Hi, I am a new puppy owner and know nothing about training a puppy except what I've read on the internet the past week! We got a 9-week old schnoodle one week ago. She has a small crate and has been doing pretty well in it. Although, she doesn't seem to mind peeing and pooping in her crate (not sure if the breeder is to blame or not). She was doing fairly well with the peeing and pooping outside, until the super cold weather and then the snow/ice storm hit. On Monday I took her out and waited and waited, each time she absolutely refused to pee or poop even though I knew she had to go very bad. I knew if I put her back in her crate she would pee/poop all over the blankets as soon as I put her in, so I tried watching her like a hawk in the blocked-off kitchen and get her to the puppy pad to go. (Since then I have read that puppy pads are not good, but it seemed like our only hope since the weather outside was truly unbearable for her). I think I really screwed up with that idea, because for the next couple of days that was all I did -- try to catch her in the act and get her to the puppy pad in time. Since she became afraid to go while I was watching her, I became at a loss with what to do, since the only time I can let her go unattended is when she is in her crate, which means more blankets to launder every time I put her in there. (She knew we wanted her to go on the puppy pad, but she didn't want to for some reason.)

Today, however, was MUCH better. Even though it is still extremely slippery outside, it was sunny today, so I took her out. All day today, 6 or 7 times, she has peed outside and gotten her treat. She did have one tiny poop outside too, but other than that, she won't poop outside.

I work from home plus the kids had no school the past 3 days, so she hasn't been crated too much during the day. I'm trying to get her used to being in there so I put her in this afternoon and her wimpering wasn't too bad. Then after half an hour, she was really fussing so I checked and sure enough, she had pooped all over and was a complete mess.

Any suggestions, or do I just have to put up with a poopy crate for awhile?

Hi Joy,

Welcome to the forum! This weather is proving a challenge for even "veteran" dog owners, so don't feel like you are alone out there.

Have you thought about clearning a bit of snow away and laying down some straw/hay? Many pups find this far easier to use than cold snow.

As you have found out, training to puppy pads is simply training your pop to void inside the house...not a good long term plan.

It is great that you work from home at this stage - that should allow you a lot more opportunities for success than failures...

I'd definitely start with the hay/straw, and also make sure the pup is getting exercised/walked prior to expecting her to poop... it does make a difference.

Pictures when you have time. We love puppy pics!

I was going to type up a response, refreshed the page just to check, and Barbara has pretty much nailed it all.:smile:

Welcome to the forum, Joy! Do be sure to post an intro when you get time.:smile:

Aside from the good advice already, just to reinforce that this: ".. do I just have to put up with a poopy crate for awhile?"

is a big fat NO. You do NOT want this habit at all.

I'd clear enough snow to walk around and around, even in a narrow path, because of the exercise needed by most dogs to get the poop going. Stray, hay,maybe kitty litter?

Also, have you read about tethering her to you?

Thanks for the welcome. I've read some other sites where owners get slammed for all the wrong things they are doing so I was a little afraid the ask. I didn't know about straw, I can try that if I can get to a store in this weather. No pet stores super close and the nearest Wal-Mart is 15-20 minutes. I think a dog sweater would help too, but the one I picked up last weekend is too small and the remaining one at the local CVS before the storm hit was too big!

BTW she has gotten plenty of exercise, we are wearing her out!

If getting to a store is impossible (I too live 20 minutes from the nearest Walmart and wouldn't have it any other way...) I'd clear the snow and expose what ever is underneath... grass or dirt. Praise her like crazy when she potties outside.

The exercise comment is not so much "in general" but as in right before she is expected to potty. Many owners of little ones carry them outside and then put them down with the expectation of "go poop now"... The journey is important... walking/playing encourages everything to get moving!

"The exercise comment is not so much "in general" but as in right before she is expected to potty. Many owners of little ones carry them outside and then put them down with the expectation of "go poop now"... The journey is important.."

'Zackly. Peristalsis in most dogs is triggered by moving around right at poop time.

This is where a log (notes about potty habits/timing) and tethering are invaluable, to know when poop time IS.

No I have not read about tethering yet. What is that?

Good news to report though. Last night, after her last pee of the night and no poop since her mess in her crate earlier in the day, she walked into her crate and laid down. It was about 10:20pm and I figured she must be ready to sleep for the night, but I was concerned since she hadn't pooped since the afternoon. I went about cleaning up the kitchen and about 10 minutes later she wimpered a little. I decided to give her one more try before she was crated for the night and took her out again. She pooped! And she kept her crate clean all night too!

This morning she peed outside but didn't poop, and about 10 minutes later started squatting in the kitchen. I rushed her outside and she pooped again! I don't know what made her improve so much in two days but she is getting so many treats now I'm worried she's having too many I am wondering why she hasn't pooped again yet since early this morning. I took her out after she ran around like crazy, but no more poop yet. I think the log sounds like a good idea. Her first week here it seemed like she pooped many times a day. Yesterday, it was just 3 times the whole day.

One more question: I noticed her paws have a couple of spots that are not covered with the black thicker padding, but more skin-colored and not as thick. Is that normal?

Hi Joy! Welcome and yes, please post pics. We all LOVE puppy pics!

Another thing that I found helpful with my pups is consistently taking them out the same door to go pee/poop. It seemed to imprint on them that this is the place to go when they need to go out.

My 7 y/o rottie will still go stand at the front door and whine when she needs to go out.

Well I'm reading articles on this website and thinking I don't have time to read everything I need to know.

Dana I think you are right about the door. We tried to take her out the front door when the weather got bad, since it has a nice covered front porch, but that did no good. We have to take her out the back door. Unfortunately, more snow is coming the next several days.

I can't figure out how to post her picture, it's on my computer but not on a website, and the directions sound like I need to have a link to a website.