Post by Andreina on Jun 29, 2011 8:37:12 GMT -5
Hi all,
I have been on puppy vacation with Scarlet for 3 weeks and just returned to work this Monday. There is usually someone home with her except maybe 1 day a week or 2, but we come home for lunch to let her out. Anyways, my issue is with her messing in her crate. We have been playing crate games, getting her accustomed to it since day 1. She has learned it's her spot, she loves the crate, goes in on her own and plays, we close the door and everything is fine.
She now sleeps in the crate over night, and has recognized it as her own place. she wakes us up twice a night with a little whimper to let us know she has to go outside. We take her out, she does business quickly, we go back in the crate, and sometimes we have to lay beside it for about 10 mins for her to go back to bed. but after that it's gravy through out the night! So I don't have any issues with the over nights...
The only issue is when we close it and leave the room. I guess she just knows when we are home and when we are not? Because if we lock her in when we are home she doesn't howl, she plays quietly still even if we are in another room where she can't see us. If we leave her for even 20 minutes and run to the store though we come back to a huge mess. This still happens even if she does #1 and #2 before she goes for crate time which we always make sure of, she's on a pretty regular schedule for that now. We don't expect her to hold it for long periods of time, it just seems that no matter how many times she has relieved herself before going on she still messes in her crate.
We can't figure out what to do - the issue is not that she is in there for so long that she needs to relieve herself, I think it is just nerves? When we come back into the room to release her, we don't coo her or say anything. She instantly looks at us, quiets down, sits to be let out and just plays with her toy quietly on the floor beside the crate as if nothing happened. She doesn't continue crying and ask for more attention, just does her own thing. We don't punish her, we clean up the mess and carry on without saying anything and then take her out.
Anyone else have experience with their puppies reacting this way when they leave them? Could this be a development of separation anxiety? Could it be that she is just "mad" and deliberately doing this, or do puppies even comprehend that?
It could be totally normal and I could be reading way too much into this, but just thought I would seek some advice while the issue is fresh. If you think I am expecting too much from her only being 11 weeks let me know please! I want your honest input as to what you think is going on. I really don't mind coming home and cleaning it everyday, I just feel so bad for her and want to fix the problem. I just hope it's not a development of separation anxiety, or if puppies can even develop SA this early? Sorry I'm rambling! lol I am just so confused right now.
ps. she doesn't have too much space either, it's just enough for her to hang out in, we have sectioned it off appropriately.
and we also feed her in the crate, so I'm not sure why she would keep messing in it if we feed her there too? She litrelly has NO accidents inside except for in her crate when we leave.
Any comments would be appreciated thanks guys!!
I have been on puppy vacation with Scarlet for 3 weeks and just returned to work this Monday. There is usually someone home with her except maybe 1 day a week or 2, but we come home for lunch to let her out. Anyways, my issue is with her messing in her crate. We have been playing crate games, getting her accustomed to it since day 1. She has learned it's her spot, she loves the crate, goes in on her own and plays, we close the door and everything is fine.
She now sleeps in the crate over night, and has recognized it as her own place. she wakes us up twice a night with a little whimper to let us know she has to go outside. We take her out, she does business quickly, we go back in the crate, and sometimes we have to lay beside it for about 10 mins for her to go back to bed. but after that it's gravy through out the night! So I don't have any issues with the over nights...
The only issue is when we close it and leave the room. I guess she just knows when we are home and when we are not? Because if we lock her in when we are home she doesn't howl, she plays quietly still even if we are in another room where she can't see us. If we leave her for even 20 minutes and run to the store though we come back to a huge mess. This still happens even if she does #1 and #2 before she goes for crate time which we always make sure of, she's on a pretty regular schedule for that now. We don't expect her to hold it for long periods of time, it just seems that no matter how many times she has relieved herself before going on she still messes in her crate.
We can't figure out what to do - the issue is not that she is in there for so long that she needs to relieve herself, I think it is just nerves? When we come back into the room to release her, we don't coo her or say anything. She instantly looks at us, quiets down, sits to be let out and just plays with her toy quietly on the floor beside the crate as if nothing happened. She doesn't continue crying and ask for more attention, just does her own thing. We don't punish her, we clean up the mess and carry on without saying anything and then take her out.
Anyone else have experience with their puppies reacting this way when they leave them? Could this be a development of separation anxiety? Could it be that she is just "mad" and deliberately doing this, or do puppies even comprehend that?
It could be totally normal and I could be reading way too much into this, but just thought I would seek some advice while the issue is fresh. If you think I am expecting too much from her only being 11 weeks let me know please! I want your honest input as to what you think is going on. I really don't mind coming home and cleaning it everyday, I just feel so bad for her and want to fix the problem. I just hope it's not a development of separation anxiety, or if puppies can even develop SA this early? Sorry I'm rambling! lol I am just so confused right now.
ps. she doesn't have too much space either, it's just enough for her to hang out in, we have sectioned it off appropriately.
and we also feed her in the crate, so I'm not sure why she would keep messing in it if we feed her there too? She litrelly has NO accidents inside except for in her crate when we leave.
Any comments would be appreciated thanks guys!!