2 New Puppies and Crate/House Training

[TamekaFerguson]

Hello Everyone. 

My family just welcomed two 11 week old Rottweiler pups, Judah (boy) & Miss Cleo (girl) to our home about one week ago.

While our initial plan was to bring home one pup, we ended up with two (I know, I know...). The dilemma we're having is that while Judah has been adjusting to doing his business on the training pads outside of his crate, his sister Miss Cleo has not. After breakfast we let them out individually to go on the pad. We usually allow Cleo out first since she is the one going in her crate all the time. After 15 min or so and she still hasn't gone, we put her back and bring Judah out. Within minutes he has gone poo & pee on the training pad. Once he's returned to the crate its out with Cleo again, but to no avail, she won't go on the pad. What usually happens is that she will do her business while back in her crate when we're handling Judah.

Judah is also displaying the ability to go on the training pad while we're having play time, while Cleo will wait until she is back in her crate, even after attempts to let her eliminate after playing. I clean her messes with Natures Miracle products, and have a crate divider to try and discourage the behavior, but no luck so far. I know it's only been a week, but I'm concerned about this becoming a serious problem since they can't go outside for at least another month (until they get full vaccinations). 

Any help is greatly appreciated. 

[lokilou96]

They can go outside. They just shouldn't interact with other dogs until they are fully vaccinated. Avoid dog parks or doggie day cares, things of that nature. Taking them out for potty breaks is fine. Just do your best to not let them drink out of puddles or eat anything off the ground (other animal poop is a main concern).   

[Adrienne]

Hi there, welcome to the forums!

You story sounds very familiar:) When we went to get our Rottweiler pups we were planning to only get one male (Einstein) and then here comes his sister (Petra) adoringly prancing towards us as if saying "pick me! pick me!" So we ended up getting both, yup double the trouble 😉 

I hear you about the pee pads, they can be very frustrating to use because some dogs seem to miss the concept entirely while others think they are the most fun thing to play with and shred, and we can't blame them really because they're not the greatest invention out there, but once dogs grasp the concept they can save us from cleaning less messes. 

A few questions for you: does your home have a yard? Is it convenient to reach? Are you home most of the day? Is Miss Cleo peeing or pooping in the crate or both?  Is the crate of the right size (big enough to lie down, stand and turn around, but snug enough to not allow your puppy to pee/poop in one corner and rest comfortable at the opposite side?) And do you happen to know where the breeder was making them go potty? Puppies develop a substrate preference around 8 weeks so it helps to know where they were going potty around that age. 

 

Edited April 25, 2020 by AdrienneFarricelli

[TamekaFerguson]

Thanks for responding Adrienne. 
 

To answer your questions: 

Yes, we have a large yard and it’s convenient to reach, but we often have other animals graze our yard  (skunks, gophers, jack rabbits, squirrels, etc), so I’m a bit afraid to let Cleo out. I’m very concerned about Parvo. They get their 2nd set of vaccines on Monday 4/27. 
Yes, right now we’re home all day with the pups due to COVID19, this will probably be the case until June. 
Cleo is both pooing & peeing in the crate. The crate is a little big because we didn’t know about sizing when we brought them home, but I purchased a divider this week to size down her crate. 
The breeder had the pups in a crate similar to the one we purchased, just bigger to accommodate multiple pups (grouped by boys and girls).  The pups were allowed to eliminate in the crate. Since we brought them home at the tail end of 10 weeks, they were eliminating in the crate together at 8 weeks. 

[Adrienne]

Thanks for the additional details, they are very helpful!

OK, so we want to minimize as much as possible to allow Miss Cleo to pee and poop in the crate, but if the breeder was allowing that, that's not a very good start as the pups learn to not care about laying in their waste. Ideally,  in young puppies we want to foster their instinct to not eliminate in the areas where they eat, play or sleep. So we want a crate of the right size so it's great that you have a divider. 

So let's do some troubleshooting on what may be happening with Miss Cleo. Here's one thought: I think many issues with dogs who don't potty right away once let out, but then potty when they are crated again or taken inside the home after being in a yard is because they are too distracted. They are excited to be out and their first thought is to go have fun and explore or greet their owners. Once back in the crate or home, where things get dull and less stimulating again, they then suddenly realize they have to potty and pretty badly...

So one thing we can do if possible is create a sort of "bathroom area" by placing the crate/crates against a wall and enclosing them with an extendable pet gate or exercise pen covering the floor with some large pads so that you can let her out and free until she goes (hopefully on the pads). Stick nearby so that you can praise and reward her from going successfully on the pads. With new pups, it's a good idea to help them succeed by using large pads and placing several on the floor so they can hardly miss. Then as they get good in understanding that, when they go on the pad they are praised and rewarded, the number of them and size can be gradually reduced.  

Once she goes, if she has both peed and pooped, then you can grant her some free time to play with you and interact (with siblings we want to grant each separate play times, training and interactions so to help develop their individuality and prevent litter mate syndrome. If she still manages to go into the crate despite having access to the enclosed area described above, that means she perceives the crate as her bathroom so better closing it when let out until she goes on the pads. 

Once they have finished their vaccines and the vet gives the green light for taking them out, I would aim to wean the off the pads and start training them to go mostly  outdoors. 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2020 by AdrienneFarricelli