We have a 13wk old terrier mix that has been with us for about a week and a half. We're in the process of housebreaking and crate training her, and she's still learning. Our daily schedule is wake up at 5:30 to take her out, then in for breakfast. We take her out again before we leave for work at 7:15, making sure she's peed and pooped at least once in the morning. She's in the crate until my wife gets home around 3:00, and during this time she has pooped in her crate, and somehow spread it in a splatter pattern outside the crate (very little left inside). We don't know if she jumps on it or what, but it's over a foot out from the crate in any direction. We clean the crate and wash her and she's out for the afternoon. No food until dinner time around 6pm, and no food after 8pm. We take her out again before bed (9:30-10pm) and she's fine in the crate overnight.
She's pooped in her crate during the daytime for several days in a row now. The crate has a divider to make it appropriately sized for her, but since she spreads it outside, she effectively removes it from her area so it doesn't bother her. She does it whether we have a towel in the crate for bedding or not. We're not able to leave work during the day to come home and let her out. Any suggestions?
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Some dogs simply can't wait 8 hours. You may have to find someone in your neighborhood who can take the dog out at the halfway mark.
I don't feel young puppies should be left alone for that amount of time, anyway. Puppies are a lot like children. They are social and interactive. You wouldn't leave a child home alone for eight hours in a little cage.
Puppies that feel abandoned can quickly learn to hate their crate which will quickly undo any training you're trying to achieve.
Have you taken her to your vet for an initial exam to be sure she does not have any medical problems? We once had a black lab that could not hold for more than about 4 hours, no matter what we tried. The vet took an xray for possible blockage, however, it appeared that she had a shorter or thinner colon (I was only 10 at the time so this is all I remember) which affected her defecation. We loved her and just made changes where needed.
The vet can also provide suggestions to help you help your terrier.
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