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Post by runnergirl4 on Oct 17, 2014 13:21:04 GMT -5
Hello all! I adopted a Greyhound Lab mix about 6-8 weeks ago. She is wonderful. She is great with my son, and using her commands as best as she can. She is only between 12 and 18 months so she does still have a lot of energy that we are trying to control. My issue is with housebreaking her.
Does anyone know the proper way to crate train a dog? I am so confused. We have been trying for a month, and it is just now working. We don’t have a steady routine. Monday, and Friday we work normal hours, but Tuesday and Wednesday my husband does not leave for work until 13:00, and Thursdays are crazy long days.
On Monday and Friday we: Crate at night, she wakes us up between 5 and 7 we walk her if she doesn't poop and pee, we put her back in the crate and try every 1/2 hour. If she does, she gets to come inside to our den until we leave for work at 8:45. She is put back in the crate at 8:45. until I get home around 18:00, where I do the same walk her and if she doesn't do both, I crate her until she does. She gets to spend time with us until bed, then she is back in the crate.
Tuesday and Wednesday we do the same as above, but she gets more "house time" because my husband is home later.
Thursday we are out of the house from 8:45- 20:00 so we leave her in the garage un crated because I think it is cruel.
And the weekend are their own mess.
I just do not know what to do. Yesterday she literally looked at my husband and pooped right in front of him on the carpet in our den. She shows no signs of wanting to go out to use the bathroom.
I have a memorial for a family member this weekend and my in-laws are going to be taking her, and I know that is going to push the training back even further. Does anyone have any suggestions? What do I do?
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Post by Nettie on Oct 17, 2014 14:16:09 GMT -5
Leaving her on her own and crated for such a long period of time is just too long. You need to arrange for someone to come in during the middle of the day to let her out and preferably walk her too. Would you be able to go that long without a trip to the loo? She obviously does not know where she is supposed to go, when she goes outside are you praising/rewarding her so she knowns she has done a good thing? When she goes indoors you just need to clear it up if you don't catch her doing it. If you do catch her tell her 'no' fairly sternly, get her outside and wait until she performs and then have a 'party' so she really know she's done a good thing. You also need to sort out how long she is being left and get a routine going, at the moment it sounds as though she has not got a clue what she is supposed to do and what is expected of her.
Sent from my HTC One using proboards
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Post by henpecked on Oct 17, 2014 14:36:47 GMT -5
That is a very long time to leave a dog shut in a crate .You really need to get someone to come in and walk /toilet her while you are out. Toilet training is a matter of routine & taking the dog out regularly. Agree with Nettie, Too long too hold it all in comfortably.
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Post by vickyb on Oct 17, 2014 15:45:14 GMT -5
As Nettie says she is crated for far too long and I believe she is left too long generally. It's not her fault she doesn't know what she's expected to do. Is she ok left uncrated on thursdays? If she is why don't you leave her out of the crate the other days. For such a young dog she is spending far too long in a crate overall. Where is her crate? is it in the garage? if so then try leaving the door open so she can use it as a bed. She needs to be out of the crate when you're home not put her in and out of the crate as almost a punishment because she hasn't gone.
The only way you can 'control' her energy is with plenty of walks and stimulation. How long are her walks? Most dogs will go if you walk them for long enough, she sounds very confused if she's not going on walks.
Unless you can spend more time with her or get a dog walker or someone in to take her out in the day you will struggle to house train her.
Neither my dogs nor indeed myself could last all those hours without toileting.
