[Sherlock]

We picked up my new assistant, Watson, from the breeder this Friday! He had to ride in the belly of the plane to come home with us, but we all made it.

He made sure to be on his best behavior for the first day. Of course as he's getting more acquainted with his new home, he's getting more feisty.

The problem is, he was so good early on that I made a mistake in the way used the crate with him. I put his crate in the laundry room left it open and put a baby gate between the laundry room and the kitchen. I let him hang out in the laundry room and kitchen and had him just sleep behind the baby gate in there with me sleeping on the kitchen floor to get him used to things. Well I discovered today, that he somehow got the idea that the crate in there was a special "potty room". I caught him doing a #1 in there so I pulled the liner, washed it, cleaned the pan with Nature's Miracle. But later on I see him doing it again -- no liner this time. So I went and did a scrub job with the Nature's Miracle again, but I was in a pinch. I can't let him just think this thing is here as a bathroom -- I was hoping he would get used it for a different purpose. So I felt like I had to do this the hard way and just put him in there and suck it up. Suck it up I had to. He threw quite fuss. Barking and wining was the least of it. So, this is what I'm dealing with now, trying to do the usual tricks: waiting for a lull in the barking and backing in, walking out when he barks, back in again etc. Eventually I can catch him after 5 seconds of silence and give him some attention and some kibble, then let him out. Or he goes to sleep and the process starts when he wakes up.

Not fun. But I hope I'm doing the right thing. Any advice as to what else I can do from this point?

Thanks!

 

[BigBrownDog]

Not sure why you are going back in when he stops barking - sounds like you are treating this like sep anxiety issue. I think you should put him in and leave him alone to settle and sleep. He will kick up a fuss initally then will accept the routine.

I have a 10 week old puppy. When he came home I moved the crate to the living room and put him in there on a regular schedule. I covered the crate with a blanket (darker, quieter more den like) but I would talk to him (very quiet, soothing, shushing) so he knew he was not alone. He settled down quickly after some pitious howling the first occasion.

I have a fairly strict schedule for him - he has acclimated to it and now will conk out for his nap at predictable times. I put him in his crate - he makes not a peep.

He has had a couple of accidents in the crate in the last couple of weeks - but he does not choose to go in there. Good luck!

Oh and - welcome to the forum! Your little Watson is a cutie pie!

 

[Sherlock]

Thanks for the advice! I'll do my best to just put him in then leave him there. When do I let him out though. Should I wake him while he's still sleeping? Right now, when he wakes up, the fussing starts anew. So that's why did the routine of going in / coming out so I don't have to let him out while he's still barking.

Tonight will be fun.

 

[justine]

Aw he's a little cutie! Good luck!

 

[MNLab]

He's a cute little one!
How big is the crate? You should make it so that he can stand up, turn around, and lie down comforably, but he should not have too much room. Usually they won't soil where they sleep, unless they have to, so make sure he doesn't have to much room in there. Next I would make sure he knows it is where he sleeps, by putting him in there when you notice he is getting tired and then leave him even if he whines/howls. You can lay next to the crate and shush him, that's always worked well for me, and then I wean off of that. A blanket over the crate works well, and you can give him some treats when you first put him in it, and at toy. Hope this helps!

 

[oakley]

My advice is to take him out a lot and throw a praising party when he potties outside. Take him out after a nap, after he eats, after a play.

 

[Sherlock]

Thanks for the tips, guys! His crate is a large size wire crate with the divider up, plus I have his food and water bowl in there -- I've been giving him his meals in the crate.

I'm trying to figure out what a good game would be to play with him. He has the attention span of a squirrel right now. He's starting to play tug with a rope a bit, and I'm getting some success with "goose hunting" -- sliding his stuffed goose on the floor and him hunting it down. Hope he'll catch onto some other things, because I can only take him to the back yard for now, and I want him to get some exercise.

Thanks again for everything!

 

[Clanceycanuck]

Welcome to the forum - sorry no advice