Help with crate training/house training

R

Ranyhyn

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 November 2008
Messages
21,273
Location
Funny farm
Visit site
Currently my dogs have a dog room, it probably would have been the dining room I guess. There's a sofa TV and their crate in there which is left open.

However with this stupid job I am more often than not out for long hours, so my poor babies are often left with no option but to have accidents (its not their fault, I couldn't hold a wee for 4/5 hours at a time either)

I want to re-claim my dining room and make it look nice - so accidents cannot continue, so was thinking of crate training them. They currently are used to sleeping in their crate at night.

Should I get one large crate - or two smaller ones, so they can have toys and chews in them (i wouldn't put those in a shared crate as we'd have a blood bath)

Thoughts and help please?
 
Tbh if they are having accidents because they are left too long then its not really fair to crate them. A better option would be to get a dog walker, then they would get a good walk at some point during the day and that should stop the accidents. In my experience if house trained dogs have to go in the house they can get quite upset about it, so a dog walker would keep everyone happy.:)
 
Well, they currently get walked morning and evening, I come home at lunch, so 4 hours either side.
How do you find a reputable dog walker who can be trusted to have keys to my house and more importantly, access to my dogs? I have always fancied that but fear has always stopped me!
I would leave them with access to the garden, but I'm terrified someone will throw something over the wall for them ( i live next to a lane) and poison them.

I am stupidly over protective of them, I know.
 
Well if they are only being left for 4 hours at a time they shouldn't be having accidents, thought you meant it was longer than that. Is there any way you can tell if its one or both of them? I would be thinking more behavioural or maybe even a bit of a UI if its just one of them, or then again they could just be trying to tell you they don't approve of you being away so much .:D
 
I THINK it might be the princess herself, I mean, when I walk Roly is cocking away here there and everywhere, whereas Lil obviously doesn't! She may have two pees but otherwise nothing.

I know she wouldn't wee out of naughtyness, she genuinely needs to go (she's so good)
 
I have to agree, 4 hours is not that long, assuming they are adult dogs they should be able to hold it in. If you can try to identify which one is having the accidents and what kind of accidents they are, e.g. puddles while they are lying/resting, dribbles when they are running around. Also keep an eye on water consumption. All of this will help your vet identify a physical problem if there is one (in which case there are many remedies). If you discount a physical issue it may well be behavioural, maybe separation anxiety from the change in routine, maybe change in the pack order?
 
They have access to water when they have their brekkie and then they don't have access again until I come home for lunch. Basically its in the kitchen and they're not :)
Although the accidents ARE sporadic so I wonder if on those days someone has been more thirsty than normal and drunk more without me noticing?

The main thing is I am putting a new floor down (laminate) so I can wipe clean, rather than now, I have to wash and scrub the carpet which isn't very hygenic at all!

I was thinking that if they were crated they could have toys and chews to help occupy them too? I wouldn't give them to them when they are loose as they'll fight!
 
I am very much in favour of crating, I think it saves you from a lot of problems. If they are not used to it, you will have to introduce them to the idea slowly. As to whether you have one or two crates, that depends on how well the two dogs get on together, if you have any doubts or if they are likely to get into scrapes over chews, I would go for two crates.

The carpet may be part of the problem. Unfortunately it's very very difficult to eliminate the smell of urine from carpet, so if they had one accident once, it may have set a pattern that they are now repeating. Laminate should be a lot easier on all of you!
 
Oh yes, the only time they have ever really set-to was over food. I left them with access to the kitchen and their food was in its bag on the floor - I came home and they were both in bits!!!

I have one big crate currently which they both sleep in, so for one it should be adequate? Or do I buy two jumbo crates? What's better - just right or plenty of space?
 
I have 5 month old pup who was crate trained and is clean during night and day now.When he had odd accident I cleaned with bio cleaner it eliminates odour and disinfects and prevents them from thinking that they are alllowed to pee in area as they have there own smell/urine marks.
 
If they sleep in the crate over night (as in locked in) then u should have no issues locking them in when u are out for the 2 lots of 4 hours periods, I would say smaller crate for them both and seperate (place a divider between them) so they dont go for one another when they have goodies throught the bars, so u can leave goodies in the crate for them and see if they hold, if they hold then it's a space thing, most smaller breeds will dirty in a larger space when left to raom free (I have 2 dirty little boarding dogs in) and they are doing it, I placed a crate up and they have no done it int he crate, its the whole (I can pish/.**** and walk off thing) and its now become routine and the scent is encouraging them to use the same spots possibly.
Little dogs, little bladders, they do tend to need to bog more often :D
 
Well case in point, just had my lunch..

Left the house at 12.30pm (after walking dogs) arrived back 16.45pm and there's a widdle! I put them both out and Roly took a leak while Lil just wandered round hopefully...makes me think its her - the little tink!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top