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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To crate my dog?

22 replies

BananaSpud · 23/06/2021 08:21

Dog is 6 and never been crate trained as we've never needed to before.

For the past maybe 6 months or more she has taken some huge steps back in toilet training. Before this she was fully house trained except for maybe the odd accident once in a while if she was ever unwell etc. nothing of concern.

She has now started regularly peeing in the house when we go out. Mostly in DCs playroom & on their toys which is driving me up the wall as I've had to throw so many things away. She had also peed all over the rug in DCs bedroom so we've had to throw that away too. It seems to mostly be 'aimed' at my DC which I thought could have been a territorial thing but my dog is the most submissive, sweetest natured dog and my DC is 2 - I would have expected it to start much sooner if it was territorial behaviour. My DC doesn't really bother with the dog either so maybe it's just coincidence.

We've had her to the vets and they've checked her over and there's nothing wrong with her physically.

The only similar incident that I've had with her is when I was away travelling with DC for several weeks last summer and she was home with DH. She had a really bad upset stomach for weeks which the vet put down to separation anxiety as it was the first time she'd been separated from us for that amount of time. As soon as we returned she was fine.

I've tried restricting her access to the areas of the house that she pees in but I occasionally forget when I'm rushing to get out of the door. We've also tried shutting her in the kitchen with her toys which does help but she's still peeing on the floor in there too.

Her walking schedule is:

long walk in the morning
short toilet break midday
long walk early evening
walk before we go to bed in the evening - sometimes short, sometimes long. It varies.

WIBU to crate her when we go out? I'm wondering whether crating her will help or if it will make her more anxious as she's never been crate trained before. Or if anyone else has any advice on where we can go from here it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

OP posts:

FindingMeno · 23/06/2021 08:25

Personally I don't believe in crate training.
I'm suspecting with people having been at home more this past year or so, regression in behaviour is going to be a problem.

Whaleandsnail6 · 23/06/2021 08:30

I wouldn't. I think Crates can be great as creating a quiet, calm space where the dog can take itself off and have a little den away from everyone, when the dog wants to and without the door shut.
I think using a crate how you want to could cause anxiety in the dog. There is obviously a reason for this sudden new behaviour, that crating wont fix. I think you need to consult a behaviourist.

Original poster

BananaSpud · 23/06/2021 08:31

@FindingMeno

Personally I don't believe in crate training. I'm suspecting with people having been at home more this past year or so, regression in behaviour is going to be a problem.

It's never been something I've considered before but if she's anxious I've heard that crating can help them feel more secure? Totally open to being told that this is wrong though. I WFH and always have since we got her so me being home isn't new to her.

OP posts:

Original poster

BananaSpud · 23/06/2021 08:33

@Whaleandsnail6

I wouldn't. I think Crates can be great as creating a quiet, calm space where the dog can take itself off and have a little den away from everyone, when the dog wants to and without the door shut. I think using a crate how you want to could cause anxiety in the dog. There is obviously a reason for this sudden new behaviour, that crating wont fix. I think you need to consult a behaviourist.

Yes, this is my worry. I don't want to cause her any more stress. Especially as she's never been crated before. I will look into a trainer for her.

OP posts:

thisplaceisweird · 23/06/2021 08:33

Hi OP. We had similar with a rescue. It stems from insecurity. Have you shifted a lot of attention to the kids? Are your kids now 'getting in the dogs space' more than before? Taking her toys or messing with her food?

In the meantime, better to shut her in the kitchen and avoid her peeing in the kids room isn't it?

DinosaurDiana · 23/06/2021 08:34

No, my dog hated her crate, it was a waste of money.
Is she left alone in the day when you are working, or are you at home all day ?

thisplaceisweird · 23/06/2021 08:34

The key is behaviourist, not trainer. They aren't the same

DinosaurDiana · 23/06/2021 08:34

Just see the answer to my question !

Newkitchen123 · 23/06/2021 08:35

Try those plug in things. Adaptil I think they're called. I had two dogs, litter mates, lost one and the other started weeing. Clearly stressed. It did work.
I think your dog has had their routine upset
Crate training is fine for a puppy if done correctly, mine loved theirs. But if they've never had it it might make things worse

TwoLeftElbows · 23/06/2021 08:36

Try getting 100% reliable at shutting her in the kitchen first.

The crate is not going to solve the problem of you sometimes forgetting.

thisplaceisweird · 23/06/2021 08:36

Agree with other poster, as it's an insecurity thing your dog needs a quiet calm space away from everyone else where she can relax. Those cove beds work great or a cosy alcove with blankets and toys and nice things

Obviously don't shout when she pees, do the 'grey rock' thing and give her treats and lots of attention when she goes outside.

