He pooped in his crate! He has never done that. I thought we were doing so well. Okay we know it's our fault so tell us what we did wrong. I've noticed that he poops twice a day. In the morning around 8 am and either in the afternoon or evening. Yesterday he had his poop in the morning. In the afternoon and evening he didn't. I did notice that from early evening till late evening. He would sniff his poop (which usually indicates he is about to poop) but he never popped! I threw it to maybe today he didn't have to poop twice. My brother was awaken to poop in the crate. Now I know we clean up his area once a week and were supposed to do it yesterday but didn't have time. Could this be a factor? My brother also notice last night him sniffing his poop but he didn't poop. What should we have done? Can you guys tell us what signs we missed. Thanks. And please reassure me that he will eventually get it. He'll be 12 weeks this Sunday.

WOW, for 12 weeks I think that's pretty good. You guys are doing well. I had my 6 month old pee in my kitchen because I missed the signs (yes he gave me obvious signs, but hindsight is 20/20).

I have found that I, as a dog owner, am pretty slow about figuring out which doggie signs mean "I need to go out NOW" and "I wanna go play" or "feed me" - especially with puppies.

I find that he gets restless and will whine if he has to go. Maybe your puppy did this but your brother slept through it?

At 12 weeks, IMO, your mistake was that you didn't wait for him to poop. I don't think a 12-week-old is old enough to only go once a day and then hold it all night. A 6 or 7 month old, maybe. Not a 3 month old. In the future do not bring him in until he poops, even if he acts like he doesn't have to. He's a baby - he DOES have to.

With my guy, sometimes we had to be out 20 or 30 minutes. (I really hated this in the morning when I was late for work, and all he wanted to do was sniff around and eat grass). It helps if you get him running around a bit, the movement will help them go.

He's a puppy. Sometimes puppies poop and pee in their crates. Accidents happen. 12 weeks is still very young.

My 15 month old peed in the crate the other morning for the first time in a long time. I missed the sign too: he was barking in his crate in the morning. But, he always barks in his crate in the morning so I ignored him, like I always do. It happens. Just clean it up and get on with life.

Thanks Angela. I do love your bluntness Mike. Actually it's rather reassuring. This is our first time housebreaking a dog so we're worried that we won't be able to house train him. LOL. Imagine a big 2 year old German Shepherd still peeing or pooping in his crate.

Maisha,
You are doing great with this pup! One pee or poop in the crate is not too significant in the grand scheme of things, especially since you know what went wrong and can easily correct it.

Keep doing what you're doing, and ditto what Angela said; wait him out on the evening poop...