Kennel Training A Puppy

How to stop a puppy from peeing inside her kennel?

I have a 8 week old weimaraner and have began puppy kennel training so she knows not to go in the house. The problem i’m facing is at night she relieves herself inside her kennel. If I wake up every 2 hours and take her out it doesn’t happen, but I’m tired and sometimes knock out for a good 4-5 hours before I hear her barking and laying in her urine. What should I do?

Firstly, dogs don’t eliminate where they sleep unless there’s an issue. This may include:

1. infection

2. pet store or reputable breeder? Pet store dogs “learn” to go in their crate

3. crate size: if you bought a crate for an adult weim and it’s sized as such, you need a divider. a crate that’s too big means she can go in one corner and sleep in another.

4. schedule: you should take your dog out once a night for the next few weeks (depends on dog, but probably 3 or 4 weeks). Suggested sched: take her out to pee before you go to bed or between 10-11. Get up once in the night, say 2:30 and take her to her spot. – better for you do schedule this, e..g. alarm, rather than let her whine. If you let her whine, then you’ll need to work on the whining eventually – she’ll learn to get your attention buy whining. The take her first thing, between 5 and 6. Eventually, she’ll develop more bladder control and the middle-of-the night trip won’t be necessary. Also, don’t give her water or exercise her hard (creating need for water) too late. Stick to a feeding schedule. BTW, rule of thumb for puppy bladder is hours=age in months + 1. At 8 weeks that’s about 3 hours (though this will be a little longer at night when she sleeps, but don’t stretch it much beyond this)

5. Surface: Dogs are very surface and context sensitive. E.g a dog that learned to go on dirt, needs to learn to go on grass and vice-versa. Simply plopping a puppy on a surface they’re unaccustomed to does not mean they’ll go. You need to teach the puppy to go on that surface or wherever her spot may be.

6. adjusting your training: e.g. Try, try again. If you take the dog out and she doesn’t go, take her back inside and then take her out again. When she does go in her designated spot, praise and reward like crazy. Also, make absolutely sure she has no distractions, i.e. no play, no toys, no affection. There’s a time and place for those and this is not it.

Assess and address each of these as required and you’ll start seeing success.

NEVER yell at your dog for going in an inappropriate place. Remember, it’s inappropriate for YOU not for her, so you need to teach her your rules. Punishment can encourage her to “hide” it from you and/or become overly fearful of you.

Good for you for choosing crate-training – that’ll speed up the process bigtime, help prevent her from chewing up your house, and will help with her separation anxiety.

BTW, I disagree with those that suggest putting the crate in your room beyond say the first few nights you have her. Weims are notorious for separation anxiety and if you start doing this you can easily encourage it – and then your problems are just beginning. She needs to learn that she’s OK by herself in another room.

Good luck!!

Puppy Homeschool: Crate Training Fun