Jennifer, this may make you feel a little better. I just got another Dutchie. She is just 2 months old. I've housebroke more pups than I care to remember. That is still a lot less than many on this board I'm sure.

My night time ritual is as follows. No water food after 4:30PM. No water after 5PM. The crate is on my side of the bed so I can hear the pups every move. Out to pee or poop 6, 8, 10PM. Then for some reason, probably lack of food and water, I get away with 2 times crawling out of bed to take the dog out.

I've learned from multiple experiences with different pups there will always be some signal like stirring or whimpering before they go in the crate. The key is to dial yourself into hearing it in time.

My day starts at 5AM. I begin by feeding the dogs. During the day I take the pup out after eating, drinking water, exercise plus every 1.5 hours in between.

I always treat and praise for the good job even at 3AM.

That's what works for me.

What a pain in the butt!!!!!!

I'd like to update you guys and thank you all again for your help.

Friday night before last, I came home to chaos. Bane had gotten out of his crate (apparently I failed to latch it that morning) and had the run of the house for the whole day. He tore up every scrap of paper that was available and scattered the pieces throughout the house. He tore into his dog food and ate about 1/3 of a huge bag. He also knocked over the cat food and ate some of it. Naturally, he got sick at his stomach and so he dropped nasty piles of mushy poo all over the place.

I don't think I have to explain how I felt.

After I got control of myself again, I had to make some big decisions. I realized that the incident was entirely my fault - not his. But was I really capable of dealing with this? Could a mistake this big ever be fixed? Could I ever really deal with this much energy on four legs.

I thought of all the posts you guys had written and I decided that, yes, I could. I cleaned up the house (all weekend long)and we continued working on the basics. Literally overnight, Bane became a different dog. I guess he just had to have a big party before he was ready to start growing up.

He is dry in his crate now and had stopped biting. He enjoys playing more and is really shaping up to be a great dog. I can't imagine how we went from a tragedy one night to such a great relationship the next but it happened.

If it weren't for everyone here, I would have sold him that next week. I would not have been able to deal with what I came home to. However, Bane is still part of our family and I am now fully committed to him.

THANKS!

What a great post. I learn a lot reading about the problems, and sometimes the unhappy outcomes, but I sure do enjoy posts like this. And what you asked for you are now giving to others, reading this who are going through their own struggles.

 Quote: Jennifer Locke

But was I really capable of dealing with this? Could a mistake this big ever be fixed? Could I ever really deal with this much energy on four legs.

I thought of all the posts you guys had written and I decided that, yes, I could. I cleaned up the house (all weekend long)and we continued working on the basics.

YES!!

So glad to hear this Jennifer! Maybe Bane sensed your new resolve. Anyway, that's fantastic news and I'm really happy for you both!

Beautiful post Jennifer. As Amber said, your pup sensed your new resolve, and reading your post with all that resolve was refreshing to me.

My pup got out of his crate when he was about that young. His crate has a drop-pin gate and at that early age I didn't use the locking latch on it - BIG MISTAKE. He shoved the door up with his nose until the drop-pins came out of the holes and pushed it open. Fortunately I was home at the time so he ran right to me rather than explore what devastation he could have wrought . I was fortunate I was home, because I have NO doubt he would have done the same thing to the house that your pup did to yours.

The little scallywags!