Going bathroom in Crate

[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!