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My dog is 9 months old and still poops in her crate, but otherwise she is perfectly potty trained.
She is a boxer that we adopted from a family that was too busy to care for her. She is very smart and listens well. When we are home she is the most perfect puppy i could ask for, she goes to the door when she needs to go potty, has learned many tricks, and listens to our commands. 90% of the time when we leave she poops in her crate, even if she has gone previous to us leaving. I have tried a spray, making her crate smaller so she only has room to lay and even leaving her in the kitchen without her crate (she just peed, pooped and tore stuff up). I dont know what else to try- will she grow out of this? is it separation anxiety?
Asked by
Bella
on Apr 10th 2008
Tagged
in Crate Training
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- This question is closed.
Answers
I hate to break it to you, but the crate might have to go.
Somehow, she's managed to get it into her head that she poops in the crate. Of course, we know that is exactly the opposite of what her instinct is and the idea behind putting her in the crate in the first place, right? BUT, for whatever reason, she's got it mixed up and it will be much easier for you and for her if you take the crate out of the equation.
Also, if she's pooping in the kitchen, she's not "perfectly potty trained" outside of the crate, either. My advice would be to go back to square one with the training, without the crate, using the baby gates and kitchen and see if she gets better. If you're consistent, you should see major results in a week or so. I don't think it was separation anxiety, but rather boredom.
Read the short book How to Housetrain a Dog in 7 Days from any major bookstore and make sure she gets plenty of exercise before you leave and leave her with a stuffed Kong toy.
Jack
answered on 4/10/08.
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I agree completely with Jack. The crate needs to go. Miss Buddie absolutely HATED her crate, and has done so much better since we've moved to gating her in the kitchen while we're gone. (At least if she has an accident in the kitchen, it's on linoleum and not carpet. :D )
Make sure she has lots of fun toys to play with and a soft bed to lay on. We're big fans of Kongs, especially the Wubba.
Miss Buddie
answered on 4/10/08.
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Being an owner of 3 boxers I can tell you that it probly is separation anxiety because when you leave she gets upset. She probly feels like this because of the situation with her other owners. So, you just have to work with her, try to spend more time with her and let her know that you love her.
Savanna
answered on 5/26/08.
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