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alfiemoon
Ironing Piling Up
Not that new...just a selective poster
Posts: 402
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Post by alfiemoon on Oct 17, 2014 16:36:08 GMT -5
I'm sorry to be blunt but that sounds no life for a young dog (any dog). They need routine...one day she can pee/poop in the garage, then she's indoors and it's not okay. What's a girl to do. ..? She sounds like she's getting no consistent training to show her that business needs to be done outside...it's your job to be there and teach her this. Having been involved in rescue for a couple of years, IMO any reputable one would not rehome a young dog to anyone working more than 4 hours for this very reason. My own adult rescues are left around 2 hours max a day, after having had 1-1.5 hours off lead exercise, and then have another 45 - 60 mins lead walk late afternoon/evening, with garden visits in between...never more than 4 hours without being offered the chance to visit the garden. Your girl is just spending far too much time alone and confined.  |
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Post by lurcherlot on Oct 18, 2014 4:57:02 GMT -5
I thoroughly agree with all the posts above - she's still only a baby and is being left far too long. Two hours really should be the maximum for a dog of her age. Crated for such a long time is no life for a dog.
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Post by gazer on Oct 18, 2014 7:49:35 GMT -5
You ask what do you do ?
I had to read Thursday twice, she is left 8.45 to 20.00, that's an incredibly long time to leave any dog alone, let alone a youngster like her. You say she's not crated on Thursdays as you think it's cruel, yet you seem to be crating her all over the place at other times. Why are you crating her, because you don't want a mess or is she destructive. She needs proper human interaction, training and lots of exercise. Most of all she needs a routine and never to be reprimanded if she wees or poos inside. I don't understand why she isn't emptying outside on walks. You musn't use the crate as a place of punishment, she needs to be able to go there as a place of safety, somewhere she likes. You need to get someone to some in half way through the day at least, someone who can walk her and spend time with her, not a quick 5 minutes.
Sorry if the above sounds blunt but that's just the way it is I'm afraid.
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Post by dash4misty on Oct 18, 2014 12:03:02 GMT -5
Could you last that long  ? |
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Post by sharonhigh45 on Oct 18, 2014 13:45:28 GMT -5
I agree with what others have said, I only leave my dogs for up to four hours and no longer and that is not every day!
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Post by thedogpack on Oct 24, 2014 3:34:08 GMT -5
The opening post has made me feel very sad  No quality of life for any dog , let alone a youngster . A dog is a pack animal and needs company not solitary confinement . I would never leave my pack alone for longer than 4 hrs . I don't expect them to last any longer without toilet breaks than I can . Please follow the advice offered to you and ask with help from a dog walker , both you and your dog will benefit from it . |
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Post by Lisa on Oct 24, 2014 9:19:44 GMT -5
I think people need to take a step back and remember it sounds like the OP is in the USA and this is mainly the norm over there that dogs are left crated for much longer periods so possibly all the owner knows and has been advised.
I do agree though yes it is a long time. Crating over night and also for lengthy periods during the day is not an acceptable lifestyle for a dog this young. Maybe people could take the time to re educate a little about how things would be handled here in the UK. As I said again over the ponds owners have crates pushed onto them and are led to believe that this is totally the norm.
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alfiemoon
Ironing Piling Up
Not that new...just a selective poster
Posts: 402
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Post by alfiemoon on Oct 24, 2014 15:18:26 GMT -5
I bow to your experience Lisa, but there is nothing I can see that indicates the OP is from over the pond. I've looked into the OP's profile since reading your post too. The OP asked for opinions...and they've received no derogatory feedback, just honest, from the heart comments based on the information presented. If that gets me a 'black mark' , then sorry... |
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Post by vickyb on Oct 24, 2014 16:26:31 GMT -5
Runnergirl introduced herself on the intro thread and said she was from Eastern Long Island, NY a but further down the thread.
If you're still around I hope we haven't put you off, perhaps you could let us know how things are going please?
Vicky
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Post by runnergirl4 on Oct 27, 2014 12:09:23 GMT -5
Vicky and Lisa, thank you. Things are going better. Yes, I do live in the US. I continue to follow my veterinarian's directions. Who, by the way, is the one who told me to use a crate at night and while at work. We are trying to modify her routine. I was just looking for advice and some reassurance.
But Nike and I are learning together. I appreciate you following up.
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