that, and he sleeps on the other. There isn't a lot of room, but then again, there isn't supposed to be.

My main problem is this...he likes to lay in his own urine. We have to about bathe him every day because his smell is so disgusting after basically taking a bath of urine on his stomach. Sometimes he'll even lay in his own feces, which is arguably even worse.

Now, I realize he spends extraordinary amounts of time in that crate, BUT these dogs aren't supposed to like laying in their own waste.

Any reasons or solutions?

That's an awful long time to be crated, all day while you work, and all night while you sleep? He's probably become used to laying in his own waste:(

Maybe if you got and X-pen and put down some pee pads, along with his food and water,and toys, and then the crate inside that with the door open, he might start using the pads and just sleeping in his crate.

Good luck, I know it's hard, you just have to keep at it and try something new when you hit a dead end:love:

Well the thing that kills me here is that he doesn't have to lay in his own waste...never has. He has enough room to not do that....but it's like he chooses to do so. I just don't understand why...I'm not sure if giving daily baths is really such a good thing, but we pretty much HAVE to so that our things he touches when we let him out don't smell like urine.

I agree with LunasMomma. If you're going to be away for the day, a play pen allows your pup to run around AND roll around as much as they want to without having to lie in their poop. And even though they have "enough" space to NOT lie in their excrement in the crate, it's probably not enough space for them to really play around. Give the pen a try...they cost under $60. :)

Morgan was crated when i first got her as well. She was in the crate while i was at work and at night. I used the divider that came with the crate and sectioned of 2/3 of the crate so she only had 1/3 of the crate to use. I didn't give her the option of having paper on one end. She spent 4 hours in the crate in the morning, then i came home to let her outside at lunch, and then another 4 hours till i got home from work at night. She never messed in her crate. After 2 weeks i set her up in the ex-pen so that she would have more room to play while i was gone. I didn't give her a pee pad and she never peed or pooped while in the ex-pen. this worked for us, but doesn't work for everyone. I was really strict with her crate training and it worked out well.

By teaching your dog to eliminate in the crate, you're defeating the purpose of crate training. Dogs naturally do not want to eliminate in their "den". That's why crate training works. You have a crate big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around in, and to stretch out some. You put a bed in there and that's it - no food, no water, no pee pads. You DO NOT want the dog going to the bathroom at all in the crate. The puppy (being this young) needs to be taken out every few hours to potty, not left to potty in its crate. Even by dividing a separate potty spot, you're still teaching the dog to go in it's "den". The little divider doesn't separate it's waste much from the bed.

Also, I don't know where you got your puppy from but if it happened to be from a petstore or a breeder than kept the puppy in a kennel most of the time, he is probably used to going to the bathroom in his "den" and will be very difficult to potty train because that's what he is used to. In that situation a crate doesn't usually work well.

"These" dogs are also not meant to spend 20+ hours in a crate......You have been given plenty of good suggestions, you just choose not to listen to them.......At times I feel you just come here for entertainment, "Let's see what response I get to this", so far I have not read any changes you have made......What have you done that has been suggested? Anything?

Well, we are going to switch up his food next time we buy food...does that count??

We'll consider the exercise pen....we just would have to find the right area to put it in....the good thing is, chewing isn't an issue then...that was why I refused to let him have free reign of any room in our house...I refuse to have our stuff get destroyed.

So we'd just lay down newspaper....and pray to God that he uses it then...because honestly, he'll crap and urinate in his bed sometimes too...THAT I can't understand...it's a really nice and soft bed...and he craps in it.

With you being gone such long hours and having no one to let the dog out to potty, I'd say crate training just isn't an option for you. You have to let the dog out often enough to potty so it doesn't go in the crate - otherwise you're defeating the purpose. I think an X-pen would be a better option for you. Try to train the puppy to use puppy pads. I don't like using newspaper -doesn't absorb liquid very well whereas puppy pads do. That way if your dog does pee and lay on it, it's at least absorbed in the pad and he's not "bathing" in it. I think a nicely set up x-pen might work though - on one end put a couple puppy pads, and at the other end put a bed and toys. With an x-pen you can even put a bowl of water and/or food in there (depending on how long you are gone). I would nix the crate though - you're gone too long for that.

He's just a baby and you'll have to be patient with him. The pet stores have the disposable pads that have an attractant in them that tells the pup they need to go on the pad. I suggest a frame for the pad so he won't tear the pads up, as some puppies like to do that:rolleyes: Praise him like crazy whenever you see him use the pads and pretty soon he'll get the hang of it. It's a lot of work, and a ton of patience, but it'll pay off. He just needs a little more room if he's to be confined.

Some here have used a remnant of linoleum under the xpen to protect the floors in case of an accident. No puppy is going to be 100% trained instantly, and there will be some accidents, but just hang in there:)

Pee Pads are cheap at Walmart. They also sell pads for adult dogs and they do a great job.

