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The doghouse

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Original poster

I thought dogs were meant to not mess in their crate!?

153 replies

Mumma2Ro · 29/05/2023 01:22

Hello
we’ve got a 9 week old Labrador. She’s amazing and we are so in love with her.
but she keeps pooping in her crate!! A bit more context, it’s only been when she has been in her crate with the door shut. So either over night or when I’ve been on the school run.
I thought the whole idea of the crate was that it was their safe space and they don’t mess in there!?
never any wees just poos.
Her Poos are very soft atm while we are transitioning her from raw food diet to kibble. Could this be why! Is she struggling to hold it. But it doesn’t happen any other time, all the rest of her poos are done in the garden. It’s 1.30am and I am yet again putting wash on 😩😩
sorry for the rant. Any advice please.
just now I went down as soon as she started crying, I never leave her crying in there.

OP posts:
Newpeep · 30/05/2023 11:48

Proper crate training takes months. There is no crying or panicking involved. Just slowly building value in the crate as a good place to be then building time very very slowly. It took me a year with my last dog (adult rescue) and I’m 6 months in with pup and just beginning to shut the door for seconds.

Its a great thing to do but takes commitment and time. We camp, I’m an agility judge and hopefully pup will go on to compete and attend training days so she’s going to need a chill out place in our van or car. That will be her crate WHEN she’s absolutely fine in it. That will be months yet.

Putting a sleeping puppy in one beside your bed and letting them out as soon as they start to wake is very different and how we did it very successfully. No crying or panicking involved but again, you need to be pretty on it.

For most owners it’s unnecessary and there are more important things to learn but it’s a great life skill if you are committed.

IngGenius · 30/05/2023 12:05

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 08:53

You have complete lost the plot if you think you only take a puppy outside when it cry's 🤯🤯

Show quote history

Read the post - the site you quoted from gave that recommendation!

So I would not take any information from the site you quoted as accurate

CherryBomb87 · 30/05/2023 12:15

Did you do any research before taking on a puppy? If someone locked you in a crate and you had to go, you'd go!

It's like asking a baby not to poop in their nappy!

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 15:33

IngGenius
I'm not for or against crate training It's just a aid to use when done in the right way. But just putting a puppy in a crate until it cry it not ok especial when OP pup is only 9 weeks old. Many uk site will tell you the same thing I just happened to copy one from a American site.

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 15:46

IngGenius

8-10 weeks: 1 hour or less. Puppies this young simply can’t hold their urine for more than an hour, and even that is pushing it, sometimes! You might start crate training at this age, but you can’t leave a young puppy in a crate for long periods; he’ll wet his bed (a lot!).
One of many uk sites

Badgeringabout · 30/05/2023 16:21

Madamecastafiore · 30/05/2023 06:58

I reckon at 3 months ours stopped crapping in their crate, they're just babies and can't hold it all night, it will pass. Don't use puppy pads, they then think they can soil indoors, they need to know that it's only outdoors where they go to the toilet. Don't get up either, just know you'll have to clean up in the morning and it will pass eventually and they'll get used to not waking you in the night.

Bloody hell. Such cruelty.

Badgeringabout · 30/05/2023 16:22

Newpeep · 30/05/2023 11:48

Proper crate training takes months. There is no crying or panicking involved. Just slowly building value in the crate as a good place to be then building time very very slowly. It took me a year with my last dog (adult rescue) and I’m 6 months in with pup and just beginning to shut the door for seconds.

Its a great thing to do but takes commitment and time. We camp, I’m an agility judge and hopefully pup will go on to compete and attend training days so she’s going to need a chill out place in our van or car. That will be her crate WHEN she’s absolutely fine in it. That will be months yet.

Putting a sleeping puppy in one beside your bed and letting them out as soon as they start to wake is very different and how we did it very successfully. No crying or panicking involved but again, you need to be pretty on it.

For most owners it’s unnecessary and there are more important things to learn but it’s a great life skill if you are committed.

Excellent post and you sound like a brilliant dog owner. I wish that there were more people like you.

Badgeringabout · 30/05/2023 16:26

quietheart · 29/05/2023 17:24

@Badgeringabout of course they are for owners convenience. My dog doesn’t have the run of the house, he’s not allowed in some rooms, also for my convenience.

Well it's a pretty shocking admission but at least you are not even remotely pretending that you do it for the good of the dog.

IngGenius · 30/05/2023 17:26

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 15:46

IngGenius

8-10 weeks: 1 hour or less. Puppies this young simply can’t hold their urine for more than an hour, and even that is pushing it, sometimes! You might start crate training at this age, but you can’t leave a young puppy in a crate for long periods; he’ll wet his bed (a lot!).
One of many uk sites

A puppy does not need to wee every hour at night.

If you are taking your puppy out every hour at night you will have one very stressed exhausted puppy.

