Peeing in the house/Crate Training/Bad Advice??

[Chelsea and her doodle Piper]

So we just got our little Piper a few days ago, yay! The breeder who seems great told me "don't crate him during the day, that is just cruel." Hmmm. Piper is peeing in the house A LOT--but can hold it 7 hours at night. When we take him out every 30 min or more, sometimes he goes and sometimes he just curls up and doesn't want to budge. We have let him be in the great groom only, and crate him for some naps and at night. I have read a lot of the discussions and I know many people are crating during the day. Do I do this even when he is awake? I was thinking about getting the pee pads to see if that would help. I am torn when the breeder specifically told me not to keep in a crate during the day...she knows I am home during the day too. Argh!

[Erin and Dexter]

our breeder told us to definately put him in the crate throughout the day. Not for like 7 hours, she said no more than 4 hours ever during the day but she said that whenever he is napping or tired or you just need a break to put him in the crate because it is their den and they should like it. Man, was it hard to take a puppy doodle that was sleeping on your lap and put him in the crate but it worked out in the long run because he now likes going in the crate on his own.

just a side note too, our breeder said if you are going to use pee pads, that's fine but do one or the other (don't take him outside to pee AND use pads, as it confuses them. Just another thought. Good luck!

[Jenna B. & Chianti]

She is a puppy, they pee, a lot. You can crate during the day, but assuming your Piper is just 8 weeks she can only hold her tiny bladder for 3 hours at most (at night when she is sleeping body functions slow down which is how she can make it 7 hours). When she is out of her crate you should have 100% of your attention on her, so if that is not possible she needs to be in her crate for her own safety.

If she is out and starts pee, pick her up before she finishes and take her out. If she does not finish outside she either needs to go into her crate or be tethered to something for 5-10 minutes. When she pees outside, praise praise praise and throw a party ( we did not use treats to potty train). It takes a while and a lot of paper towels but it happens. Our Chianti is 12 weeks and just this week started to ask to go outside rather than just squatting and going.

Stick with it. It does get better, but not everything happens over night and every puppy is on a different developmental timeline. Just be consistent. Oh also for what it's worth, our neighbors are having a hard time transitioning from pee pads to outside with their Corgi puppy.

[Cindy Herrod]

Try keeping Piper leashed to you when he is awake and you are home. this way you have very close access to him and can watch for signs that he is about to pee such as sniffing the ground, walking in circles, squating. Then catch him before he starts to pee. If he has already started, startle him with a loud and abrupt "no" and immediately pick him up and take him outside to finish and then praise him profusely. Not sure I would get pee pads if you are wanting to train him to go outside as that might confuse him. Also make sure you thoroughly clean any mistakes in the house with an enzyme cleaner such as natures miracle so that he doesn't pick up that sent and think that is where he is supposed to go.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Don't use pee pads. I have heard it takes a long time to break them of using those things!
I work, so I do crate Peri during the day (with breaks of course!). She loves her crate...honestly. Some dogs do not take to it, but when they do, it really does become their "safe place". Peri prefers to sleep in her crate rather than on a bed. You should use the crate during the day, even if it is just an hour or two. While you run errands is a GREAT way to get Piper used to it more. Give her a special treat while he is in there.
Peri is about to turn 7 months old. For the first 2 months, I felt like I took her out every 15 minutes! It is ridiculous, but everyone goes through it! It will get much, much better. Now I can even come home from work, let her out of the crate and change clothes before taking her out for a walk and she does not have an accident (and she had been home for 4 hours).

[Chelsea and her doodle Piper]

Thanks guys. I am glad I didn't break down and get the pee pads. Today I am either putting a leash on Piper while I am cleaning etc. and using the crate more...especially if he hasn't done the deed outside! I thought he had been in a small enough space, but I guess it was still too big. We'll see how it goes! I need to find a treat that he likes for his kong...the liver goopy stuff doesn't motivate him enough to work for it. It would make me feel better if he was doing some chewing or something in the crate instead of just laying there bored!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Piper is so cute by the way!
You have a divider in the crate, right? They don't like their crates too big too soon. Keep it small and cozy - we still use a blanket to keep Peri's cozier.
Try peanut butter in the kong, but freeze it so it takes longer for him to get it.
I also recently purchased a synthetic bone - I asked the store owner why any dog would like a fake big bone and she said they last forever, do not splinter or smell, and dogs still go nuts. I can't remember the name. But it is awesome and safe to leave with her while I am gone. She and my other pup fight over it! Good luck, it will get better. You simply MUST use the crate to give yourself some sanity and Piper some quiet time to keep out of trouble.

[Chelsea and her doodle Piper]

Yes, today has gone soo much better! And I feel like my life hasn't been taken entirely over by the puppy! I will try pb in the kong! We have nylabones for him but so far the bully stick is what he gravitates to the most (which is still not too often). We do have a wire crate with a divider, but have actually been using a small portable plastic type so I can move it around. Don't worry, it is soft and cozy! :o) Thanks again!

[Adina P]

DEFINITELY crate him during the day. In shorts spurts here and there ... and ANYTIME you cannot keep BOTH EYES glued to him. At this age he can hold his bladder while he's lying in a crate for 1-2 hours during the day (even if he can go 7 hours at night)...but out of the crate he may need to go every 15 minutes. Crate time during the day gives him a chance to chill, a chance to nap, a chance to get used to being crated and having you out of sight. These are all good things. If you have to go to the store, crate the pup. If you need a shower or to scrub the toilet, crate the pup. He'll be fine. The only cruelty would be to allow him to get into things and cause trouble and practice bad habits when unsupervised...OR...leaving him in there for hours on end as a young pup.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Lucca was contained to our kitchen for the first few months. Until he could hold it. I also crated him during the day only if I was going out for a couple hours. Otherwise he was in the kitchen with his baby gate. 2 things..we use the potty bell. They think it's fun to use and he caught on really quick. These doods are smart:). We also used the "rule"..take them out after meals, waking up or playing. They can't hold it during the day for quite awhile. We used LOTS of paper towels and Nature's Miracle and had LOTS of patience. I used the pee pads at my office before he had all his shots BUT he shredded them and thought they were toys!!! It's hard to get upset at them at that age because you know they're so small they can't hold it. Believe me, every week it got better. Once their bladder matures they really figure it out. Good luck, and remember...you're not alone. We've all been there and we all survived.