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?

[Martha & Cooper]

I hope  you have a very calm girl.   Cooper was calm too.  I think they all go through the "teenage" phase though.   Don't worry about it until you get there.  LOL!

[shelly]

Sandy - I hope you're right, but just in case she turns out to be a 'normal' puppy in a few weeks, I think you should print this out and hang it  on your fridge  - LOL  "Maybe it's too early to tell but I think Hattie is also going to be a very calm dog."

[cheryl & oliver]

Sandi, I know how frustrated you are with this.  Hattie eveidently wasn't crated at the breeders at all.  BUT for her own safety and your piece of mind, it is so important that she is crated as a puppy.  Oliver didn't like the crate either, but I stuck with it,a nd I had him in my room at night in it.  He could see us, and if he started to wine and bark, my voice and touch when necessary calmed him down.  You have to understand that giving into her now will show her that she is the boss, and down the road, that can be a nightmare for you.  As far as the playpen was concerned, when I was home, that was where he was, I had toys and things in there for him, but I was home and every twenty minutes he was taken out to make.  If he made, we would play outside the playpen, for a bit, if not in he went and out again in a few more minutes.  Of course he had accidents, he was a baby, but the more room u give them, the more area they can soil,and walk away from.  Make sure she does not have a whole lot of room in the crate, she should be able to stand, sit lie down, and turn around, not have a lot of room to toam around in the crate.  I know that you like to sleep with her, but at this point she should be crated, and make it her safe place.  As she gets trained, u can leave the door open, but for now, I wouldn't, she needs to know that this is her safe place, her den so to speak.  Oliver is two years old, and he is trained, but he still sleeps in his crate in our room everynight, AND if I don't close the door, he barks until we do.  He is big now, so I have taken the top off the crate, but this is his den, and he knows it.  Putting Hattie in the playpen, is good, but I think, only my opinion, it gives too much room when u are not home.  Is his crate the type she can see out of top, and sides and front and back?..Sorry this is so long, but I know your frustration, but she is only a baby, and like human babies they need to be trained, lol...Be patient, this too shall pass...

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Of course a crate is a safe place for a small puppy, we got really large crates with the divider for potty training. They slept with us at night but when we were gone all day, they had to be in there. They had a bed and a toy and just enough room to turn around. This helped with  the training. We never had a play pen so can;t comment on that. She will get past this.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Hey, Sandie! We're in Galveston for a few days with our kids and am now just checking DK. So glad that you are going to attempt to crate train Hattie. I really think it's a decision that you will be so happy with when the 'training' part is over. There are so many benefits -- like traveling and visiting friends--she'll always have 'her' bed. We are renting a beach house and the only way the owner would allow us to come was if I crated Knox at night and when we left the house. We don't know the owner, so we can understand his insistence. Like most people who have commented on here, I am a big fan of the 'cage-like' crate. Glad you are thinking about getting one. I bought two for Knox - the 30" at first and then the 36" later. I kept one in our bedroom and the other in my family room. Let us know how it goes!! Good luck!!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

We really tried to get Rosey to crate but she pooped, banged her head and barked..I was afraid to leave her alone.  So we started leaving her gated in the kitchen which she still pooped, that was her natural nervous reaction.  Bandit was easy easy.. and he will still go in his crate, by choice, we just took the door off.  Good luck!! It sounds like you have made lots of progress!!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Quincy is over 2 and I still feel bad about leaving him home alone all day even though he is not crated. Try freezing the kong with some water and a few dried cranberries or some other treats that she likes.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Are you still considering the ex-pen?  If so you could get a kibble nibble or buster food cube for her to eat her meal out of and have some stimulation.  As for Kong recipies, they have all kinds on their website, but cheerios with banana and yogurt frozen, turkey hot dogs and mozz chees and cheerios melted then frozen, i also just put mother hubbard treats in the kongs...  I guess you will have to figure out her likes and that will help.  Good luck and glad the first day wasn't too bad!

[Kyoko]

WoW! Great job!! I ma so happy it is working out for you!!!

[shelly]

YES! Success!!! I used to give Tori peanut butter, but I think I reach her lifetime limit in just a few short months, as now she throws up from anything more than a bit on my fingertip... so no more p/b here... find something that she likes and put that in the kong, then if she tolerates it cover just the opening with the peanut butter and freeze it. This way she will lick for a while then receive the inside treat... but I would try to use something that will moisten a bit so she gets some 'liquid' after all the peanut butter. Sometimes I even use dry kibble. Good luck and congratulations - to MOMMY!

[Jena ~ Dublin]

Continue to crate her.  In no way is it unfair for her.  It's a safe place, safer probably than the play pen.  She can tear and chew her way out of it, she can't do that with the crate.  It's going to take time.  We don't crate Dublin at night either, he sleeps with us in our room.  We do shut the door so he can't get out, can't get in the bathroom nor the closet.  Just because you don't crate her at night doesnt mean you can't do it during the day or when you leave.  We DO crate Dublin when we leave.  He is anxious until we leave, but does calm down.  Then when the key goes in the door, we hear him again!!!  It will get easier, just takes time, DO NOT GIVE UP!!!