When you read the question you will understand why:o

I have a friend (fellow school run mum) who bred her Rhodesian Ridgebacks, she homed all but one, who was very poorly with an enlarged kidney which he had to have removed at the very tender age of about 4 -6 weeks. She and her family grew so attached to him following all the trauma they decided to keep him. His last litter mate was homed about 3 weeks ago, so now he lves with Mum and Dad. Ever since his brother has left he has started to mess in his cage at night, she has crate trained her dogs as she has 4 daughters who all have friends to play and whilst her children have respect for the dogs not all do (take it from someone who experienced it last night),I passed on the advice of reducing the size of the cage, so she put Mum in there as well (they sleep just outside the cage/crate whatever) and he still messed. So then they put another bed (solid kind) in there, and he duly got out and messed in the only space available. She sleeps above the kitchen, and he is now very vocal if he wants to go out in the day so she knows she can hear him. She is really worried that she has done something wrong, can you help?

HI

I dont know as much about crates as some others but will give it a go....

Did the messing start immediatley the brother left, and was he in a crate before that (ie used to it anyway?)

Is the mess lliquids or solids or both?

HOw old is he anyway. .... sounds as if he is maybe still very young?

One thing i will say with confidence is that pups/adults may/do mess in crates....it used to be thought that no dog will mess where it sleeps but sadly it's just not true. And if a pup can't hold on, well it can't hold on!! :)

Personally I would set the alarm to take pup out once or maybe twice at night. It may be that hi s muscles just are not yet strong enough to cope overnight. If this is the case then it will sort itself out as he grows. NOt too much attention here, just praise when he does his stuff and then back to bed.

Re kids etc, how about using child gates instead of the crates, just a thought :)

HTH a bit anyway

lindsay

Don't tempt me about using them for kids! ;D

He has been in the crate - either with litter mtaes /mum etc for a very long time (not left in it I mean you know i's been around), and has been clean at night for ages, until about two nights after his last brother went, when he was 12 weeks so he is now about 15 weeks. I don't think she would be so worried if he hadn't been clean and dry at night but he has been for ages, it's the fact that he has regressed, and is regressing faster by the day it started off with alternate nights but now it is every night. He will indicate very clearly during the day if he needs to go. The situation has really got her worried now as last night she blocked off the final gap so the entire space he had was just this solid bed, and he did it in his bed and was covered in it this morning to qoute 'I have never seen so much poop (not the word used)' I will pass on about setting the alarm as she is willing to try anything, but any other advice would be gratefully received. I know this is a very emotive subject at the moment but I promised to put the post up and I know how worried she is. She doesn't so much care about the mess as the regression.

Thanks, it's always good to have more info.

As he has actually regressed, and it seems to be related to last litter mate leaving, and if she does want to keep him crated at night, then the issue could be more complex. Although i understand the advice about making the space smaller, it works on the theory that dogs don't mess where they sleep and unfortuantley this little guy is doing just that!

IMHO I would go back to normal size etc.... just a thought, are all the dogs together at night (not in the same crate! But same room) or was he on his own at first, after brother went? As it could be a sort of anxiety. Also is it possible his mother has previously been cleaing up after him? Has his food been changed so he is drinking more?

Check nothing is scaring him, such as fridge buzzing etc. Thorouglhy wash all bedding with a biological washing powder as this will get rid of any lingering scent which says it is OK ot go there. Don't use disinfectants as many smell of wee to a dog! :D

I would take him for a health checkup as he has actually regressed. If no-one else can help and there is no improvement then I would in this instance recommend a reputable behaviourist , I may be able to recommend one if you let me know where the people are. Try the other things first though :) IN a way it's a matter of beinga detective and systematically eliminating posible causes.

Lindsay

Thanks I will pass on everything you have said. Mum and Dad are in the same room as him (and always have been) and sleep up next to the crate, as the crate is only really used as a safety measure I might try suggesting she leaves the door open, although she did try putting Mum in with him and she is near by anyway may be it would help if he could get nearer to her if he wanted to?! Don't know just a thought.

Thank you for replying, I really was worried about putting this up but I am nothing if not loyal and keep my promises.

As he has regressed a bit I agree with the suggestion of setting an alarm and taking him out once in the middle of the night. He may have been dry before as he was curled up with another pup and they were keeping themselves warm and cozy and perhaps slept through. As he's alone he may be waking up a bit cold and then has to eliminate. So it might be worth a week or so of getting up - perhaps setting the clock a little later every couple of days.

Wendy

I agree Wendy :)

It could just be that he is now a bit uncertain of where he is suposed to "go" and needs to be effectively retrained.

Will you come back and let us know how it goes, Reefer?

lindsay