Going bathroom in Crate

[koas house]

Our 10 week lab doesn't seem to mind going the bathroom in his crate. We have blocked the back to make it smaller like the books suggest but the "no dog wants to go the bathroom in his own bed/home" doesn't seem to apply. I don't want to make the area any smaller if I don't have to because he has just enough room right now to turn around (tightly and lie down. We've had him for two weeks and it doesn't happen every night but last night he defacated twice and urinated one of those. Any suggestions?

[Aurie]

If the old saying 1 year in humanhood is 7 in doggiedom, then at 10 weeks he is still a baby. He will have to be 6 months old before he can be expected to have the bladder/bowel control of a typical 3.5 year old child. At 10 weeks, you may just need to get up and let him potty at night time.

Dogs do not typically like to get their bed/feeding area messy. If he not only sleeps in his crate, but eats there as well, he will not want to get that area dirty. Not wanting to is the key, however at his age, he may not have any choice. When babies have to go, babies have to go right now.

Try limiting his food after 6pm or so, and limiting his water after 9. Then make sure to let he go potty before bedtime. If you don't hear him whine at night or if he isn't doing it, set the alarm to get up at 4 or earlier if he needs it. Just remember, all babies are babies for a very short time. It is worth the effort now to help him learn to please you. Good luck!

[catnapper]

How long is he in his crate each night? At 10 weeks old, the longest he should be able to physically hold it is about 3-4 hours. If he goes longer, don't be surprised he went potty - he just wan't able to physically control his bladder/bowels any longer.

[koas house]

We've been having him sleep right next to us and as soon as he starts to whine we get up. The longest he's gone is 3 hours without going outside. Last night as soon as he started to whine, he'd already made the mess. I know he's still very young but does this mean he doesn't care if he's gone or will he grow into a stage when he won't want to mess up his area?

[RedyreRotties]

Just keep repeating:

He is just a baby.....he is just a baby....

He will outgrow this, but 10 week old puppies dont' have much warning when they have to go. When they have to go, they GO. About like a 2 year old child.

Be patient with him, feed him on a schedule, do not feed after 8PM at night, and I take up water shortly after the last feeding as well.

It might be good for a couple of weeks to set your alarm for 4 hours after you go to bed and get up and take the puppy out.

Please make sure you are food rewarding him each time he eliminates outside.

[tmorris812]

Our 10 week lab doesn't seem to mind going the bathroom in his crate. We have blocked the back to make it smaller like the books suggest but the "no dog wants to go the bathroom in his own bed/home" doesn't seem to apply. I don't want to make the area any smaller if I don't have to because he has just enough room right now to turn around (tightly and lie down. We've had him for two weeks and it doesn't happen every night but last night he defacated twice and urinated one of those. Any suggestions?

My dog was doing that and I cut down his food and it stopped. You could try that.

[zoey]

Hi Koas house, and welcome to Pet Talk!
I read on one of your posts where you don't let the puppy defecate on the grass. This may be causing some confusion for him.
I'd allow the puppy to go on the grass and get used to going outside the house vs. inside the house first, then worry about if he goes on the grass or the pea gravel later.
Don't panic. He's still young and he can learn all of these things in time, with positive re-enforecent and repitition.
(Sometimes they will temporarily unlearn something they've already learned by being brought into a new environment or just from being distracted in some way.)
Just a thought.
Congrats on your new baby!