brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353 
|
Post by brandy327 on Aug 20, 2014 12:57:01 GMT
So Canon's doing pretty well overall. He's growing like a weed and is adjusting to our family very well. We've been testing the waters in the crate because I have less than 2 weeks until I go back to work (only 2 days a week). I left him yesterday for 6.5 hours because one day a week I'll be gone 7 hours and the other will be 6 hours. You can tell he did his best but he peed a little. When I got home, I let him out he peed twice and pooped RIGHT away. He's been doing fantastic in the crate at night...we've stretched it to about 6 hours at night and he's been good. Except last night...he pooped in the crate overnight. Ugh. It's not bad enough to have to wake up at 5am, but to wake up at 5am and have to clean poop out of the crate AND give him a bath...ugh. LOL Good thing he's cute!! And dh said he had a feeling last night when he let him out for the last time that he had to go but got distracted and then didn't go. Anyway, my question is...he's proven that he can go several hours without going outside to pee. But during the day when he's out and about, sometimes he's going to the door to go out at least 1-2 times an hour....or more. And we know he wants to go out vs just sitting at the door because he hits the door with his paw...same thing our other dog does. How do we stretch the time during the when he's out and about? He DOES pee when we go out but it's just a very small amount. And then he wants to eat the rocks, eat the leaves, run around, etc. We do give him a treat when he goes outside and does something. So I'm not sure if he's going out all the time to get a treat or what. But I don't see why he can't go for a longer period of time during the day when he can do it in the crate and at night. Any ideas? And here's a pic I don't think I've shared...taking a ride in the car. Don't mind the girls hands...one was trying to stop the other from giving Canon bunny ears.   |
|
peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,948
|
Post by peppermintpatty on Aug 20, 2014 13:18:28 GMT
Awww. Too cute. I don't have any advice on housebreaking because all my dogs were already when we got them.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 10, 2024 0:22:24 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2014 13:25:33 GMT
He may go out because he wants to be outside. Nothing more. I'd keep treating him when he "goes" and I'd let him out when he asks even if all he wants is to play outside. His bladder is growing at a natural pace. You can't train him into a bigger bladder or a longer hold. Those are physical growth issues. If he isn't quite ready for a full 7 hour crate you might consider gating him into a small room, like a bathroom so if he has an accident he has enough space to move out of it.
I prefer crate training and crates but there are times you have to know you are asking more than the dog is physically able.
|
|
|
|
Post by alibama on Aug 20, 2014 13:27:10 GMT
No advice here but I wanted to say he is so cute!
|
|
|
|
Post by shevy on Aug 20, 2014 13:30:40 GMT
"They" say that puppies can only hold their bladder for 2x/months of age. EIther DH or I were coming home to let our guy out at lunch until he was about 6 months old, in addition to feeding him a bit of food. It's hard because usually I would say to make sure that you're not feeding/watering right before you put him in the crate as a puppy (if you're going to be gone for that long), but he has to eat in the am. I'd also say that a better food produces less poop and would help him hold out longer. I wouldn't worry so much about him going out so much during the day when you're home. It's a good thing that he has the idea that he can go out when you're home and has to hold it when you're not.
|
|
|
|
Post by momstime on Aug 20, 2014 13:36:25 GMT
Make sure your crate is not too big. It should just be big enough to lie down comfortably and/or stand and turn around. It sounds like he might have too much space, if he is making a bathroom area. Dogs don't want to lie in their waste. They will eat it, but not sleep in it. sigh
|
|
|
|
Post by mollycoddle on Aug 20, 2014 13:36:59 GMT
No advice, but he is really cute!
|
|
brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
|
Post by brandy327 on Aug 20, 2014 13:41:43 GMT
Thanks so much girls! shevy - I've heard the same thing which would mean he can do 6 hours, which is right about where he is. I have almost 2 weeks left until I go back to work...so hopefully his bladder will grow to hold an extra hour.  I just wasn't sure if I was missing something obvious with the daytime where he's wanting to go out all the time.  I'll just keep letting him out whenever he wants and reward him when he goes potty. Thanks gals! |
|
|
|
Post by JustCallMeMommy on Aug 20, 2014 13:47:56 GMT
We used a crate at first with Gingersnap, but for work days when he was still a puppy, I found it better to set up a play area for him with a pee pad. I got something like this pen. I would clip it to both sides of his crate during the day, so he had his crate for napping (which he preferred), but he could stretch a little, too. I left toys and entertainment (not to mention the cat who liked to walk by and tease him from outside the pen) for him during the day. He is almost 2 now and can be trusted in the house, but I still use the pen to confine him at times. It is big enough to stretch across the large entry to the kitchen area and to separate the kitchen and dining area. Even though he could easily get past it or over it, he doesn't realize it. LOL |
|
|
|
Post by *christine* on Aug 20, 2014 13:50:09 GMT
He's adorable! I love your son peeking over the back seat! too cute! maybe try giving him the treat outside right when he goes, so he doesn't think every time he goes out and comes back in, he gets one. Reward it right away when it happens so he connects it. My BIL has his dog trained that he only goes the bathroom when he tells him to. So they can go outside and his dog will just run around, walk with him, whatever, and when he says a certain phrase, his dog will go the bathroom. I think you can try that by saying a command when they go. I never had enough patience!  As he gets a little older, and as he learns your new schedule, he will adjust his timing. He's still young and figuring it out. |
|
|
|
Post by shamrock on Aug 20, 2014 14:19:46 GMT
Make sure you give the treat right after he goes and not when he comes inside, you want him to associate the retreat with going & not coming inside.