Even with playpen you need to spend a bit of time to teach your pup where to do his business. I would first put pad somewhere in the pen and watch puppy. When he tries to do his business try to put him (but do not scare him, gently) onto the pad. If he is done then you may get a tissue with a bit of smell of his pee-pee and put it onto the pad and move pad at the spot where he did it (of course clean-up first). Very soon he will start using the spot for elimination. You will have to spend maybe weekend for this training.

The first day I got my puppy I watched for his favorite spots to go and put potty pads there. We did not crate or pen him. He had whole living room for himself but I'm most of the time home. After a while we just reduced number of favorite spots to only one. I hope this helps. Just be patient. Definitely get him playpen.

I agree with everyone else. You've misunderstood the purpose of crate training. Crate training is meant to teach the dog not to go to the bathroom in his home and how to hold it. Tanner is just too young to hold his bladder right now. Sectioning is meant to make a large crate small enough to be effective for crate training.

At this point, he has learned that it is okay to go to the bathroom in his home and will make training more difficult. I think that pee pad training is the way to go now. Section off a part of the house that does not have carpet for him or invest in an x-pen. Personally, I've even used a playpen for the very tiny ones. Buy some of the spray that is designed for using on the pee pad that will tell him that is where he should go to the bathroom. Yes, some pads are already scented by the spray is much more effective. Also make sure you take him outside immediately after you wake up in the morning and when you get home from work. Also take him outside right after he eats.

Regardless, just remember that he is way too young to be able to hold his bladder. He will continue to have small quarter sized accidents very frequently which are not his fault. Punishing him right now will only make it harder to train him in the long term.

Have you looked into doggy daycare? There are some great ones in the area and a really good one in Franklin (not sure where you work). There are a few of us on here that are in the Nashville area and can give you some recommendations if you are interested.

I've seen pee pads really cheap at Target (much much cheaper than petsmart or petco). They are the arm & hammer brand.

He only does this because you inadvertently trained him to. You have to be really careful when it comes to training because you can easily train them to engage in bad behaviors if you are not careful.

You aren't around enough to teach him not too...

Do you just come on here for pure entertainment because I just can't believe anyone can be so ignorant about a dog who is still a BABY! You're expecting too much out of him, you won't take anyone's advice...and you've had some GOOD advice here from people who know what they're talking about!! But, you refuse to listen. From previous posts, it seems like you don't even like this pup, you resent the time your fiance spends with him because he likes her better.:rolleyes:

I don't know why you waste your time coming here to ask for advice because then you argue with people about it or find excuses why you can't do this or that. You obviously didn't bother to learn about yorkies before you bought the pup or bother to think about how long this poor baby is left crated in a space he can't move around much in! 20 hours a day!!!:eek:

I never crated my yorkie, but that was because he has 24/7 supervision since my husband works days, and I work eves. He has always had the run of the house, but he has never destroyed anything. You seem so worried your pup will destroy your stuff, damage your carpeting...blah blah blah....why did you even buy a dog??? You have to be there more in order for him to ever be expected to learn anything!! How is he supposed to learn or play in such a small space for that many hours a day????? I have nothing against crate training, but that is way too long to crate him!!!

I'm sorry to everyone else, I'm not trying to start anything. I just get annoyed when I see one of these babies not taken care of properly, and then he blames the poor dog who is only a BABY!!!:mad:

I completely agree with SJK1113! Sounds like it is time to find this baby a real home! Someone whom has the time to give it the love and attention it deserves! I just finished reading every thread you ever started on here and it sounds to me like you like to stir the pot and that you never really even wanted this dog let alone ever even liked it! Is the dog even real or do you just like to get people fired up? If there is a yorkie please do the right thing and find it a more suitable home! Sorry to all other members on here, I just can't bite my tongue on things like these!

I really think that you're not around enough to properly train the puppy where to go to the bathroom. I stay at home w/my puppies and they still work on potty training daily even after months of practice.

Some get it sooner than others. One of my puppies would lay in his own urine because I bought him from a petstore..He didn't even know what a bed WAS until he came to live with me and was used to stopping and peeing in his crate whenever the urge hit.

It takes a lot of time and energy to train a puppy. If you or your gf can't be there.. can't you hire someone to come let the puppy out at least mid day and play w/him, and take it outside to potty?

I really think it's nearly impossible to potty train a puppy being gone as long as you guys are. Some people can do it, but in most cases they come home on their lunch break and spend lots of time w/the puppy in the evening and on weekends teaching it good behavior.

Think about it... if you were left alone as a child for hours and hours a day.. how would you learn the lessons that you needed to? You probably wouldn't.. or the lessons wouldn't have been taught correctly. It's a similar situation with a puppy.. they need praise, routine, patience and understanding to learn how to be a good canine citizen and make the behaviors that their humans desire a habit.

I guess my only advice, although I truly think this puppy is alone way waaaaaay too much is to get an Xpen.

