Skip to content

How to stop pottying in her crate?

Basenji Training
  • Hello! I just adopted a 6mo old B mix from the humane society and am stuck on potty training. I take her out to the same place first thing in the morning, when I get home from work and at night. We have gone on long walks, played in the park and even went to the dog park. She will not go potty outside! (never even once). She is crated when I am not at home and at night and every time I find that she has used the bathroom in the crate… even if I took her out right before. I don't know if it was a bad habit from previous owners or if she is just scared. Does anyone have any tips for correcting this behavior and getting her to go outside?

  • no real magic on this issue. I had some of that too with my new girl….You may be right about what she was used to previously , are you able to find out details? anyway, you're being as consistent as possible. There is a crate where a space is provided for 'denning' and one for potty. If this is not possible, maybe you can put her crate in a small confined area, take off the grated door, and provide a potty area away from the crate made from an old cookie sheet, some sod like the grass you have outside (bury some scent from her previous potty urine and a stool sample on the sod so she gets the idea. This idea worked for a client of mine and a new puppy that had to stay home until someone came home, and it comes from a VHS tape from a UK trainer named Barbara Woodhouse....those new fangled potty pads are a take off of this idea too.http://modernpuppies.com/pottytrainingpuppyapartment.aspx

  • Are we talking both urination and defecation? If she will at least pee outside, that's good. For the poop, I would use a suppository (when you are sure she needs to go!), and hopefully that will compel her to do it outside, at which point lots and lots of praise!!! If it works, I would continue along those lines until she starts getting the idea. The best time to start this training is a time when you don't have to leave her for a long period, e.g. a weekend when you are home. (I had a friend with a cat that would only use the litter box, and would ask to come inside in order to use it, so if she has become used to going in her crate, it may just be habit, and it may be that she thinks that is the appropriate place.)

  • Try feeding her bran cereal (with NO artificial sweeteners listed in the ingredients!) softened in plenty of water an hour B4 a walk. This has helped me correct crate/indoor pooping issues with several puppy mill fosters by increasing the urge to eliminate; They poop outdoors, giving me a behaviour to reinforce. She might be a shy pooper, too–if you can, find her a screen of tall grass or brush for privacy, don't interupt her with praise or be loud offering it, and never yell or strike her for pooping indoors...many dogs won't potty within sight of their owners for fear of being reprimanded.

Suggested Topics

  • Crate training

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    ZandeZ
    Exactly as it should be ! Happiness well deserved :grinning_face:
  • crate/potty training and biting

    Basenji Training
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    @jilliansquires Housetraining, you need to go back to potty training 101.... start all over again.... take her out "all" the time, after eating, sleeping playing, etc..... The biting as you describe it is NOT normal behavior. Have you done any Obedience training with her? Work her mind? And most important have you talked to her breeder?
  • Potty Issue

    Basenji Training
    31
    0 Votes
    31 Posts
    13k Views
    DexterDexD
    Well, I hadn't really thought much about litterbox training, but thankfully we won;t be needing to look for alternative options to outside pottying. Things have all seemed to work out great over here. I think it just took me a little while to get accustomed to everything, but everything is running smoothly now. Thanks everyone.
  • Crate size?

    Basenji Training
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    5k Views
    dmeyD
    I think I will buy a wire crate also. LIked that the plastic ones are more "den" like , but like you said I can just put a blanket at night… Thanks
  • Potty training

    Basenji Training
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    14k Views
    tanzaT
    @lisatest: Does a puppy have soft poop and as the puppy gets older the poop becomes more solid? It has been a while since I had a puupy so I can't remember. No… a puppy should also have a solid poo...
  • Water in crate?

    Basenji Training
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    B
    @etzbseder: Yeah, I guess I'm still just thinking about the heat. I know it gets really hot inside my room at my parents, and then Medjai does really need water. If you have good AC, or it's not that hot, they could be fine. Our house has great AC and is very comfortable. Thanks for the comments.