OK, first of all I know how to housebreak. I am just looking to see if anybody has had issues with puppies that pee in their crate. My dog is real good (with me) in the home. He is almost 5 months old and understands house rules about peeing and pooping. (we're at the stage where he doesnt pee while I am in the room with him because I watch him like a hawk, but if he is allowed to run off to another room,

like when my wife watches him

he will take advantage of his neglect and relieve himself while out of her sight.

He can easily hold his pee all night long for 8 or 9 even 10 hours, even after drinking large quantities of water before bedtime. My problem with him is during the day when I leave the home for a few hours. I often come back to find he has pee'd in his crate. Now If I stayed home watching him and he was cruising at my feet next to the couch he would probably still be sleeping and holding his pee just fine waiting for me to walk him.

I have one of the older 28" high crates with the stacking forms in the bottom so I think maybe he is uncomfortable. I am ready to buy a larger crate with a flat bottom hoping if he is more comfy he will sleep better and not pee in there. Anybody got any other ideas? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I'm not familiar with the term "stacking forms." Is that some sort of liner where the pee can go through, with minimal "I'm laying in my own pee" sort of discomfort for your puppy? If so, than I would re-consider your crate set up. (I assume your pup is going out frequently enough based on age / bladder control expectations...and that if there were a reason to consider a medical issue, you have ruled that out....)

While I am a complete novice to Schutzhund and that level of training, I've learned potty training through the school of hard knocks. It sounds from your post like you and the rest of your family might not be on the same page about puppies needs and routine. LOL - I found potty (and other) puppy training much easier back when I was single than coordinating with a hubby. But it was imperative that we agree on a plan, and both execute the plan. This not only applies to potty training around here, but issues regarding chewing on the right/wrong things, and it grows into lot of additional basic training areas.

If your 5 month old puppy is able to "sneak off" and pee in the house, I suspect that ability to "sneak off" and do unacceptable things might spill over into other areas of basic household training & behavior.

At least for us, our puppies (or even adult adopted dogs) have to EARN access and freedom in our house very gradually. And if they "fail" (whether that's peeing or chewing or anything else) we consider it OUR fault (not mine, or my husband's as individuals) for giving our puppy/dog more freedom than it can handle. Then we take several steps back, and start over from an earlier success point.

Hope this helps - best wishes!!

Beth

When you say you're leaving your home for a few hours, how long is a few hours? A 5 month old pup should be expected to only hold it a max of 5 hours plus or minus an hour or so. 8 hours overnight is much different from 8 hours during the day and I wouldn't let a pup who is having a little bit of an issue with this go longer than 8 hours overnight for another month or so. Is the crate too big? Unless he was a pet store pup (please say no!), they shouldn't pee in a crate that they just have enough room to turn around and lay down in. Once my Mal got to be about 7 months and was about 90-95% good, he got a bigger more comfy crate. If he's going in the crate, something in the equation isn't quite right. In the house, I'd also recommend putting him on a drag leash so if he starts to look suspicious and circle, you can run him outside quick, or alternatively, tie the line to your belt loop so he's always close by. He's still a youngen at this age and won't likely be perfect for several more months.

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When you say you're leaving your home for a few hours, how long is a few hours?

Is the crate too big? Unless he was a pet store pup (please say no!), they shouldn't pee in a crate that they just have enough room to turn around and lay down in.

In the house, I'd also recommend putting him on a drag leash so if he starts to look suspicious and circle, you can run him outside quick, or alternatively, tie the line to your belt loop so he's always close by.

a few hours is just that, 2 to 3 hours only...

No he isn't a pet store pup, his breeder had them in a sectioned off area of her home, while they had occasional access to the yard, it wasn't regular. Their area was kept clean, and they werent living in their own filth like pet store pups, but they were allowed to go on the floor.

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take several steps back, and start over from an earlier success point.

Hope this helps - best wishes!!

Beth

Thanks Beth! He has been good for almost a week now!