Today is day 2 with 8 wk old female. We're in love. But ... not sure how to deal with some crate training and housetraining issues. Thanks for any advice! Here's the story:
- I'm home all day, so available to supervise her closely (though there are inevitable distractions on my part, like 2 kids, chores) and take her out hourly.
- We have picked a consistent elimination spot and language ("go potty," which her breeder was using)
- We have crate in kitchen and are working to make her happy there - feeding her in crate, treats and toys in crate, praise, etc.
- She is very bonded to me (adorable) - loves being right at my feet, follows me everywhere I walk, etc., and ....
- ... therefore, she hates being closed in her crate. Howls and whines. Prefers to be at my ankles wherever I am. Will happily flop down for a nap under my chair, but not in crate.
- When she howls and whines in crate, I am torn between (a) not wanting to give in to it and teach her that whining is the way out, encouraging more whining/barking, and (b) not wanting to have her hate the crate, wanting it to be pleasant for her and not upsetting. What to do?
- Even though I take her outside hourly (and say "go potty," the term her breeder used), we've had many episodes where we spend 15 minutes wandering and sniffing in her elimination spot with no results, ad then as soon as we go back inside, she pees or poops on the rug. Even though I'm supervising her as closely as I can, as soon as I turn my attention to something else, she pees.
- Should I be crating her most of the time in the house to prevent accidents? What if she's howling the whole time?
- Today or tomorrow, I'm going to start needing to leave the house for brief periods, 30-60 mins. She will scream and howl in her crate - is this how it's done til she gets used to it?
- At night (2 nights so far), she screams and howls in the crate if she can't see me, so I've been sleeping on the floor next to crate, and then she's quiet. I'm going back to my bed tonight!
It's not feasible to have crate in our bedroom, so she needs to sleep in crate in kitchen alone. Do I just let her cry it out?
Thanks everyone!
- I'm home all day, so available to supervise her closely (though there are inevitable distractions on my part, like 2 kids, chores) and take her out hourly.
- We have picked a consistent elimination spot and language ("go potty," which her breeder was using)
- We have crate in kitchen and are working to make her happy there - feeding her in crate, treats and toys in crate, praise, etc.
- She is very bonded to me (adorable) - loves being right at my feet, follows me everywhere I walk, etc., and ....
- ... therefore, she hates being closed in her crate. Howls and whines. Prefers to be at my ankles wherever I am. Will happily flop down for a nap under my chair, but not in crate.
- When she howls and whines in crate, I am torn between (a) not wanting to give in to it and teach her that whining is the way out, encouraging more whining/barking, and (b) not wanting to have her hate the crate, wanting it to be pleasant for her and not upsetting. What to do?
- Even though I take her outside hourly (and say "go potty," the term her breeder used), we've had many episodes where we spend 15 minutes wandering and sniffing in her elimination spot with no results, ad then as soon as we go back inside, she pees or poops on the rug. Even though I'm supervising her as closely as I can, as soon as I turn my attention to something else, she pees.
- Should I be crating her most of the time in the house to prevent accidents? What if she's howling the whole time?
- Today or tomorrow, I'm going to start needing to leave the house for brief periods, 30-60 mins. She will scream and howl in her crate - is this how it's done til she gets used to it?
- At night (2 nights so far), she screams and howls in the crate if she can't see me, so I've been sleeping on the floor next to crate, and then she's quiet. I'm going back to my bed tonight!
Thanks everyone!