Help From The "Doodle Experts" Please????

[Steve]

Hello everyone!  Let me first say that we are pretty new to this site but think it is absolutely wonderful! 

We had gotten a goldendoodle, Fenway about 5 weeks ago and all of his housetraining is complete and he is doing wonderful.  We could not ask for a better dog!

Last week, we decided to get a second goldendoodle from a different breeder.  We are trying the same type of training (crate training) for her and it's not going nearly as well.  She, Taylor, pees and poops in the crate whenever she is in it.  She will potty outside most times we bring her outside which is many times per day but every day and night that she is in the crate, she poops.  Most of the daytime she is in the pen or even with Fenway playing so it's not like she's in the crate all of the time. 

 

Her stools are loose and the breeder was giving her terrible food (Blue Seal) which we changed gradually to a better quality food.

She is so  happy, playful, loving and a snugglebug but she always craps in her crate...what is the issue.  I hear that puppies never poop where they sleep. 

 

Any ideas??

 

Thank you all so much!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

How much space does she have in the crate?  If she has more space than just enough to say turn around, she has too much space and could be why she is pooing in the crate.  If the crate came with a divider you can use that to make it smaller.  if not, just use something else to block the rest of the crate off.  Other than that, if you have ruled out medical problems like UTI or worms etc., I would just make sure before she goes in the crate she goes out and pees/poos and no more than every 20-30 mins in the crate and then take her out.  At night, no water after say 6pm or so and also make sure you clean the smells from the crate where she has gone previously with something like Natures miracle.  Also, if you aren't taking her out on a leash, I would do that so that you can ensure that her focus outside is to potty, not to play.  Hopefully others will have more ideas for you as well.

[Steve]

I am thinking that it is the space issue more than anything.  We have brought her to the vet and there are no worms, uti, etc.  We do take her out on a leash very often and the crate is completely santized after every accident she has.  It is good to know that we are doing the right things.  We will try using a box or something to lessen the size of the crate.

 

Thanks so much for taking your time to help me out.  :)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

How large is the crate?  If the crate is too big then the puppy might still feel that they can go to one end and poo.  The other issue is the loose stools, has the puppy been vet checked for worms and all that.  The change in food could also cause loose stools so make sure you do that change over slowly.  It will be harder for a young puppy to "hold it" if they have loose stools so you may have to take her out much more often than you are.  These are the things that I would be looking at - but I'm no expert - lol.  Good luck to you and your puppies and we'll watch for some super cute photos!

[Steve]

Thanks you so much!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Here's a prior discussion on crate training that may be helpful.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/trainingmindsets/forum/topics/cra...

[Steve]

Thank you very much!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Your other advice is wonderful I only want to add my experience with this exact situation. Get another stool sample.  This  happened to our puppy even after a stool sample.  He had round worms.  Once treated, we had no more problems.

[Steve]

I certainly will.

 

Thanks so much!

[Jennifer Tramell]

Each dog is different and some techniques work for one dog but not another.  Our Charlotte used to go over to the dog bed to potty?!?!?  She slept on this bed so why squat there?  I still don't know.  Good luck as you learn what works with your new pup :-)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Congrats on your new puppy-you are very brave!! Just remember that they are not the same. If your crate doesn't have a

divider to make it smaller you can by just the divider at petstores also and make it just big enough to turn around in. Probably the change in food is upsetting her tummy too. Good luck where's the pictures???

[Steve]

Thank you!  Some pictures were uploaded yesterday.

 

:)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

All I would add is to be very diligent at this point in getting the potty smell out of the crate and any bedding so that she does not associate that spot with pooping. Just the lingering smell alone can tell them that this is a potty spot. Just a thougt.