6 months is about the age dogs start coming into sexual maturity. If he is marking (lifting his leg on things) then it's probably just his hormones acting up. I'm sure he's going to be fixed soon, so that problem might ease up a little after surgery. I don't think the change in food would change his bathroom habits.
As far as the crate, have you ever used it for punishment? Exmaple, he messes in the house and you put him in the crate for "time-out"? It sounds as though he starting to view the crate as a negative thing. Try different toys (kongs with treats are good) to make it more interesting and fun. Also leave the crate door open during the day so he becomes more comfortable with resting in it. If he is only put in the crate when you leave or go to sleep he'll start making the connection crate = no mommy!.
Yeah, you might be right about the maturation thing; I didn't even consider that. Although he isn't lifting his leg yet (do you even thing he ever will, considering he's expected to be 2.5/3 lbs. full grown?)- would that still be considered marking?
I've always been consciencious about making his crate a comfortable place- although I'm thinking he might not see it as such, because he has to go in there for several hours at a time while I go to class (I live at home and commute to college). Ever since he was 8 weeks, he's hated to go in there, but around 14 weeks or so, he actually seemed to get pretty comfortable & wouldn't whine. But he's at it again now. :/ I usually put a toy or two in there, along with a blanket.. but I'll try the treats thing & see how it goes.
Wow, that is a VERY small dog. But, even though he's small he's still a male with hormones. :) Squating to pee technically doesn't count as territorial marking, lifting his leg to pee on something in particular (a tree, a book, whatever) is territorial marking. If he doesn't seem to have any control over where he pees, he might having some kind of bladder or urinary tract infection. But, from what I hear most dogs start getting "iffy" with their bathroom habits around 6 months
( ... )
You're right.. he's tiny- but a boy, nonetheless. haha. =)
He's definitely my little companion. =) We're probably together too much, if anything- I'm afraid I'm causing him to be anxious when I put him in his cage because he *hates* being away from me (even when other people hold him, although he's improving). I've raised him to typically be with me when I'm at home or at my boyfriend's (or even in his bag when I go on short errands in the car). Do you think this could be a possibility for the whining and maybe even the accidents in the crate? Maybe he's just being defiant as a protest? And if that's the case, should I try to spend less time with him?
I'll have to retry the crate training, as frustrating as it is. He was so easy to train the first time, maybe he's making up for it now. lol. I'll go to Petsmart tomorrow and get one of those little baby-size Kongs.
If he's regressing in his potty training, you need to back up and treat him like you did when you first started training him. Is he acting any differently or peeing more often than usual? Dogs can get UTIs which can make it seem like they've become unpotty trained. If you suspect he might have a UTI, take him to the vet.
Sometimes training can regress because people think their dogs are ready for more freedom than they really are, so back up a few steps.
When and why do you crate him? You need to make sure you are continueing to make the crate a positive place. When I first started letting my dog sleep on my bed instead of in his crate, he started resisting going into his crate when I had to leave for school - the only time he would get sent to his crate then was when I was leaving, and he started to associate it with something negative. Make sure you are crating randomly throughout the day when you're still home and with lots of treats and praise for being compliant and unresistant and quiet.
Apart from the whining in the crate, he really isn't acting differently; he's more affectionate & playful if anything. He isn't peeing more frquently either, it's just he's doing both in the crate (instead of the puppy pad as he used to). I'll definitely try to take a few steps back, and perhaps visit the vet if this doesn't change soon.
I have to crate him because I'm a college student (but live at home), and have class during the day for 2-5 hours, 4 times a week. I live in a large house that has a pretty open layout & a huge staircase, so it would be really difficult to confine him in one location (apart from the laundry room or a bathroom), and I'm terrified of him falling or getting into things, as he's only 2 lbs. and 5 months. But yeah, he's been sleeping with me occasionally lately, and maybe that's why he's starting to hate the crate (hence the pottying in there).
Thanks so much for your tips, you've been so helpful.
*nod* I definitely understand being concerned for him when you aren't there. I crate my dog when I leave him since the only place I can leave him is in the same room with two cats, and I'm not willing to risk something happening between them whenever I leave.
