Puppy Troubles...

Submitted by eachango on February 2, 2012 - 3:08pm

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Hi everyone,

Hoping to get some advise on a little issue we're having with Mr. Gino...

Gino is a little over 5 months old. We were working really hard at crate training him, and it seemed that we were finally successful. We slowly weaned him from having to be in the crate all night long or while we were gone during the day, leaving him home alone for incrementally increasing periods of time. He was doing quite well not going potty in the house (only a couple of minor accidents). When he went 2 solid weeks without having an inside accident, we decided to take down his crate and get him a big-boy bed.

He was doing great with the no-crate, new-bed scenario for the first week (still no accidents) but this week - he is back to making puddles everywhere. I woke up this morning, and he peed all over the hallway (by the door where we let him out). Once he went on our kitchen rug (which had to be thrown out). He seems to go in the house even if we are only gone for an hour or two...

Is it normal for a puppy to "relapse"? Should we put the crate back up, or cut off water after a certain point in the evening?

Any advise would be much appreciated! (new pics of our puddle maker below!) :)

Cute Puppy :) what I suggest . .

Submitted by RARett on February 2, 2012 - 3:17pm.

I would keep the crate up, as he is still pretty young to hold it for any real amount of time - and why hold it when you have this great big house to 'mark'

Also at that age, they will soon kick in the MAJOR chew stage, so unless you want your furnature chewed while you sleep or are at work . . . .

Gizmo will be 2 in a few weeks, and she is still crated (I know to some it sounds cruel)

but she literally sleeps all day, on the weekends she gets me up at 430am -.. does her business, crawls up on the couch in my lap and sleeps !

(why can I not atleast sleep late on the weekends! LOL Payback for getting her up at 345-4am during the week I guess :P

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Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .

Crate all the way~!

Submitted by Redflame on February 2, 2012 - 3:56pm.

Theres a great peace of mind when you know that your puppy and your belongings are safe. Couches can be replaced, but just imagine coming home to a bullie that has ingested foam stuffing and choked to death.......sorry to be so blunt but I can't stand to even think about something happening to Kippah when she is not under my watch, so she has her kennel for times when we are gone or during the night. We have snuggle times before bed and first thing in the morning, she is never sent to her kennel in punishment, it is her private space, and at 7 months she even decides to go there on her own sometimes, especially when she is mad at us for not letting her have people food or something.

I look at it like this, I would never let my child be in the car without a seatbelt....

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Loves and Smooches, Kippa and Mama (Annette)

It's been a long time....

Submitted by CathyandZimmer on February 2, 2012 - 4:10pm.

since I dealt with puppyhood, but I do remember we took Zimmer out constantly and each time he went we showered him with praise & treats. Of course I was home all day so it made it much easier. Be patient & consistent is the only advice I can offer.

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Cathy & Zimmer

www.midatlanticbulldogrescue.com

First thing would be to make

Submitted by tonyjerry on February 2, 2012 - 5:35pm.

First thing would be to make sure he doesnt have a UTI. We started letting Oliver out on his own during the day when he was probably around 6 months old and only after he had no accidents for 2 months so maybe he just needs a little more time with the crate. Good luck

Does he have totally run of

Submitted by Sams74 on February 2, 2012 - 7:00pm.

Does he have totally run of the house? Before I transitioned Molly from crate to the house, I used gates to block off a small space for her and her crate was also in that area. Once she was able to stay in that space without any accidents, I slowly gave her more freedom. Now at 8 months, she rarely has accidents and when she does it is usually my fault!

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Crate

Submitted by roanne9145 on February 3, 2012 - 7:54am.

I totally agree that crating him at night till he is at least a year old and not any sooner. They do get into things they shouldn't as one mentioned the sofa or tile etc....My two are totally crate free after a year old. Patience is the answer for sure. Good luck with your beautiful boy. Oh, make sure he only has toy's at night that can't be torn apart and swallowed .

Roanne

I would definitely keep the crate...working for the fire

Submitted by 1sttimebully on February 3, 2012 - 12:03pm.

department I can tell you if anything happened in your house, you need to know where your babies are and how to get out quick and safely. We had a women die just the other day because she went back into a burning house to find her cats. Crates are safe and they like them they are their own personal space, my guys are almost 2 years old and they run to their crate at night to go to bed. I feel better knowing exactly where they are and how to get to them if anything goes wrong.

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Ashley, Baron and Duchess

Vancouver, Canada

Same advice as the others but

Submitted by Céline and Ange... on February 3, 2012 - 12:05pm.

I wanted to respond anyway just to say how totally adorable your little puddle maker is :)

I can't believe...

Submitted by Stephanie and David on February 3, 2012 - 4:51pm.

I can't believe that sweet-faced bulldog would EVER do anything naughty. Good luck with the training.