|
|
|
|
Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 20, 2014 14:43:47 GMT
I use the restroom more during the day than the same amount of hours during the night He also might just want to play, investigate or run around. |
|
|
|
Post by khaleesi on Aug 20, 2014 14:56:41 GMT
I will echo a few others that his crate may be too large if he is making space for a bathroom. I would continue to treat even if all that happens is he goes outside and eats grass. Also, is someone able to come home for a few weeks during lunch to let him out? We crate trained and even from night 1 they never went in their crate. We got ours at 8 and 9 weeks respectively. When we were home we went outside every 30-45 minutes and rewarded with a treat even if we did not go. We just wanted to encourage the positive behavior of going outside. We also worked out our schedule so someone went home at lunch to let them out until we knew they could handle a 8.5 hour day. Keep being patient and keep going outside even if it seems pointless. I used to take a book with me while my little grass eater snacked |
|
|
|
Post by kimpossible on Aug 20, 2014 15:00:28 GMT
Yep, it might be the size of the crate.
We ended up installing a doggy door and never looked back. Best thing for our sanity!
|
|
brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
|
Post by brandy327 on Aug 20, 2014 15:14:58 GMT
The crate is one that is adjustable (has the metal inside that you can adjust to their size) and is actually set for just enough room for him. He was definitely not able to avoid it and he wasn't happy. Unfortunately, there's no way to get home at lunchtime to let him out. DH works an hour and a half away from home and while I'm closer, I work at a daycare with 8 kids, ages 3 and under and there's only 2 of us so leaving isn't an option. Most of my friends work and can't come over to let him out either. I guess we'll just do the best we can until he's old enough to hold it. He's growing quickly and this will be a thing of the past in no time! |
|
|
|
Post by Basket1lady on Aug 20, 2014 15:16:45 GMT
At six months, most larger dogs can hold their business for 6-7 hours. I don't know that you are doing anything wrong with the crate. He's learning what happens if he doesn't hold his mess. Yes, it's a PITA to clean up. I don't disagree a bit there. But it's all a part of learning. He should be holding it during the night as well. It's just going to take a bit of work to get him on the new schedule.
When you let him out, remind him of his job. He needs to pee and poop. My 2 year old lab still needs to be reminded. She really likes to sniff! By now you know how often he poops a day. Keep track and make sure that is all done before bedtime. When he goes out in the morning, make sure he is empty for the day. You may need an extra 10 minutes in your morning routine, but it's better than bathing him and cleaning the crate at night. I let Emma out in the morning as soon as we are up. She pees and poops and then comes in for her breakfast. Most people feed the dog and then let it out, but Emma would pee in the middle of eating. So it was obvious that she needed to go out first. Walking the dog or running the dog will help the poop come out if they are being stubborn. And yes, I would treat outside after the business is done.
I'm not a fan of leaving dogs loose in a kitchen at this age. He's about to come into the stage of voracious puppy chewing destruction. He could easily harm himself in 7 hours or nab things off a counter. There won't be anyone there to tell him no.
|
|
|
|
Post by mamanay on Aug 20, 2014 15:26:57 GMT
He's adorable! For my small dog (aka <6 lbs). I just bought dog potty pads from Costco $16.99 for 100. I never "really" crate trained him. But at night, when he was really little, I would lock him in the downstairs shower. I used adjustable tension curtain rods to hold the door firmly closed. He would get his bed and a pee pad. If there were any accidents, clean up was simple, all I had to do was spray down the shower. So no real crate training, but he was in a safe easy to clean place. But it was obviously way bigger than a crate ever would be.
I think we started giving him free rain of the house at about 6 months. When I would get up and you could see that he made it all night w/o using the potty pad.
He also got a treat immediately after using the potty pad and not missing it. He is 1 1/2 yrs now and still expects a treat after using a potty pad. And apparently, my husband does treats better than I do, cause he will tell hubby first and pester him to death and totally ignore me if I am home if he thinks he earned a treat. LOL!
Yes I am a bad mom and still use potty pads. Don't judge. Taking the dog out and "watching" him became a major sore point/issue between the kids and I. (aka I didn't the big dog they all wanted.) And rather than do battle with them everyday over why they couldn't let the dog out for 5 mins, I buy potty pads. He is my dog, I liked him. I wanted him. Potty pads keep the peace.
|
|
~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,259
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
|
Post by ~Susan~ on Aug 20, 2014 18:41:20 GMT
I have a 11 month old Shih Tzu and he rings his bells to go out all the time, even when he doesn't have to potty. I think he is just bored. So, when he goes out and doesn't potty, then he gets no treats. I'm hoping that this behavior is over soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by khaleesi on Aug 20, 2014 20:25:42 GMT
He also got a treat immediately after using the potty pad and not missing it. He is 1 1/2 yrs now and still expects a treat after using a potty pad. And apparently, my husband does treats better than I do, cause he will tell hubby first and pester him to death and totally ignore me if I am home if he thinks he earned a treat. LOL! My pups are 5 and 1 and they both still get treats. The older one still thinks that we celebrate when the younger one does her business outside! When we were potty training everyone got a treat even if all that happened was the older one walked outside and sat on the deck waiting! |
|
I'll just keep letting him out whenever he wants and reward him when he goes potty.
