[PDXDeutschhund]

Dutch just hit the 9 weeks mark. We've had him a week and he was doing sooooo well. He was getting me to take him out when he needed to pee. We had three or four days without any accidents.

Today he has peed inside twice and pooped once. He hadn't pooped inside since the first day we got him.

I'm extremely frustrated because he pooped inside 10 minutes after I took him outside and spent about 10 minutes walking him around.

He peed earlier about 30 minutes after he went outside and peed, which didn't make any sense to me.

He JUST peed in practically the same spot on the rug and it's only been maybe an hour or 90 minutes since his last time outside.

What's going on? Is he acting out? He's been a little punk all day. Chewing on the rug. Chewing on the cat stand. Chewing on the couch. I realize this is pretty standard behavior, but today just seems worse than usual.

The biggest difference about today is that it's pouring outside. Does he just not want to pee outside? Anyone have any thoughts on this? I just thought we had turned a corner and now it seems like we're regressing.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

He's getting comfortable get used to it If your not feeding him on a schedule and taking him out on a set schedule I would start now. Pups don't quite know how to tell you it's time yet and he might not even realize it's time till he's midstream kinda like potty training a kid. Set a schedule of every hour taking him out and staying out till he goes chanting go potty and treating when he does. If you notice sniffing take him out again, and crate him when you can't watch him. The best way to potty train is to avoid accidents at all costs though of course they'll have a few you have to be patient. Also clean accidents really well with an enzyme busting cleaner to remove the scent or he'll smell himself on the carpet and think aw yeah right here

We can't crate train. We've been trying. He freaks out. I barely close the door while he's eating or working on a bone and he starts to get worked up. He bites down on the wiring and starts pulling. I've tried sitting next to him. I've tried ignoring him. I don't know what to do. I don't want him to hurt himself.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

Keep trying, your letting him make the rules. Try covering the crate and the minute he is quiet let him out and throw a party! I thought Max was never going to get there but now he loves his crate. Each pup is different when it comes to crate training.

Shouldn't I be worried that he's going to break a tooth or hurt himself?

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

take him out more often. don't wait untill he gives
you a signal that you miss read. 90 minutes between breaks might to long for your pup. if your pup is going in the house and you're home
that means you're not watching him closely.

We were taking him out every 2 hours, sometimes more, but at least every two hours and it was working fine until today.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

Everything I read here is in contradiction to what I read elsewhere. It seems like you all say I should just toss him in and let him adjust. But all the crate training sites say that's bad.

Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament and past experiences. It's important to keep two things in mind while crate training:

• The crate should always be associated with something pleasant.
• Training should take place in a series of small steps. Don't go too fast.

Crate Training : The Humane Society of the United States

I'm so conflicted.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

Everyone does it different but for me crate training gradually isn't an option. I have to work, run around with the kids, and have a life outside my home like most. I can't simply not go anywhere the first month of a pups life to get them used to a crate. Yes you should leave toys and treats in the crate with the pup and even something that smells like you to make them more comfortable though nothing that can be destroyed and choked on. However, if you take your pup out of the crate because he's throwing a tantrum he will throw a tantrum every time he's put in there. So for the nights he has to suck it up and during the day you can practice making the crate fun by throwing treats in there and leaving the door open, feeding them in there, and locking them in for only short periods while you throw some laundry in, or vacuum. In my experience all pups freak about the crate and trying to get them to be calm when they can see and hear you is impossible. Do some research on the HSUS- their not so squeaky clean and animal loving

So you would say I should just toss him in tonight and let him get over it?

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

The pup is nine weeks old.

He is not peeing intentionally to tick you off. Sorry.

He is a baby, and he just doesn't get it yet.

Are you taking a yummy treat out with you when you potty outside? Do you use your happy voice, saying What a good boy, you when pee pee OUTside? Stress the word OUTside?

When he starts to potty inside, do you scoop him up saying, Eh, OUTside to pee pee? Then take him outside, let him finish and praise the dickens out of him for doing so and give him the yummy treat?

Are you paying constant attention to your puppy when he is loose?

Are you cleaning up pee spots with an enzyme cleaner, thouroughly?

Are you cleaning up accidents without any fan fare, of frustration leaking out at the puppy?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

and Yes.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

We crated him last night, all night. Put him in at midnight, took him outside every two hours. Let him out and gave him breakfast at 7. Man he pitched a fit last night. It's not whimpering. It's not crying. It's screaming and howling. The little guy has some lungs on him. There were some chunks of quiet, but it pretty much went on all night.

We're going to try again tonight. It was easy to get him in the first time with a kong... it got harder after that. He didn't really want to be in there.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

Sometimes a good raw meaty bone to work on, that he gets only inside the crate works wonders. The pup will literally fall asleep mid chew.

Oh we give him a lamb knucklebone from time to time. He loves it. He loves it so much that he will work on that sucker for 45 minutes or more. I've done all the little things. He eats in there. He gets treats in there. We only give him the bones in there. Doesn't stop the fact that he gets pretty intense separation anxiety.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

He is only getting intense because first off he does not like the crate then second he has now learned that you will let him out if he pitches a fit. Hang in there you are doing the right thing and will be happier for it later, trust us.

He's really not diggin the crate today. I've tried to feed him in there and he just isn't eating.

I took him to a puppy romp though and he's exhausted from not getting any sleep last night so I'm thinking he's just really tired.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

So here's my question... if we're crating at night, we still have to let him out to go potty. Does he associate that with "winning" even if he's going right back in?

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

So you don't praise them after you open the gate? Last night I waited until he calmed down every time I let him out, praised him, took him out to pee, put him back in and went back to bed.

No. I don't think so.

The important thing is to be sure not to play/give attention to him when he's out. Usually when I have to get up in the middle of the night with puppy I am bleary eyed and cranky to start with. I pick up the puppy, take him out, stand in one spot or do the slow circle thing. I don't pet the puppy, I don't make eye contact with the puppy, I don't talk to the puppy...except to praise him for going potty...and then I pick the puppy back up, trudge back upstairs, put the puppy in the crate with a treat, drop my hand back by the crate and attempt to go to sleep again.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

Your doing fine don't sweat the small stuff By this time next week his tantrums may very well be over or if anything he'll wimper for 5-10 minutes. It's worse for you because you didn't put your foot down on day 1 when he didn't understand any rules in your house. Now he thinks he doesn't have to be in the crate because you taught him he could get out. Now your breaking the rules and making him stay in which is naturally confusing. A few more days of you being firm with making him sleep there and he'll finally get it

I wish I had put him in the crate on the first night instead of sleeping on the couch with him just below me. Now he's got separation anxiety and the job is that much tougher. With that said, we only put him in the crate a couple times before last night. Mostly we were trying the slower method, but it just takes too darn long.

Oh, and on the lamb knuckle bone, it seems like it's mostly flesh and cartilage around a joint. Once he works all that off, we throw it away. I don't want him chewing on the harder bone. It was recommended by the shop keeper at the Holistic store that we go to. You guys don't think it's a good idea? What would you use instead? I heard the cartilage is good for him.

 

[PDXDeutschhund]

Last night he was a little better. At times he actually quieted down. It sucked that I had to let him out to go pee because he was quietly working on his kong.

And after he went back in, which wasn't easy, he started crying again. It's really difficult to get him back in that crate after I left him out.