Help! 2 year old dog keeps going potty in crate when at work

[Anonymous]

I have a 2-year-old whippet mix I adopted when she was just about 3 months old. I adopted another pup a few months earlier that is 6 months older for reference (So 2.5 years, adopted when she was 3 months). (pandemic puppies - never again lol)

My whippet is socially a great dog - listens to commands, all around pretty good for a 2-year-old. EXCEPT FOR THE POOP. I have to crate her when I'm gone for work (4-6 hours a day on average, so not long) because she sometimes tends to get into things and eat/destroy them if someone isn't paying attention. Unfortunately, she also tends to potty in her crate, no matter how short or long the stay in the crate is. Some days are better than others; but she must have a poop reserve because even if she just went out before going in the crate, I'll find another special package when I come home.

I think it could be separation anxiety, as my other pup has never done it once. I worked with a trainer when they both were just under a year so I was hoping I set them up for success....

Does anyone have any tips or tricks? She exhibits no other anxious symptoms in or out of the crate, so it's a mystery. She will even lie in her crate when it's clean and open. I just have never experienced this before and am not sure how to help stop this behavior. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I'd call the trainer you worked with previously. Sooner rather than later as the habit/behavior just gets more established. I think this is going to need professional help to change at this point.

[Anonymous]

How big is the crate relative to her size? Sometimes when a crate is too large they feel like their crate can be divided between bed space and potty space in a way they wouldn't in tighter quarters. (Obviously the crate should be comfortable and they should be able to stand up and turn around but a Maltese in a crate that could fit a Bernese might do this.)

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe you are crating this dog still.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe you are crating this dog still.

+1

Terrible.

[Anonymous]

Send the dog to doggie day care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe you are crating this dog still.

+1

Terrible.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How big is the crate relative to her size? Sometimes when a crate is too large they feel like their crate can be divided between bed space and potty space in a way they wouldn't in tighter quarters. (Obviously the crate should be comfortable and they should be able to stand up and turn around but a Maltese in a crate that could fit a Bernese might do this.)

Correct.

Have you ruled out medical or dietary issues?

[Anonymous]

I know you said you’re taking her out, but she needs to be walked longer so that 1) she is super tired when she goes into her crate and 2) she’s fully emptied before going in. If she’s able to poop in her crate then she’s not outside long enough to fully go. She may be a dog that needs to poop 2-3x on a walk.

Also, have you tried only giving her a peanut butter kong when she’s in her crate? Or some other high value treat?

I also agree with a PP on checking in with the former trainer on advice.

[Anonymous]

I don’t doubt that it could be a message but if the dog can produce a poop right after a walk, it definitely wasn’t a long enough walk. When you say “just went out” you mean a walk right? Not out into a yard?

[Anonymous]

If it's anxiety, it's best addressed with your trainer, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How big is the crate relative to her size? Sometimes when a crate is too large they feel like their crate can be divided between bed space and potty space in a way they wouldn't in tighter quarters. (Obviously the crate should be comfortable and they should be able to stand up and turn around but a Maltese in a crate that could fit a Bernese might do this.)

This was my concern, but she's very tall for her weight, so I did have to go up a size. It's bigger, but not huge (for example, it would be too small for a Bernese). She's about 40 lbs. She had a physical this summer and is in good health and is up to date on vaccines.

To those who think it's terrible to crate, believe me, if I could trust her I would keep her out. She gets into the weirdest things. The other night she raided my jewelry bowl on top of my dresser while I was sleeping. She will also take random things off shelves and chew them (all while we are sleeping). She has 3 million toys, bones and other things.
Both the vet and the trainer recommend crating. I want to keep her alive! I'm hoping this is just young behavior, but I want to nip it, as my other dogs are not like this (I have 3 - not all are crated!)

I called the trainer and have an appointment next week. I do agree she needs more exercise; off-leash is where she gets her energy out (dog park). I wish I could take her every day if one was closer to me. But she is walked daily; but even after a walk, or if she has to go into the crate even just a run to the store, she goes. Sometimes it's just #1, sometimes it's #2, sometimes it's both

Thanks though for helping me think this out!

[Anonymous]

Sounds behavioral. When my dog was a puppy we crate-trained her. She was fine for awhile, but when she was about 6 or 7 months old she started vomiting every time I went to put her in the crate.

I had a great animal behaviorist (Yody Blass in NOVA) come out and assess the situation (after I checked with my vet to make sure the dog wasn't sick and that the issue was behavioral). She had me stop crating the dog at night and give her a dog bed to sleep on. Then she had me move the crate from the bedroom down to our kitchen, where there was a big window the dog could look out of while crated during the day. I was skeptical but ... it worked. No more vomiting!

So, you could either 1) consider trying something similar to what worked for us, or 2) consult with Yody or another good animal behaviorist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How big is the crate relative to her size? Sometimes when a crate is too large they feel like their crate can be divided between bed space and potty space in a way they wouldn't in tighter quarters. (Obviously the crate should be comfortable and they should be able to stand up and turn around but a Maltese in a crate that could fit a Bernese might do this.)

This was my concern, but she's very tall for her weight, so I did have to go up a size. It's bigger, but not huge (for example, it would be too small for a Bernese). She's about 40 lbs. She had a physical this summer and is in good health and is up to date on vaccines.

To those who think it's terrible to crate, believe me, if I could trust her I would keep her out. She gets into the weirdest things. The other night she raided my jewelry bowl on top of my dresser while I was sleeping. She will also take random things off shelves and chew them (all while we are sleeping). She has 3 million toys, bones and other things.
Both the vet and the trainer recommend crating. I want to keep her alive! I'm hoping this is just young behavior, but I want to nip it, as my other dogs are not like this (I have 3 - not all are crated!)

I called the trainer and have an appointment next week. I do agree she needs more exercise; off-leash is where she gets her energy out (dog park). I wish I could take her every day if one was closer to me. But she is walked daily; but even after a walk, or if she has to go into the crate even just a run to the store, she goes. Sometimes it's just #1, sometimes it's #2, sometimes it's both

Thanks though for helping me think this out!

In this case crate size isn’t about height, it’s that she has the room to poop. Use a crate divider so that there is less space in there for her to poop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds behavioral. When my dog was a puppy we crate-trained her. She was fine for awhile, but when she was about 6 or 7 months old she started vomiting every time I went to put her in the crate.

I had a great animal behaviorist (Yody Blass in NOVA) come out and assess the situation (after I checked with my vet to make sure the dog wasn't sick and that the issue was behavioral). She had me stop crating the dog at night and give her a dog bed to sleep on. Then she had me move the crate from the bedroom down to our kitchen, where there was a big window the dog could look out of while crated during the day. I was skeptical but ... it worked. No more vomiting!

So, you could either 1) consider trying something similar to what worked for us, or 2) consult with Yody or another good animal behaviorist.

This is great! I haven't thought of a behaviorist. This is along the lines I was thinking of. Some sort of step down/step up training...but I don't know what to do in this case. I leave calming music on, have a quiet routine before I leave, but I'm out of tools in my toolbox. I will check her out. Thank you!