April 19, 2011
Our 9-week-old Lab will poop 2-3 times a night. I'm concerned he will lose his natural instinct to keep his space clean. What can I do?
Full Question:
We have a 9-week-old Lab, and use the crate in the garage at night. For a solid week, our dog pooped 2 or 3 times during the night and was a terrible mess by morning. He goes in his crate at 10 and is out at 5. I am concerned that he will lose the natural instinct to keep his sleeping space clean if he sleeps in it each night. We decided to make a space for him to come out and poop on paper, by blocking off a small area just outside of his crate. It has been working. Are we wrong on this, or is the crate alone the right way to go?Also, our dog must be alone for 4 hours due to work schedules. Can we leave him just outside of the house on a stake, or should he be in a crate during this time?
I've been reading all I can, but can't seem to find a definite answer to these questions. We'd appreciate your advice.
Ed's Answer:
- Re-read my article on housebreaking - and the Q&A on this issue.
- The dog needs to spend more normal time in the crate during the day – not just at night. It must learn that it doesn't always go in the crate for 10 hours - if it's in for an hour and then 3 hours and then an hour and then 4 hours and then all night. It will learn to hold it.
- You are creating some of the problem by not feeding properly and not giving appropriate exercise after it eats.
- Get the dog on an All Natural Diet - this passes through a dog in 5 hours - kibble needs 16 hours. Get the little book I sell on this. This is how I feed my dogs.
- I would set up papers if this is what it took. But more exercise and control of the food has to be done.
- I would recommend the video I produced titled Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months. I give this video to all of my puppy customers and never get questions on how to raise a pup. Read the description of the tape on my web site. It has 2 hours of solid information and does not cost a lot of money.
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