If you can, get a small crate to put inside the xpen w/just a plain folded old sheet or towel for comfort (easier to wash if there's a mistake), line the entire pen w/pee pads (if you want the puppy pee pad trained). This does not give the puppy an opportunity to make a mistake because the entire surface is lined with the correct spot to go potty.

Slowly start taking away the pee pads.. if the puppy continues to go on the remaining pee pads PRAISE like crazy, give lots of treats, and slowly keep removing the pee pads over the next week or so. If there's an accident.. go back to putting more pee pads in the Xpen until he gets it.

This method will only work if your puppy is not a pee pad shredder... and it's not my ideal method.. but w/your hours I see it as one of the only ways Tanner can teach himself :(.

Do a search for crate training. A lot of people confuse using a crate for confinement with crate training. You are supposed to be home or only away for short periods of time when crate training. The puppy needs to be let out when it can no longer hold it or it defeats the purpose.

You are locking your puppy in a space that is too small for such long periods of time. Switch to an xpen or a puppy proof room for the puppy's sake.

I'm sure you now know yorkies are known for being difficult to housebreak even under the best of circumstances. With you being gone so much, I hope you keep in mind it is more your fault than his if it takes a very long time (if ever) for him to learn. Best of luck to both of you.

drawlins27 suggestion for daycare is an excellent idea. :thumbup:

I agree you need an expen

You should get a large x-pen so that he has a lot of room when you're gone.

You really can't put an untrained puppy into a crate with pads, even with the divider. They will only learn to go in their own environment. If you or your fiancee can't come home every few hours to let him out to either walk him, or take him to the paper, he's not going to get trained.

When I was working, I put Max in Doggie Day Care a couple of days/week and
gave him the bathroom, which I dog-proofed with a pad, food, water, his bed, music, etc. when he wasn't in day care. I wasn't out that many hours either. I was a teacher so was home early, and this was after 2 months of being home with him for summer vacation. (He has never used that bathroom pee pad because he was trained not to go in his own environment. I kind of wish he would use it).

Maybe it's time to put him in day care where they will train him. It's expensive, but you have to make the commitment to have a happy, well trained pet and spend the money. If you and your fiancee can't do that, you might think about rehoming him. He's never going to train himself, so maybe it's just not the right time for a dog. You'll never enjoy him, and will just keep getting frustrated to the point where you'll dislike him.

May I ask why you have a dog?
I am not trying to be rude but the poor dog has no life!
To crate train the dog it has to be taken out on a timely basis to
get the idea. Being locked in a crate during the day and all night
when does he get to go potty outside of the crate?
I have to be honest and say,
no wonder he is lying in his urine. He can't hold it that long he
has no choice. Poor pup.

Good Post!

Well, if you don't have any other way of changing your schedule and you want to keep the dog, I would put him in a crate. I would use a small area, like a bathroom, kitchen or laundy room. You put the crate/bed on one side and the pads/potty area on the other side of the room. That way he will not lay down in his own waste, because he has the option not to.
I out of the house for at least 9 hours, and before Bengi was potty trained he would stay in the kitchen. It is cruel to crate a dog for more than 4/5 hours, even more if they are pups.

Yorkies are notorious for being challenging to potty train and you are doing absolutely nothing to train him. Please take everyone's advise and get an x-pen or babygate him in a small room. What you are doing is cruel.

Well i dont know about you guys but I've read some of this person
Thread and i just cant understand why they got a puppy if they
dont have the TIME or the patients for one:confused: it always
seems that he always has something negative to say of this poor
puppy :thumbdown I think that many of you guys have been really
nice on giving advise but i dont think that he really cares wht any
one really has to say...To me it seem he just comes on here for
entertainment...Which kinda sucks for the puppy...:( But thats
just me...

I just read another of this person's threads and all I can think to say is, Run Heidi, RUN!

I know what you mean, and I think the same way. There was a thread that created a lot of controversy and I was hoping that everybody would ignore him. But he keeps asking this questions and although just ignoring him would be an option, I\'m a true believer that a good advice always leaves something good, even if that person is not paying attention at first. I don\'t think it is necessary to repeat things a thousand times and go around the topic for hours. but if a question is asked, an aswer will be given. If he wants to take it, fine, but it was given to him and we did all we could to avoid that puppy\'s suffering.

Honestly this person suffers from two disorders:

The first is "in one ear and out the other".... No matter what you tell them it\'s a waste of your breath because it\'s not what he wants to hear and it\'s not lending credibility to what he wants everyone to believe.

The second is "it\'s my way or the highway".....Everyone in that family will suffer due to immaturity and stubbornness.

Raising puppies and children is an all consuming task and you have to keep trying and if that fails you have to take another approach. It\'s a rough job to get through that first year with a puppy but if you start out with negative vibes and not wanting to participate then every little mishap will be magnified into astronomic proportions.

Prayers for the whole group because they sure need it.