FindingMeno · 23/06/2021 08:37

I do think some dogs feel more secure and settled in a space with boundaries, but I believe this should be a room, not a crate unless there's good reason.
A behaviourist would be a great idea if you can do that.
I would certainly close the doors to the children's rooms, and increase toilet breaks to reinforce the connection that peeing is for outdoors.

bigbaggyeyes · 23/06/2021 08:38

I use crates for my dogs, but they've been crate trained from puppy age and I don't shut the doors now. They go in there for their quiet time, to sleep and when they want to be left alone.

I wouldn't start crate training at 6. Sounds like your dog is anxious when you're out. Rather than a crate can you confine your dog to a single room, put some of your worn clothes in there to make the dog feel better and they will smell of you. You could try putting a puppy pad down also

ikeepseeingit · 23/06/2021 08:38

Yes a behaviourist would be good for your dog. Have you tried the plug-ins for her? I would also really work at building up her confidence to be on her own again, leaving for 1 minute the 2,5,10,20 you get the picture. It’s possible that the pandemic has made your dog forget how to be alone and not stress about it so going back to basics with regards to separation anxiety will help here. Get her puzzle toys that you stick food into and hide food around the house. Radios on a low volume and a t-shirt in her bed that smells like you might help.

Original poster

BananaSpud · 23/06/2021 08:39

@thisplaceisweird

In the meantime, better to shut her in the kitchen and avoid her peeing in the kids room isn't it?

Oh that's an interesting perspective, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for sharing and sorry to hear you went through similar. Did you manage to correct the behaviour in the end?

DC doesn't really bother with the dog, never touches her food, doesn't play with her bed or rough handle her, anything like that. DC will occasionally touch her toys but will throw them for her which she seems to enjoy and she will often bring her toys to play with DC. She really is a lovely natured dog.

I do think I need to go back to shutting her in the kitchen, at least until we can figure things out

OP posts:

DinosaurDiana · 23/06/2021 08:40

I think she needs a few things.
Her own space, such as her bed, where she is left alone. The kids do not touch her or bother her when she’s in her bed, and they do not sit in her bed.
Start leaving her for short periods and build it up. As soon as she’s had a wee go out for 5 minutes. If she ok it’s 10 tomorrow, if not it’s 5 again until she’s ok with it. It has to be your full leaving routine before you leave, so shut the windows and turn things off. Make her think you’re going out properly, and don’t greet her excited7when you get back. Just a pat on the head and carry on.
When you have to leave her properly, always put her in the kitchen.

Elys3 · 23/06/2021 08:40

I would consult a behaviorist.

Original poster

BananaSpud · 23/06/2021 08:49

A few posters have mentioned plug ins which I hadn't heard of before so I will look into those, thanks.

We have a decent sized home and it's just the 3 of us plus dog so not crazy hectic or anything like that. She has freedom of the whole house and we have beds for her upstairs and downstairs so she could take herself away if she wanted to but I might make her a cosy space somewhere in the kitchen and make this more 'her spot' so that if I then shut her in there when we go out, it's not as stressful for her. I like the sound of those covered beds that she can hide inside.

Also, re. Leaving her. We don't regularly leave her for huge chunks of time but on the odd occasions where we've left her for a day she's been absolutely fine - obviously up until recently. Yesterday I nipped out for 15/20 mins max and she peed in the playroom.

OP posts:

DinosaurDiana · 23/06/2021 08:52

4 hours is the absolute maximum I will leave mine, and that’s only if necessary. It’s usually 2 hours for shopping, and I always walk her first.

ikeepseeingit · 23/06/2021 09:33

@BananaSpud

A few posters have mentioned plug ins which I hadn't heard of before so I will look into those, thanks.

I do really think because you don’t leave her often she’s actually started becoming more anxious and forgotten how to be alone. I know you were only gone 15 minutes but you should try doing things like leaving and coming straight back in and gradually working up to ten/ twenty minutes. Do you leave her with a kong or anything? A routine where you put your shoes and coat on, give her a really good kong or treat pop it in her bed and leave building up from a minute. The idea is you leave while she is happy and distracted and gradually build from there.

AnUnoriginalUsername · 23/06/2021 09:38

I really think you need to get a dog behaviourist in to actually fix the problem. Something is causing her to feel stressed, locking her up won't fix that, it will probably make it worse.

Our dog is crate trained but she's never left alone locked in her crate. Their collars can get stuck, she needs water and good throughout the day, if she did have a poorly belly I'd hate for her to be trapped with her mess and someone could easily steal or hurt her.

Mindymomo · 23/06/2021 09:54

From what I understand it when dogs pee on beds it’s territorial and once they’ve been there, they smell it, no matter how much cleaning you do.

My dog doesn’t do it, but we do have a tall stair gate, so he cannot go upstairs when we are out. He’s 3 years old and was crate trained, which he was fine with and would happily go in by himself or when we went out, but I wouldn’t crate him now.

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