Oh dear, my 11 week old puppy has started to go into his crate to go to the toilet... for number 1 & 2's!! He never used to, which worries me as I thought that dogs avoided soiling their own bed?! This is when he is loose in the kitchen... he isnt shut into his crate.  Any ideas what is causing him to do this, as it didnt happen before.  Many thanks.

Although dogs are not supposed to soil their sleeping area some of them have not read the books!

At 11 weeks he is still too young to ask to go out and so maybe he goes in his crate as it is more 'private' than the kitchen and the rest of the house.  You need to go right back to basics [actually at 11 weeks you should still be on the basics].  Take him out very frequently and stay out with him till he goes.

NEVER tell him off or otherwise punish him if he makes a mess inside.

Has he ever been told off?   If so this would be the reason he is going into his crate to 'go'.

Wendy

Thanks for your reply!! I'll have to read him a bedtime story then! :) .....  he doesnt get told off as such, sometimes a stern 'no'  however I guess I do hurredly pick either him up or his 'mess' if he goes in the lounge,(not the kitchen) maybe he can sense my annoyance?... Ooops!  I've been taking him out after meals, sleep etc.. and giving him a treat and some fuss when he goes.  It just really suprised me when I saw him going into his crate!!.... I've noticed he tends to go to the loo so much more in the evening when he is in the lounge though but not as much during the day......

I always take the attitude with pups that they will make a mess for a while and so it doesn't stress me ;) Also that as teenagers they may make the odd accident. Remember to use a special cleaner to clean it up, or a biological washing powder solution - nothing with disinfectant etc as that has ammonia like substance in it which could be confusing.

Lindsay
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Hummmmmmm - maybe he's scared by being scooped up and rushed outside?  I'd try and work on distracting when you see him, rather than whisking him away, and encourage him to follow you out to the garden.  Maybe also, you need to learn to be more aware of where he is and what he's doing - most pups will become restless before 'going' and often indulging in sniffing and circling behaviours....

> he doesnt get told off as such, sometimes a stern 'no' <

Erm what is a  stern 'no' if it is not telling him off?????

This would be why he is soiling in his crate.    He is avoiding the stern 'no' and sneaking off to go in private where you can't see him.  Some dogs sneak behind settees if they are told off for accidents.

Puppies will not associate the 'No' for going in the wrong place - they will associate it for going where their owners can see them - hence the creeping off to go in crate.

Keep praising and treating him when he 'goes' in the garden and ignore all accidents.  Don't even clean up the mess in front of him.

Wendy

thanks for your message, I'll give it a try... oh, just one more question, if I notice the puppy starting to do his business in the house do you think I should leave him to go and ignore it?? I've tried wisking him up and taking him into the garden and I've also tried just calling him to come to me, however when I call he just finishes what he does and then comes over.... what do you think??  thanks!

Don't call him, he won't be able to 'come' to whilst 'going'.     You can pick him up gently and take him outside AS LONG AS THIS DOES NOT FRIGHTEN HIM.    If it worries him in the slightest it could exacerbate the problem.    It is important to ensure that no harm is done, dogs see things differently from where they are standing from how we see them.

Best thing is to just keep rewarding for performing outside and be vigilant and keep taking him out.  The fewer accidents there are the quicker housetraining will be.

And be patient, he is still only very young.

Wendy

If I caught my pups in the middle of doin their business in the house I would clap my hands, they would usually stop due to the loud clap and I would scoop em up and straight outside to finish their duty. This seemed to work like a charm.  Always use a command word when ur puppy is outside like hurry up, go pee ect. But use the same word all the time, eventually they associate this word with doing their business and always treat/praise when done... :)

have you tried feeding your puppy in the kennel and put toys in their? Maybe this may help... Good luck

hi... thanks for all your messages., they have helped!  I've spent the last couple of days with him, taking him out every hour and giving him loads of fuss and a treat when he goes outside, and guess what... he's left his crate clean!! phew, was worried for one moment.  I've also stopped giving the stern no and just calmly picked him up and taken him outside, which seems to work.  so thanks for the help!! being a new puppy owner can be worrying at times!!  its a learning process!! :)