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?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Glad to see that you are willing to try the crate again.  It is very possible that there will be times in the future where a crate will be needed and it is important for them to not be afraid of it.  We have had a few several week periods with our Sophie, because of leg injuries, that she has had to be confined.  The key (hopefully) to the pooping in the crate will be making the space small enough that she can turn around and that is about it.  Don't worry that it will be too small (and cruel) for her as she will sleep when you aren't there anyway.  Possibly if you don't already have one a "snuggle puppy" might be comforting for her when she is in her crate by herself.  Baby steps, use treats to entice her to go in on her own.  Maybe a little soothing music.  Don't make a fuss, just coax her in or put her in, close the door and walk away.  Maybe say go to sleep.  Also, some puppies prefer just the plastic bottom of the crate vs. any sort of bed or blankets because they get too hot on the blanket or bed.  My girls pulled the bed out every time I put it in there.  Good luck, keep us posted.  If all else fails, maybe you can just sneak her into your work in your purse.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I just read this...short periods at first. You can even be doing something in the room. She will not like it, but don't take her out while she is crying. Just go about your business. Only take her out of the crate when she is calm.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Sandy -- I agree with Laurie's comments below.  Short periods at first.  If it helps you, you can even go outside and watch her through a window.  There is a lot of truth to the don't let her pick up on your stress.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

OK, that would be Laurie's comments above (not below).

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think the crate is the safest place for them to be right now when you are gone. I would start right now putting her in the crate for short periods. I would place a kong in there with her, turn the TV on, maybe a fan to mute noises, and walk out the door. Do not make a big deal out of coming and going. Leave for an hour or two at first. If you are stressed about leaving Hattie in the crate, she is going to sense that. I had a dog with separation anxiety before Fudge and Vern and I started leaving them for an hour or two from day one. I wanted them to get used to the crate, because realistically you are going to have to leave Hattie home alone while you work, when you go out, etc. If you take her out every time she cries, Hattie will quickly learn that if she cries, you will let her out and that is going to cause big problems down the road, IMO. What is hard in the beginning will pay off later. I no longer crate either dog at night or when we leave, and I often will find Vern in his crate taking a nap.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Sandy - I get this.  We have the super delux crate (in DH office) and a really nice ex-pen right in our open kitchen/l.r.  Rooney started out sleeping in the crate for all of 2 weeks and then onto our bed he went (we love it),  now that crate is almost never used.  We love the ex-pen!!!!  This is what Rooney goes into when we leave the house for any length of time.  Rooney's pen has 7 panels and an 8th with the gate in it.  I agree that this "looks, feels" more appealing to me than leaving Rooney in a crate as it implies that he has more room, is playing and therefore happier himself.  So I'm with you on that thinking.  So how do we get Hattie to loved her play pen and not poo or pee in it.  I trained Rooney to go into his pen with the command "place".  Start teaching this by standing at the pen gate - and let her know that you have a treat.  Say "place" and lure her into the pen (you should not get into the pen with her).  The minute she steps through - treat!!!   "Good Hattie" and make it a big deal.  Do this as many times a day as you can, then slowly start saying the command a little further away from the crate - she'll learn to run right in there.  Once she is happy to walk through the gate and get the treat you can start leaving her in the pen for short periods of time.  NEVER let her out if she is jumping, whinning or crying!!!!  When she does those things you are going to ignore her, don't even make eye contact.  All four on the floor before you open the door.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Make sure the pen isn't too large for her - take panels out if you have too.  Never leave her in the pen with a collar on as it is a choking hazzard.  Rooney has in his pen - a small dog bed and toys.  Practice leaving her when she is going into the pen on the command word.  Do you give her boiled shin bones?  They don't splinter and this is what I leave Rooney with when I leave the house - they keep him occupied for a loooong time and when they are cleaned out of the marrow - I put them through the dishwasher and then fill with peanut butter and re-freeze.  I boild the shin bones for 40 min. throw them in a big zip lock and freeze them.  Rooney gets his straight from the freezer - he loved that when he was teething.  Sandy - if I can help you any further with this - send me an email - it looks like you and I are the only ones here that use our ex-pens for our crates!  Let me know how she does.

[Alli and Barkley]

I watched a few crate training videos on you tube and it helped tremendously.  Search puppy crate games and play those with Hattie- its a slow process but hopefully she will catch on quickly.  A lot of the videos I saw show how to toss treats in the crate to lure her in, do that for a while without closing the crate.  Then work up to closing the crate for one minute, open it, praise, etc.  Continue to work your way up for longer periods of time

 

Whatever you do- DO NOT open the crate when she is whining or barking- that will teach her that acting in that manner will help her get her way.  

[Kyoko]

I just thought about this.... Is Hatti a mini? If she is a standard, she may eventually jump the ex-pen depends on the hight!!

:- o

[Adina P]

My huge 90 lb standard probably would never have learned how or tried to escape the expen.  But our 50 lb standard learned to climb out of the expen when she was 4 months old.  Sneaky little agility star that she hopes to be =)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

This is why I can use the ex-pen with Rooney - as a large mini - he might actually now be a small medium at 20.5 lbs - so I have no fear of his escape.  The grids are too small for a foot to climb, the walls too high to jump and he doesn't weigh enough to push it over. 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Glad the crate is working better!