Hattie poops when left in crate or playpen

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I'm getting nervous since I have to go back to work on Wednesday. I've pretty much given up on the crate since she sleeps with me and also because I left her in it again today with a kong treat for 45 minutes and she pooped and made a huge mess. Plus I feel like the crate is unfair for all day even though I will come home a few times to let her outside. But the playpen is important. Today I got in it with her to play to help relax her anxiety and all she did was bite at the playpen trying to get out and then peed! Do I just keep getting in with her? What can I do to help her love the playpen?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sandy, Good luck tomorrow. I know it will be hard, but it will all work out!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Just saw this pic! What a little doll!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I like this crate a lot because they can see out of all sides. Also, it is much cooler for them.  When I first crated Vern and Fudge, I put blankets in with them, and they both got so hot. Vern did not want anything in the crate and any blanket, he bunched right up.

Sandy, My whole goal has been to not have to crate my dogs at night or when we leave. We have just gotten to that point, but just when I wanted to take the crates down, Vern goes in there all the time and naps. Fudge took about one day to get out of the pen, so the crate worked well for us when they were little.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I got all of our crates (and my DD's) at Amazon.com. MIdwest Life Stages, I think. That crate comes with a divider, so I would buy for the size you expect her to be. It should tell you when you order. I do think Petsmart and Petco have them too.

http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Life-Stages-Double-Door-Folding/dp/B0...

http://dogcratesizes.com/

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

I have Midwest Life Stages and Petco Premium dog crates and the Petco crate is sturdier.  Right now they have free shipping.

 

http://www.petco.com/product/13372/PETCO-Premium-2-Door-Dog-Crates....

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Yes.  The price on their website might be lower than in store, sometimes the store will sell it at the lower price.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Wow that's a big difference, shipping is usually fairly fast.  Sounds like it's getting easier.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Get one that will accomodate the dog she is going to be when she is grown and use the divider to make it smaller for now.  If she goes through the stage that she is eating your furniture and gutting her stuffed animals, or eating things that will plug her up, you will be so glad that you can crate her!  I have crate trained two doodles, both of whom still slept with me at night, but were trained to love the crate for containment when I left the house.  You can do this.  One still goes into the crate just when I leave the house because she gets into things (she is 14 months).  The other never touched things he shouldn't and he has been out of the crate for years.  He is 3 1/2.

Good luck.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

The 700 series is 40-70 lbs.

[Kyoko]

Great!!! Soooo Cute!!!

[Becky and Murphy]

HI....are you sure the crate is small enough (during the potty training process?)  Murphy has done really well in the crate, but it is pretty tight so he won't want to pee or poop in his lay down area.  Of course we have been over the top with taking him outside in a special spot to do his thing quite often.  We didn't do the play pen thing....since my husband or daughter are ususally home during the day.  Just a suggestion...hope everything else is going great for you..:o) 

 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Just checking in and decided to add on to my original advice. We fed Daisy in her crate the first couple of weeks, we also put her in there after 15 minutes of play once and hour, yes she would fuss and whine but always would settle down.... when she did I would treat her and let her out. When she went in I would treat her. It really only took a week or so for her to love her crate. It was all about Daisy for 3 solid weeks. DH insisted we use the MONKS book for training and literally followed every guide line. It really worked. When DH exhausted his time off, I took my time, when my time was done my mother came and stayed with us for a month. She was good as gold. We had notepads and books at every entrance/exit so we kept a log of when she pooped, when she ate, when she napped, when she played. It was a science for him (DH) and I think he enjoyed the game. When that first 6 weeks were over and MOM left she had to be in her crate...I would come home and take her for a quick walk at lunch and then back in the crate with a couple of treats. I was so sad but she was perfectly fine. I did play a certain CD every day. When I put it in she headed for the crate. Now on Sundays when we leave for church I put the same CD in and it relaxes her. She doesn't even head to the door, she knows when that music is playing she will be staying home. We (I) stopped crating her at about 11 months...she is a very calm dog and was also a calm puppy. I asked on DK if anyone thought something could be wrong with her because she was not a wild child like some on this site....everyone told me to count my blessings so I did. :o)