Advice on Crate/Blanket Cleanup

[MattL]

So I am having some difficulty with crate training (big surprise huh?). My puppy is almost 11 weeks old. In the morning I let him out first thing, walk him, feed him, get ready for work, and let him out again. I go home at 11:30 from work to let him out, feed him, and walk him again each workday. Every time I leave him in his crate he urinates in it before I have time to get home. He does it again by the time I finish with work and get home again.

I have a few sections of blankets that I put on the bottom of the crate so he can be comfortable. Every day he urinates on them. Any Advice on how to best clean the blankets in case the smell is what is telling him to go on them repeatedly? I have been spraying them down with Natures Miracle and washing them on the sanitize setting on my washer. I have been spraying down the tray and floor near the crate with Natures Miracle as well. We have had few accidents in the house when we are home but the crate is non stopped accidents.

I love my puppy so much and he has been such a joy to have but I really could use a win with the crate soon so I can see the light at the tunnel. Right now I'm having a hard time staying positive.

[fuzzybunny]

What's the actual length of time he's in the crate between his walk and when you get home at 11:30am? It's possible he just can't physically hold it yet. My dog Jazz could only hold it his age in months so when he was 12 weeks old he could only hold it 3 hours. Nature's Miracle is good so it sounds like you're cleaning it just fine. I'm sure you'll see him holding it longer very soon.

[GermanShepherds6800]

Perhaps a neighbor can let pup out for you more often but really the pup is just young.

No bedding in crate as it defeats the purpose of crate training.

[MattL]

Yeah I figure that is the case. Its tough because at night he sleeps in my bedroom on the floor and I usually go to bed at 10:00-11 and let him out at some point between 2:00-3:00 am. From there he holds it till 6:45-7. I dont think he has been going in the bedroom as I would have smelled it. I look with a flashlight throughout the night and dont see anything. At this point two weeks into keeping him I am sleep deprived, stressed out, and not thinking clearly so I might not even notice him peeing in the bedroom at this point

At least one win has come from crating him so far. After spending 3-4 hours at a time in the crate when my girlfriend and I get home he is so happy to see us his play biting has gotten less painful. All and all its going to be worth it. He is such a handsome boy and we truely love him. We have laughed so much this week which more then makes up for the "NOs" "Downs" and "Ouches". Highlight this morning was when he started barking at my girlfriends Pug stuffed animal.

[dixiecup]

Originally Posted by MattL

Yeah I figure that is the case. Its tough because at night he sleeps in my bedroom on the floor and I usually go to bed at 10:00-11 and let him out at some point between 2:00-3:00 am. From there he holds it till 6:45-7. I dont think he has been going in the bedroom as I would have smelled it. I look with a flashlight throughout the night and dont see anything.

Is he in a crate in your room at night? Or he is sleeping on the floor of your room, free to roam? Maybe that is why he is having trouble holding it in his crate during the day, because he isn't used to being in there? 11 weeks is kind of young to let sleep outside of a crate anyways, he could get in to something while you are catching your zzzzz's! I would try putting him in the crate an night and continue the same schedule that you are doing now with taking him out. Maybe that will help him realize that when he is in the crate he needs to hold it until you are there to let him out. And also, like the others said, he is still VERY young! He will come around don't worry!

[spidermilk]

I would spray them down with Nature's Miracle and give it some time to soak in and work before washing. Later I would wash them in hot water.

I wouldn't use any more blankets in the crate until he is 100%. Dogs have a supreme sense of smell and you might never be able to completely remove the smell from the blankets. On a warm day my dog loves laying on the hard tile floor instead of the carpet or furniture. It isn't that uncomfortable for them.

[wildo]

Just a thought- how big is the crate? Perhaps you are giving him too much room. Maybe if he was in a smaller crate, he'd be more prone to holding it.

[MattL]

Yes I have considered that but in all honesty I feel like at this point it would be a waste of money to get a smaller crate. If its too big for him it wont be for long and since the crate was fine for his mom and dad a few years ago it should be ok for him too. I am going to try it without the blankets tomorrow and see how he does.

[nitemares]

i think the crate is too big, try making it smaller by putting a divider or something similar.

[Lilie]

You are crating at night when you're asleep, right?