Dog Potty Training Suggestions

lripson28
lripson28 Posts: 213 Member
edited December 2024 in Chit-Chat
My husband and I have a Boxer/Pit who's a little over a year old. We've had her for about 2 1/2 months, rescued her from our local shelter. We're pretty sure she was abused before just from a lot of her actions. Haven't had any problems with her, she's the sweetest dog, and gets along great with our other dog, Duke. We've been crate training her since we got her, she's in the crate while we're at work and overnight. She's had a blanket in there with her as her bed. She's been constantly peeing on the blanket while she's in there. We took it away for a few weeks and she did great, never went in the crate once. Decided to give it back because she did so well and she went on the blanket again! Now we have no idea what to do since this is the only time and place she does it. No accidents ever anywhere else in the house and she goes great outside when you tell her to. I want to get her to stop doing this because it breaks my heart to have her in the crate all that time and have to lay on that hard plastic bottom the whole time, but at the same time I don't want to be washing her blanket everyday, giving her a bath everyday, and having my kitchen smell like urine! Anyone have any suggestions? I'd appreciate anything!

Replies

  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
    do you know the dog's history, like what type of environment she came from?

    It's possible that she is associating the soft blanket with a potty pad/newspaper that she used to pee on. Also make sure you wash the blanket with a de-odorizer (like natures miracle) she may be smelling her pee on the blanket and that's why she keeps peeing on it.

    Crates are good for dogs, they feel more safe in them, and it also keeps her out of trouble i.e. eating/chewing on things you don't what her to be sampling.

    Best of Luck to you!
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    Well, since she only does it when the blanket is in there, I wouldn't give it back to her.
  • skonly
    skonly Posts: 371 Member
    The blanket still has the smell on it. You may not be able to smell it but she can.

    How long are you leaving her in the crate? I have several clients I do quick potty break visits for so a dog doesn't have to stay crated all day. You may need to check into something like that if no one is home all day.
  • OnionMomma
    OnionMomma Posts: 938 Member
    Our almost 2 year old lab (had her since 7 weeks) is in the crate during the day while we are working. We do not put anything in there with her as we feel it is a choking hazard. We worry she will chew on it and then choke and noone will be home to help.

    She's perfectly fine in there without anything. Occasionally she will be sleeping soo soundly that she won't here us come in and we will catch her snoring!!

    We do however give her a Kong toy to play with as we feel that is pretty safe.

    We are in the process of "breaking" her from the crate.
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    I agree, take the blanket out of the crate. It's summer time and warmth isn't a concern. Can you pop home on a lunch break to take her outside to potty? Or is there a reputable doggy day care in the area that you can leave her with? Being crated 8-10 hours a day while you are at work may be more than she can manage.

    There is also the possibility of building a dog run in your yard so that way she has a safe enclosure to stay in while you are at work. Keeping the dog outside will mean more frequent baths if you want to let her in when you are there.
  • HiKaren
    HiKaren Posts: 1,306 Member
    We have never put our dogs in a box/crate while we go to work... Heavens... that would be like over 9 hours in there. How often do humans have to potty in 9 hours time? Gosh I have to go once a hour sometimes..

    We have always left our dogs out to roam in the house... And we bought what they call "Potty Pads" that are kept on our master bathroom floor. If they have to go when we are gone, they go on the "Potty Pad". When I come home, I let both the Pom Girls outside to potty... And they both go out and do go potty... Then I check the pads in the bathroom. And if they went on the pad, I tell them "Good Girls" and give em a Greenie... They know if they go on the pad, that leads to getting a greenie...

    The personality of your dog may be different than my Poms... But I can't see how its good for any dogs bladder or kidneys to have to hold their potty that long.... Maybe she needs some disposable potty pads in the crate, if you really have to keep her in the crate for that long.. That way the pad would absorb the potty without getting her wet, & without having to wash the blanket.
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