We have a 10 week old male. He's adorable. He has been here 3 days. We put him in his crate at night next to our bed. Today we left him for the first time for 30 minutes. I put him in his crate with a few treats and toys. When we came back, he pooped in the crate and it was all over him and all over the crate. I heard this isn't normal. What did we do wrong?? Jenny
Don’t panic Puppies will poop when they need to, regardless of where they are at the time. A poop-nado in the crate isn’t at all out of the ordinary. But, now you know that 30 mins is too long to leave him alone in his crate at the moment. That’s good info to have. What you need to do is take some time to help him to see the crate as a positive place (leave treats in it, feed him in it). Once you’ve done that and he’s happily going in for a snooze during the day, then get him used to being left alone in the crate during the day. Start with 5 seconds, not 30 minutes. Just step out of the room. Work up to stepping out of the house. Make it gradual. And remember that he’s just a tiny baby who has not yet got to know you or his new home
I'm so glad I'm now working right now!! I have been with him 24/7 since he got here and have loved every minute of it. How to people do it who have full-time jobs? I will try not to panic. Luckily, we also have a 7 year old Newfoundland in the house who is quietly showing him the ropes. I so appreciate your response.
Just to add to Rachael’s wise words that, as much as the vast majority of puppies have an instinct not to toilet in their den, not all do. My last puppy was rubbish in that respect. I used a crate in a large puppy pen with her; the rationale being she could toilet well away from her bed during the night. Well, I had to bin that idea after she kept going to the loo (both ends) then laying down in it. Then shouting about it. Ah, toilet training that one was a joy ...
I second that one. My first puppy years was a poo roller, sometimes after just having had him out and standing there for 30 minutes at 3am waiting for him to do something. Then back in the house and in the crate and - boom! - poo and roll. Ugh. I ended up just having him in the bed with me because then I would know exactly when he actually did need to go out (vs. my every 1.5 hour schedule for him) and also he never ever had a wee or poo in the bed. It was almost like he was training me to get him out of the crate and cuddled into bed with me.