Usually a puppy, especially a lab puppy, will sleep 7 hours at night with one wee trip in that time at about 9 to 10 weeks.

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 17:46

IngGenius
I have a golden retriever puppy who is 14 months old now and she definitely wasn't sleeping 7 hours at a time when she was 9-10 weeks when she was 6 months yes.
RSPCA say It is never acceptable to shut your dog in the crate all day while you go to work. Adult dogs that have been successfully trained to have a positive association with their crate and view it as there safe haven are normally quite happy to be left for about three hours.
• Puppies are unable to hold their bladders and bowels like adult dogs can and this need consideration when leaving him/her in the crate.
Ideally the crate should be a safe haven that your dog or puppy can chose to enter voluntarily - somewhere they can go to for peace, quiet and security. So why you would think it's ok to do at night with a 9-10 weeks old pup just blows my mind. If you read the all the comments most people are saying the same thing.

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 17:51

IngGenius
Dogs or puppies being created for 7 hours is just cruel but you can try and justify it as much as you.

Groutyonehereagain · 30/05/2023 19:09

Badgeringabout · 30/05/2023 16:26

Well it's a pretty shocking admission but at least you are not even remotely pretending that you do it for the good of the dog.

Show quote history

What an extreme reaction to a perfectly normal situation. 🤔

IngGenius · 30/05/2023 19:29

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 17:51

IngGenius
Dogs or puppies being created for 7 hours is just cruel but you can try and justify it as much as you.

Are you on glue?

A dog fast asleep for 7 hours is good..... the minute they wake up they go out for a wee.

Getting bit bored now so wanders off the thread

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 19:39

IngGenius
I guess 95% of people who are also commenting pretty much the same thing are on glue and the RSPCA are wrong🤯🤯.
Good idea move along know one will miss you.

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 19:48

IngGenius
Dogs and puppies sleeping is NOT the same thing as caging them for hours on end 🤯🤯

IngGenius · 30/05/2023 19:58

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 19:48

IngGenius
Dogs and puppies sleeping is NOT the same thing as caging them for hours on end 🤯🤯

I know it is not the same - I have never mentioned crating at all in this thread.

It is you that jumped to the suggestion of crating for 7 hours.

All I have drawn attention to is that puppies do not need to wee every hour at night as you suggested.

tabulahrasa · 30/05/2023 20:04

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 19:48

IngGenius
Dogs and puppies sleeping is NOT the same thing as caging them for hours on end 🤯🤯

It is if that’s when they’re in there.

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 20:05

IngGenius
Think your one on glue the thread is about create training and what OP asking about and what people was replying to including myself. Think you read things more clearly before commenting.

IngGenius · 30/05/2023 20:12

Its crate not create.......

Chickpea17 · 30/05/2023 20:14

IngGenius · 30/05/2023 20:12

Its crate not create.......

Bravo. Good for you!!
amazing comeback you most be so proud 😂😂. Wasn't you moving along

DiscoBeat · 30/05/2023 20:18

At that age I was taking mine outside every 2 hours during the night. They don't want to mess there but when you've got to go you have to! And she might not have made the connection that you will come and let her put. I'd go back to basics and sleep downstairs with her for a week or so so that you can pick up on her movements, if you excuse the pun!

Newpeep · 31/05/2023 07:40

Our puppy - small breed - went through the night in under 2 weeks. 10-6 ish. She was 11 weeks by then. They don’t all need to go frequently.

Newpeep · 31/05/2023 07:41

She slept in our room though. Maybe that’s a factor. She’s always slept really well.

Righttherights · 31/05/2023 07:58

9 weeks? Is that right? Sounds like you’ve had her for a bit too? I thought they could only leave Mum at 12 weeks once had final vet check and vaccinations? That was the case with ours from a ‘reputable breeder’.
Poor thing must be terrified stuck in kitchen in their own. Have her in bed with you! ( Joking - maybe!) I know that’s not for everyone so I would have her in the crate in your room so she’s not on her own.
Poo situation sound frustrating but could be because so young still and food wrong?
Its like having a baby isn’t it?!

Newpeep · 31/05/2023 08:14

Righttherights · 31/05/2023 07:58

9 weeks? Is that right? Sounds like you’ve had her for a bit too? I thought they could only leave Mum at 12 weeks once had final vet check and vaccinations? That was the case with ours from a ‘reputable breeder’.
Poor thing must be terrified stuck in kitchen in their own. Have her in bed with you! ( Joking - maybe!) I know that’s not for everyone so I would have her in the crate in your room so she’s not on her own.
Poo situation sound frustrating but could be because so young still and food wrong?
Its like having a baby isn’t it?!

Things changed with understanding of critical socialisation periods which close at 16 weeks. So if pups go at 8 weeks the new owners have far longer in which to socialise and tailor it to their lifestyle. Some breeders keep until 10-12 weeks but they need to start this process which is hard with a litter and their own dogs. They legally cannot leave until 8 weeks.