We have a 2 year old male staffie and a year old female staffie, the males good with his toilet but the bitch is proving almost impossible to toilet train. She was paper trained as a pup but it didnt work as she decided she would rather tear the paper to shreds than do what she was supposed to do with it. We walk her 3-4 times daily but no matter how long we take her out for she will wait until we get home before pooing and weeing. She will sometimes wee outside but very rarely will poo even if we walk her after food.
Some nights she will be clean and others we will have 3-4 poos and wees waiting for us in the morning. She will pee and poo anywhere in the flat and it is getting a bit too much, we have tried to confine the problem to one room but as soon as shes out of that room she'll go elsewhere indoors. I was wondering if crate training would work, as I understand the crate has to be just big enough to allow her to stretch out and turn round. Im going out of my mind because Im just totally at an end regarding what to do. Like I said, our male never had this problem. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Hi how long are they left? you say you live in a flat do you have a garden that is just yours? and yes i think a crate is a good way to go but she must not be shut in for hours at a time this breed needs things to do all the time give her a food ball that will keep her brain going for a time. dont have the other dog loose in the same room.

Hi, they are hardly ever left really, not on a regular daily basis anyway, we work shifts so theres always one of us around, only time they are left is if we are out shopping etc. At the moment, when we are out, the bitch go's in the bathroom and the male has the run of the hall and kitchen. We dont have a garden unfortunatley which isnt too much of a problem as we do have a large green space just outside, like I said we walk them 3-4 times daily, the males always been fine with this but the female just seems to want to do her business indoors, even when we are in the room. Do you think the crate would work then? But not have my other dog go near it?

Hi Suzanne
I had this problem with my previous Staffy ,Sam . He took until the age of about 18 months to housetrain .
Although he wasnt as bad as your little girl seems- he would only dirty at night .
You could try a crate and see how you get on although some dogs will still dirty in a crate . She should eventually become clean given time .
Gus my 10 month Staffy has been clean in the house since 5 months and we trained both the same way.
Good luck
Lel

Hi Suzanne - it sounds like a really good idea to use a crate for your Staffie girl.
I was against them in principle till I had a Shih tzu puppy who was just like yours - we took him out in the garden for hours - nothing. Walks (long ones!) several times a day .. nothing till he got back in the house.
I got him gradually used to his crate - put all his toys in there. At first he fussed and whined to be let out. I was told to be firm and ignore that and wait for him to stop before letting him out. It worked! Gradually he got so used to it and it became his refuge. He would be quite happy to sleep in it or play with his toys. A kong filled with treats is a good idea as well as that will keep her busy and interested.
He never ever messed his crate as that was his bed - I'd put him in for an hour or two. Then take him out for a pee. If he didn't do one, back he went. He very quickly got the idea that if he's taken out, he poos or pees! Then he wasn't put back in the crate for a couple of hours.
It was the only thing that worked, so as long as she doesn't feel it's a punisment, it should work for you. I know how frustrating and difficult it is, so best of luck!
Alison

Thanks to all, crate it is then, going by a guide I found I should be looking at a 24" crate, does that sound about right for a small year old staffie?

I find sizes so difficult to guage so I asked the man in the pet shop where I bought mine. As I think you said, it should be large enough for them to move around in comfortably. I'm sure you can get good advice and see for yourself in the shop - why not take your little Staffie in with you?
Hope it does the trick - sure it will!

I have a 30" for my 10 month old Suzanne :)

The size of the crate will depend on the size of your staff.She should be able to stand with her head in the normal position and turn comfotably and stretch out.So get a tape measure and measure to the top of her head.her length and then add 2 inches to her height for the cage height,use her length + 2 inches as the cage width and add about 8 inches to her length for the cage length(or measure her when she is laying stretched out). I would use these as minimum requirements but preferably slightly bigger.If you are leaving her for longer periods she may need space.
Keep her in your sights at all time and when you can't put her in the crate.When she has been in the crate take her straight outside.It won't take long for her to catch on!!
Good luck,Archer

Hi Suzanne
I am using a crate from argos for my Bichon puppy it is fine in size I think it was about £30. Good luck.
Regards Pauline.

Wow, thanks for all the help guys, so glad I found this site :)
Im going to get a crate tomorrow and Ill keep you all informed as to how she gets on.
Thanks everyone.