Aside from our battles with the leash and collar deal, my nine week old rottie pup (Niko) and I have another dilemma. I have crated him since the day I brought him home. I had the idea of using my daughter's old baby inhtercom system so that I could hear him in the middle of the night when he has to go potty. This worked for a couple of nights. But for the past three nights, he has not whined. Instead he got up (at whatever time unknown to me) did his thing in the crate and then screamed bloody murder to get out of it. Now the first night following the first morning discovery, I set my alarm clock to get up and take him out. But, I figured he should tell me he has to go potty and not rely on me to wake him up. So I opted to go back to the intercom deal. I placed cedar chips in his crate in case he decided he would just go and then whine. Seems we are moving backwards instead of forwards. The crate wasn't large to begin with because I didn't want him to potty on one end and sleep on the other. But, I did plan on buying a larger crate and using a divider as he grew. For now, my dilemma is that he doesn't mind going in the crate now...he just doesn't want to stay in there with it. So what am I doing or not doing? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Are you sure the crate is small enough for him? Literally, just enough room for him to stand and turn around in, no bigger. And lose the cedar chips, nine weeks old is too young to have anything in his crate at all, too much potential as snacking material <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> . The general rule of thumb for housebreaking is to add one hour to the months the pup is, i.e, 2 months old, he can hold it for three hours. However, at nine weeks, I'd be getting up at least every 2-3 hours during the night for the next week or so to let him out, pick up his water at 8pm, and be sure to clean the crate with an enzymatic cleanser to get rid of the odor. Sleep is overrated anyway <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> .

LOL - Wow .. I've almost forgottens the joys of house breaking!!

It sounds like you are doing everything right .. we did a similar thing with the intercom (but it was a webcam that can be accessed from any laptop around the house). Still, pups at nine weeks have such bad control that they are very unpredictable.

If he poops and then cries, then my feeling is that you are not taking him enough. We found with our Finkie that it was better to have a history of dry/clean crate - that way they start to enjoy a clean place to sleep.

Just remember .. if you take him out BEFORE he whine and yelps, only take him for a short time and then BACK in the crate. Ignore him if he cries there after. He might still poop in the crate once or twice there after, but it will stop. The point of taking him out for a short time (say 60 - 120 seconds) is that he understands that its not play time. If he does his business, praise him like he just saved your house from burning down (we even gave treats). Both of our dogs now go on command. But man, was it hard working getting them there!

Good Luck!
David C

Thanks guys, will lose the cedar chips as well Laura! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />