How can I help my Pomeranian with anxiety and stop him from going potty in his crate?
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at
8:06 am
chulo’s mommy asked:
I have 14 week old medium male pomeranian whom I’ve been attempting to crate train. His seperation anxiety is not getting any better. I’ve been crate training him at night for about 2 weeks now and have not seen any improvement. He barks, cries, whines, shake/bite(his crate), and goes potty(1 and 2) every night. Last week I had a family emergency and had to leave him during the day. I felt bad leaving him lock in his cage for such a long period of time so I left him in the bathroom w/ cage door open, pad, bed, toys, and watter. When I returned he shredded the pad into little pieces and smeared his **** and urine all over the floor. I dont know what to do! I’ve tried leaving the radio on low for him, lights off/on, and nothing seems to work. During the day he does very well. Only potty’s outside or on the pads. Doesn’t cry or bark. Any advice on what I can do?
I have 14 week old medium male pomeranian whom I’ve been attempting to crate train. His seperation anxiety is not getting any better. I’ve been crate training him at night for about 2 weeks now and have not seen any improvement. He barks, cries, whines, shake/bite(his crate), and goes potty(1 and 2) every night. Last week I had a family emergency and had to leave him during the day. I felt bad leaving him lock in his cage for such a long period of time so I left him in the bathroom w/ cage door open, pad, bed, toys, and watter. When I returned he shredded the pad into little pieces and smeared his **** and urine all over the floor. I dont know what to do! I’ve tried leaving the radio on low for him, lights off/on, and nothing seems to work. During the day he does very well. Only potty’s outside or on the pads. Doesn’t cry or bark. Any advice on what I can do?
Tagged with: Crate Training • Going Potty • Little Pieces
Filed under: Anxiety
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Some dogs just can’t be crate trained. They’re not tempermentally suited for it. It sounds like he’s one of them. Why are you forcing him into a crate when he obviously hates it, and isn’t a problem outside of it? Seems cruel.
do you not have a garden to leave him when you are at work? I dont think it’s fair to leave a dog in a crate for any length of time at all. If I was locked up and left alone, I might do number 1’s and 2’s myself!
When he goes to the restroom in the house, scold him so that he knows that you aren’t happy with what he did. If he goes to the bathroom on the pad or outside, tell him what a good boy he is and give him a treat. Worked for my mom’s dog. She is now learning to stay and doing a very good job of that as well. I am sure that everything will be fine. If this doesn’t work see if there are some suggestions that your vet can give you. Good luck and God bless!
I would try leaving him in the room with you, where you sleep, in the crate. He needs to learn that the crate is not “bad”. If he has separation anxiety that might help. Try leaving him with a towel, old shirt, something that smells like you, or a stuffed animal to keep him company. Also, make sure that the crate is the appropriate size considering the size of the dog. Most dogs will not go to the bathroom where they sleep, granted he’s a puppy and if he can’t hold it, he’ll hopefully use the wee wee pad. But give him the option. He has to understand that when you leave or are not in sight, you will return. You could try leaving the house for a bit, just outside even, to see how long it takes until he cries/barks. Before he starts making a rucous return giving him praise for being good (with no barking and such). Leave the crate out so he has access to it whenever he wants, so he can learn that it’s not a terrible place to be.
the above is correct. Some dogs are just TOO traumatized by a crate..I recommend baby gates..Also, having to leave him all day really was a setback to his separation anxiety, as his worst fears came true..It will take a while now, to even get back to where you began..
My own breed will seldom adjust to a crate, and my brother’s Poms won’t. (He’s a Pom breeder, and only uses a crate for traveling)
lol…sorry guys but dogs are not too “tramatized” to spend time in a crate. He’s 14 wks old….get real.
First of all, crates are like a “den” to a dog. The reason he doesn’t like the crate is not because of the crate itself…it’s because he has learned to associate it with the owner leaving or him being left alone at night.
So…….first of all, the crate is too big if he can do his biz in one spot and still have room to be in another. The crate should only be big enough for him to comfortably lay, stand & turn. They sell dividers you can use for this purpose or you can make one out of carboard or other material.
Secondly…..he’s a puppy! And a little tyke at that. His little plumbing is still developing and he’s still learning how it works and quite frankly his plumbing doesn’t hold all that much. So he needs frequent potty breaks, plus potty breaks after every meal & drink.
Third – don’t let him go thirsty, but DON’T allow him 24/7 access to water till he’s trained.
Fourth – if you don’ t nip this seperation problem in the bud now you are in for 15-20 yrs of serious problems. So….best to start now.
1. DON’T fuss over him when your leaving…no “mommy will be right back, you be good now….etc” simply walk out calmly and leave.
2. DON’T pet or talk to him when he gets all worked up, that is considered praise so when you “coo” him or try to comfort him your basically telling him what a good boy he is having a nervous break down.
3. DON’T DON’T DON’T only put him in the crate at night or especially only when you leave. Make it a fun place to be….when your spending time with him make the crate part of his “play” time….role a ball in there so he’ll run in and chase it…DON’T ever put him in the crate for being bad or when your mad at him. Put him in there periodically for a few minutes at a time thruought the day….not just when your leaving. And when you let him out don’t make a big fuss about it because then your telling him it’s something bad he just had to deal with. Simply open the door and say “ok out”
DON’T paper train him indoors. Paper training a puppy ONLY succeeds in teaching it that its OK to go to the bathroom in the house. Instead, give him frequent potty breaks.
I have a 7yr old pom…my mom had him before me as a pup(before she passed away, and i got him)….
I would take him to an obedience course…and have a professional help you teach him. Poms are pretty good dogs, and learn fast. remember he is just a puppy, and is not used to you being gone.
When hes old enough(ask your vet) get him neutered, he will settle down a lot.
Just keep doing what your doing, in addition to some obedience training. Its frutrating but worth it.
I take my Pom everywhere..except work. he sleeps while im at work…
Onyx Ninja – right on the money, great advice. Plus I’d add please don’t talk about about potties and restrooms and No 1’s and No 2’s – this is baby talk and we are discussing dogs here, so it’s elimination, urinating, poo, wee, cr*p, whatever. This is half some people’s problem, I think – they believe their dogs are children.