There's nothing wrong with wanting him to sleep with you, just make sure he's getting crated at other times, and make sure they're positive experiences. Feed him in the crate, and give him his toys and treats in there as well. Whenever you give him a Kong or something to chew, put it in the crate, even if it just means he has to go in and carry it out.
Definitely take him for more trips to the pee pads than you're doing right now and praise him like crazy. I've never pee pad trained dogs, but I know with my cats they've always done really well for a few weeks and then regressed when I would change something, like moving a bed or ex-pen, and I'd have to start over.
Aww, thank you! Yeah, he's a Chihuahua/Yorkie mix. =) He was actually as much as a purebred Chi- but has the qualities of both breeds (plus a distinctive look & a tiny size that isn't very common), so that was a plus. After getting Hunter, I honestly don't think I'll ever get a purebred dog again.
Comments 14
As far as the crate, have you ever used it for punishment? Exmaple, he messes in the house and you put him in the crate for "time-out"? It sounds as though he starting to view the crate as a negative thing. Try different toys (kongs with treats are good) to make it more interesting and fun. Also leave the crate door open during the day so he becomes more comfortable with resting in it. If he is only put in the crate when you leave or go to sleep he'll start making the connection crate = no mommy!.
Hope these things help!
Reply
I've always been consciencious about making his crate a comfortable place- although I'm thinking he might not see it as such, because he has to go in there for several hours at a time while I go to class (I live at home and commute to college). Ever since he was 8 weeks, he's hated to go in there, but around 14 weeks or so, he actually seemed to get pretty comfortable & wouldn't whine. But he's at it again now. :/ I usually put a toy or two in there, along with a blanket.. but I'll try the treats thing & see how it goes.
Thanks so much!
Reply
Reply
He's definitely my little companion. =) We're probably together too much, if anything- I'm afraid I'm causing him to be anxious when I put him in his cage because he *hates* being away from me (even when other people hold him, although he's improving). I've raised him to typically be with me when I'm at home or at my boyfriend's (or even in his bag when I go on short errands in the car). Do you think this could be a possibility for the whining and maybe even the accidents in the crate? Maybe he's just being defiant as a protest? And if that's the case, should I try to spend less time with him?
I'll have to retry the crate training, as frustrating as it is. He was so easy to train the first time, maybe he's making up for it now. lol. I'll go to Petsmart tomorrow and get one of those little baby-size Kongs.
Reply
Sometimes training can regress because people think their dogs are ready for more freedom than they really are, so back up a few steps.
When and why do you crate him? You need to make sure you are continueing to make the crate a positive place. When I first started letting my dog sleep on my bed instead of in his crate, he started resisting going into his crate when I had to leave for school - the only time he would get sent to his crate then was when I was leaving, and he started to associate it with something negative. Make sure you are crating randomly throughout the day when you're still home and with lots of treats and praise for being compliant and unresistant and quiet.
Reply
I have to crate him because I'm a college student (but live at home), and have class during the day for 2-5 hours, 4 times a week. I live in a large house that has a pretty open layout & a huge staircase, so it would be really difficult to confine him in one location (apart from the laundry room or a bathroom), and I'm terrified of him falling or getting into things, as he's only 2 lbs. and 5 months. But yeah, he's been sleeping with me occasionally lately, and maybe that's why he's starting to hate the crate (hence the pottying in there).
Thanks so much for your tips, you've been so helpful.
Reply
There's nothing wrong with wanting him to sleep with you, just make sure he's getting crated at other times, and make sure they're positive experiences. Feed him in the crate, and give him his toys and treats in there as well. Whenever you give him a Kong or something to chew, put it in the crate, even if it just means he has to go in and carry it out.
Definitely take him for more trips to the pee pads than you're doing right now and praise him like crazy. I've never pee pad trained dogs, but I know with my cats they've always done really well for a few weeks and then regressed when I would change something, like moving a bed or ex-pen, and I'd have to start over.
Reply
Reply
After getting Hunter, I honestly don't think I'll ever get a purebred dog again.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment