Friday, October 2, 2009

Rosie's Mom With a Question

Hi Everyone,
I am taking over Rosie's blog today because I have an issue with Rosie and I wanted to see how many others may deal with the same problem and I would like to get some suggestions.
The problem is potty training the pug. Rosie will be two in March and still goes potty in the house. She won't go upstairs but thinks that going downstairs is the same as going outside. Some days she will go outside with no problem but on others, I will have her outside for a long time - she will sniff away and then when she comes in the house will go down stairs and poop. Rainy days are the worst and when I am at work she was getting free reign of the house and doing a lot of her business downstairs.
We decided to start putting her back in her crate during the day and then letting her out for a long while when we get home. We started this yesterday and there were no accidents.
The problem is I feel guilty leaving her crated. She is usually crated for about 5 hours a day.
Do any of you crate your dogs while at work?
Is 5 hours too long?
Do any of you have this same problem? If so, how are you handling?
We really want to break her of this habit before she ruins every carpet downstairs.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks and have a great weekend!
Rosie's Mom, Kristy

12 comments:

Harry Pugalicious said...

Hey Rosie's Mom. Harry's Mom here. Harry had "accidents" in my old place. I started putting little pee-pee pads down "just in case" and that seemed to help.

Now that I live in a carpet-free house, he hasn't tinkled inside. He will, on occassion, poop. I'm not happy about it but it doesn't happen often. The funny thing is that when he does it he does it in the spare bedroom which is where I keep Midi's litter box. I guess he figures if Midi poops in that room, he can too!

Try the pads, and if that doesn't work - 5 hours in the crate isn't awful. She probably sleeps all day anyway!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Sorry -

I khan't help but I'm sure woo will get some good advice!

That is yet another benefit to bloggin'!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Pug(s) and Bugg said...

Rosie is still young... so I wouldn't worry too much. 5 hours in a crate is NOT bad at all. Many dogs need that secure space- it could be something she craves! Her own area. My dogs can't have that though because they're scarred from the puppy mills- but our first pug, Oliver, slept in the crate all night.

I also think varying her walks will help. I notice when I'm lazy (aka every cold morning nowadays) I have a pretty much 1-in-3 chance of a poop inside. They're bored with our tiny yard and if they go on walks, they get more stimulation and desire to leave "pee-mails" and such. That might help too?

Kelly said...

Oh Kristy, I can SO relate! Potty-training Pearl has been my biggest issue with her. She still struggles VERY often, and we are going to have to replace our carpet. It is only 2 years old! :(
I have read that pugs can be very hard to potty-train. It is most frustrating to me because, like you, I take her out and she does nothing, and then immediately goes inside and pees/poops. She knows it is bad and usually hides afterwards, which makes me sad! You know it's bad! Just don't do it!
Do you have a kitchen/laundry room/bathroom with tile floors? I would try gating her in during the day, so she is still confined to hard floors but can get up and walk around if she wants to.
Hope you find a solution soon! You have my sympathy!

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

Hi Rosie's mommy....PAco and the gang's mom here....
Sorry...but I can't help you....my babies learned to poop outside yet...but I think that is the luckiest to have bros to imitate!!!!
And about Rosie in the crate....5 hours...Mmmmmmmmm..I don't know what thinking...
I'm against dogs into the crate but is my opinion...You must finsd the best solution for your girl and you of course!!!!
Good luck sweet Rosie's mommy....
Let's know how is going ok??!!!
Love and kisses

Martha said...

Hi Rosie's Mom!
I think being in a crate for a short time is OK when the dog is used to it - I believe lots of dogs feel safer.
Martha & Bailey were never crate trained and of course are now adults so I wouldnt think of it now.
Martha had been in kennels for over six months when she came to us and was not toilet trained.
We have gone through quite a few rugs - thankfully we have wooden floors - but I really do understand your frustration.
I think also once they smell their toilet on the carpet it is a problem.
She is now a whole lot better just going out regularly - Bailey is good for a demonstration of why you are out there.
Really though it is perseverence - Rosie is still young.
We have always praised Martha for going outside and said nothing when she does it inside - figuring out no attention at all is best!
Just figure out what works for you and Rosie and go with it.
xx

Harry Pugalicious said...

One more thought... I picked this up from Victoria Stillwell (It's Me or the Dog). When you reward a behavior, say "Good.. insert desired behavior". So, now when Harry poops I say "Good poopie!!!" It may be a coincidence, but he seems to be going more "on command" now.

agent99 said...

Hi! I've been lurking for a while. We have 2 pugs: Foo is an older rescue dog (10yrs) and there are lots of "accident" issues in the 2 yeras she ahs been with us. While I don't love the idea of her being in the crate while I am out of the house, it's that or she's got to go. I do leave the crate door open when I am here, and I often find her taking a snooze in there from time to time. At night, she trits right down into the crate on her own. Unless someone isn'f feeling well, there are never accidents in the crate. The other dog is 4 and unless she has not been walked for too long, she doesn't soil in the house. However, there is a specific poo area where they both leave presents if left out of the crate & unsupervised too long. I suggest going back to squre one of crate training while she is still young enough to improve her behavior - good luck, pugs are notoriously tough to housetrain.

Sequoia & Petunia & Emma said...

Hi! Well Sequoia was potty pad trained and still uses it even though she is 3 yrs old. I leave one down when we leave the house and at nught just in case. I guess if I don't leave (half of) one down in the kitchen she will break the habbit.

If you don't want to crate we used to block her in the kitchen (or bathroom) so if she had an accident it would be easy to clean up.

The rain is difficult with her too. I try to keep her under an umbrella.

We hope you find some help!

Stacy Walker said...

Sorry we are just now commenting. Don't feel bad about the 5 hours in the crate. I know it seems like a long time but it's not. I've had Miley in hers for up to 7 hours. Granted I don't do it that often but she does fine.

We have a different issue with Miley. She will pee/poop if she thinks we aren't going out soon enough. Sometimes she whines some but not always. We are hoping she grows out of it.

Good luck!

Unknown said...

Hey there - I'm late on this, but I just wanted to say that 5 hours in a crate is not bad at all. When I first got Winston my vet suggested crate training and mentioned that she kept her BT crated during the day for up to 8 hours. I mean, they are really sleeping all day anyways, whether they are sleeping on the couch or in their crate doesn't really matter as long as they feel comfortable in there. Make it a nice, happy place for her with cozy blankets and special "crate-only" toys that she really really loves and then she won't have any issue being in their during the day.
I used to crate W&C while I was at work all day - usually about 6 hours, and they were fine and are both completely house trained now at about 2 years old.
Good luck!

Libby's Library said...

Hello Rosie's Mom!

I think that you will find that she will poop outside, if you take her out the minute she is done eating.
It has worked wonders for my pug, George. He hates to be outside when the grass is wet - so if he has an accident inside, because of the rain...I just clean up after him. After all, I have my bad days too (NOT that I'm saying that I poop on the rug! LOL)

I'm a wuss, so I don't crate my dogs:-( So who do you think rules the roost at my house?