Olive - 5 month old peeing machine

[Pakman32o]

Thanks for the advice all. When I picked her up the crate she travelled in had a piece of carpeting and shreds of newspaper which smelled like she had been consistently peeing on it. Other than that she just keeps peeing in her crate. I wonder if she thinks eliminating in her crate is a surefire ticket out of the crate? She has her first vet trip today but after that it's the crate until she pees outside routine I guess.

[tanza]

Not sure what you mean by "crate till she pees outside?"… And have you talked to the breeder about what her schedule was like for the months the breeder had her? That will give you clues to her possible habits. Especially if she was kept in the crate alot, she may have just learned if you got to go... you got to go and uses the Crate... One thing, make sure that if you are still using the same crate it is totally cleaned and the pee smell is gone and use fresh bedding.

[tlish]

suki was a pet store pup and had the habit of peeing in her crate. it just took a week or so for her to understand that there was a schedule, and if she held it, she would get to go out and alleviate herself at a particular time. i think until she got the schedule down, she just didn't know when there would be a chance, so she just went whenever she had to go. just be patient and consistent, and i think your girl will figure it out as well.

[Pakman32o]

I'm using a new wire crate, chucked the old one cuz it was way too big and cheaply made. I got her online, puppyfind.com and the breeder isn't super talkative. I had a minor victory with her since my last post actually. Gave her a bowl of water and them took her out, no luck. Then put her in the crate, she immediately peed (tried clapping, making a loud sound, whatever the books say to stop her before she started but she just stared at me and kept goin lol). Cleaned it up and gave her her morning bowl of food and water. Waited a bit, held her on leash near the water bowl. Went outside after about 15 min, saw that her backend was gettin ready so I booked it to the potty spot. Get there and she just seemed frustrated with me, kept tugging on the leash to go back but I just stood there. Eventually she dropped one while on the move, at which point I praised her to high hell and took her in. The war isn't over but feels good to have at least one minor victory lol

[BaiBee]

I should take her out after playing, eating, sleeping and so on and stay out until she done something outside. When she pees tell her that she is a good girl and then go in.
Good luck

[lvoss]

From your description, you have a puppy that has learned that the appropriate place to eliminate is in her crate. Does you crate have a "pan" in the bottom that is removable?

If so try taking that out with you potty her and see if she will potty outside on the tray. If she will then you can slowly try to associate the try with other materials so you can fade the tray altogether.

I hope that you at least required that your puppy have come from Fanconi tested parents or had the breeder test her prior to your purchasing her.

[Patty]

It seems to me that she is in the habit of using her crate as a toilet - possibly because she has always been kept crated and not supervised when let out to toilet.

Make sure that all smells have been eliminated each time she pees in her crate before she goes back in. You've been given plenty of advice on the necessity of frequent visits outdoors to toilet so I won't repeat it. Praise her inordinately when she does perform and also use a word that she will identify with going to toilet.

This is all a matter of patience I'm afraid and in the meantime you might indeed have to use a great deal of odour eliminator. Personally I don't buy commercial ones but use white vinegar from a spray bottle which is much cheaper.

[YodelDogs]

She may be soiling her crate due to anxiety to confinement or separation anxiety.

[Patty M]

My dog, Joker, spent the first four months of his life in a pet store window. I'll never forget that when we first brought him home (he was the only dog), he would literally eat and pee at the same time! It took him about a week to understand what real dogs do.

Patience… patience... patience. High praises when she listens... repeat the command that you want her to respond to, i.e. "Go Potty".

[tlish]

^ yeah, suki would would take two bites of food in the morning and suddenly have to poop immediately. it took a couple months and constantly watching to break her of that!

[Pakman32o]

Yeah the breeder "said" she was fanconi clear but didn't give me any paperwork when he shipped her. . . took her to the vet today and he said she looked healthy. You might be onto something with the separation anxiety bit since she only seems to relieve herself as soon as I leave the room. More good news though, I had to go pick up a friend from the airport and so left Olive in her crate for about an hour and a half maybe 2 hours after a failed attempt at getting her to relieve herself outside. I expected to come back to her having messed her crate but when I came back, I just found her taking a nap inside instead! I had to step out again but thought what the hell one more attempt couldnt hurt. With no visible signs of needing to eliminate, I took her to the spot I've been taking her for the past 3 days, at night mind you, and she just wandered into a nearby bush, stared me in the eyes and started goin. Both 1 and 2! My neighbors must have though I was insane cuz all I could do was yell "good girl" as she went to town!

Well after that I petted her and praised her a good bit before putting her back in the crate and stepping out for an hour. When I came back she had torn up the puppy pad I placed in the crate but had not otherwise messed it. She's currently at my feet napping, but I can already smell her so a potty break is in order soon lol. Lets hope she's catching on

[DebraDownSouth]

WTG.

On the puppy, you can look up sire and dam in OFA to see if proof of testing there.

[tanza]

I agree with Debra, check for yourself about Fanconi and if she or her Sire & Dam have been DNA test.

[wallyblue]

I have read that basenjis real fairly easy to house train. My aunt has a female name Deena and she was really easy to train. Praise is the best reward for a pup who goes outside. Can't wait until next week. I will be getting mine!!

[Patty]

I've just read about your successful progress with your girl - I'm so pleased. The first steps are heartening as you know you're on the right track.

[Pakman32o]

Thanks all. Olive's about 70% house-trained now. She doesn't poop inside or inside her crate. She still pees once in a while on the carpet if I let her out of my sight as well as in her crate occasionally in the middle of the night or when I leave the house for a few hours. SOOOOO glad she's a quick learner ha ha. Gonna start puppy school Sunday after she gets her rabies vaccine and spaying today. Top of the class, here we come!

[Pakman32o]

Also, any thoughts on good bell or indicator training? I've been so concerned with getting her outside before she messes inside that I haven't been working on how she can let me know she needs to go out.

[DebraDownSouth]

I know many who train them to ring a bell, but I really always just watch, take out often and RARELY ever have "accidents" because every accident increases the chance for more. By the time they are a few months old, every one of them have always whined or gone to the door to indicate. The thought of teaching to ring bell, then ring bell to go out.. lol really seems like a lot of work.

I did look for you though:
http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/puppy-house-training.html

[Pakman32o]

Yeah we were doing really well for a while, but it seems Olive is relapsing
She's holding it in until right when we get back, sometimes not even willing to walk towards the usual potty spot. She's even started peeing on my clothes ( a shirt or sock if she finds one on the floor). I think I'm gonna shift her meal times to a little later since rushing back home for a lunch feeding isnt always consistent and I can devote more time to watching her carefully.

[tlish]

^i physically picked suki up from her crate and took her to the potty spot - she never peed on me and there was no chance of error on the way out. might be worth a try?