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Subject: Crate training and potty train help!

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Rattie_Rupp

Newbie

04/25/2008 2:50 AM
Hello, My name is Shaun and my g/f and I recently got a Rat Terrier! He's 5 months old and weighs 12 pounds. He's been neutered, his name is Rupp (after the greatest coach of all time Adolph Rupp!) Anyways, were in the middle of potty training and he's doing rather well, few messes, but just doesn't seem to be grasping the concept of our training term Outside. We say it to him many times on the way to the door and put his leash on at the door still saying outside. When he goes we praise him and everything and give him a small treat when we get back in. Is there anything else we could be trying? The biggest problem we have now is when we go out for a while we put him in his crate (which is too big and we are getting a much smaller one this weekend) he's ok for a couple of mins. then the screaming and whinning kicks in. We just go on and leave, but then come home to a scene that should be in a horror movie.. He poos on EVERYTHING! his toys, bed, towels, crate floor everything, then proceeds to do what he does outside and like drags his hind paws like hes cleaning them and flings it all around the room! Last night he got it on the ceiling! We just don't know what to do. I know the size is a problem, but its like he gets mad at us for leaving him and its like the freaking devil comes out and decideds to throw poo all over the room! He sleeps with us at night can this be one cause of this?

A man who knows his bourbons knows Old Rip Van Winkle... the Connoisseur's brand.

justan0therjess

Newbie

04/25/2008 3:04 AM
i am still trying to potty train my pup, but one thing i was doing was doing the same as you, using the keyword and treating her when we got back in.. eventually, she thought that everytime we went outside and went bck in, she got a treat, so she'd go outside, act like she didnt have to go, come back in wanting a treat then go potty inside.. try bringing the treat w/ you and giving it to him as SOON as he finishes going. this seems to be working, i just keep treats in a baggie by the door so i remember to grab when i go out, she gets happy to gopotty when she sees that bag haha.. as for the crate training, joleigh screams and hollared for a while but eventually got over it.. now i got to wear i cant leave anytoys or anything but a bed, not even a blanket because she gets too destructive with it.. she has a huuuuge crate, meant for like a labrador, but she only "went" in it once.. i cant afford a smaller one, this one was given to me.. good luck! im sure someone on here will have more help with the crate issue..

ASLacey

Rattie

04/25/2008 4:32 AM
Regarding a crate being possibly too large ... You can purchase 'dividers' that will make a larger crate small enough to fit two seperate dogs. This might be a less expensive alternative for the time being. Minnie is two and she still spends time in her crate when we are not home to supervise any one of the new ideas she may come up with for home distruction!!! But since she is fully crate trained, she now has what we call 'puppy disneyland'. Basically it is a crate designed for a newfy, so it's more like 'her own room' than an actual crate! Good luck ... Lacey

DaisysMom

Moderator
<b>Moderator</b>

04/25/2008 8:32 AM
Welcome to you and Rupp. Couple of questions: Where did you get him? (If you got him from a pet store at a few months of age, this could be the cause of some of his crate problems.) I do believe that crate training is a HUGE asset to any dog owner and very beneficial for the dog as well. You definitely want to give him a smaller area until he's trained either by using dividers in a larger crate (which will save you some expense) or getting a smaller one for now. Do you work on crating him at all when you are home? It can help him learn that going to the crate doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be left alone. Also you may want to provide him with a very special treat that he only gets when going to his crate. I recommend using a Kong (as it's virtually indestructible) and filling it with treats and/or peanut butter. You can even make one at night and freeze it for use the next day and it will last a little longer. You want to do all you can to ensure that he sees his crate as a wonderful place to be. Covering the crate on all sides except the front may help as well. My Daisy prefers this cave like atmosphere as opposed to the open view, but others do not. Try it and see what Rupp likes. If nothing else, covering it will help with the flinging poo! You can use a blanket/throw or they also sell fitted covers especially for crates (or, if you're handy, you could sew your own.) I would also work on doing your best to make sure there's no poo in him before crating Make sure you're feeding him on a schedule and giving him good opportunities to go outside prior to having to be crated. Keep up the good work and let us know how things are going. Don't forget to share some pics of Rupp

Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom

rattytatty

Training Moderator

04/25/2008 8:43 AM
Wow! .... I agree with Tracey .. make sure he's "empty" when you crate him. Whatever it takes... even if it means camping out with him outside until he does empty himself. Don't leave toys with him in his crate. (If he doesn't have them he can't shred them)... Don't leave towels in in the crate. I would not even put bedding in the crate until this issue is corrected. You do in fact need a smaller crate or get a divider for the one you have. Tracey's suggestion of the air kong is an excellent one -- try it. If he poops on the crate floor... at least that's much easier to clean. My advice is to be more persistent in your efforts to teach him that outside is the place to poop. Leave him in his crate for short intervals at first and then as he becomes more comfortable... longer periods of time. Feed your dog (and water) INSIDE of his cratefor awhile; dogs do not like to defecate/ urinate where they eat.

~Nora~ Mom to Hoss, Lil'Bit, Buster & Bailey, CGC, NA, NAJ

Emg

Terrier Terror

04/26/2008 8:55 AM
Welcome to you and Rupp! You have gotten some great suggestions the I agree with. I have tried the 'Kong' filling idea, and it worked really well! We'd put it in his crate whenever we'd go for a long time and he loved it. And yes, crate him whenever he's not being supervised. Put the crate in a room were you are usually when you are inside. Also, put some kind of newspaper in the crate, so it's easy to clean up when he does have an accident. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Sara, Sam's mommy

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