Crate Soiling | Cesar Millan

Dear Cesar,

My husband and I have a male, 12 month old Cocker Spaniel/Pomeranian mix. We have been crate training him and he has virtually no problems at night. But since we've been crating him during the day for the last 2 weeks, he ALWAYS soils the crate in some way.

It doesn't seem to matter whether there's bedding in there or not.

We both work far from home, and he's in his crate for 10-12 hours a day. Our female, 4 year old Toy Rat Terrier does fine, and has for years. Is our 12 month old still too young? How can we stop him from soiling his crate during the day?

Thanks,
Abi

Dear Abi,

A change like this can be very dramatic for any dog, especially a young dog. If you don’t slowly ease a dog into a new routine, he can react in unpredictable ways. Also, dogs are daytime animals, so they’re definitely going to pee more often during the day than they are at night. If you’re going to leave the dog in a crate during the day for 10 or 12 hours, you have to make sure that every 4 hours somebody comes and takes him out, then brings him back. Then eventually what you can do is extend those 4 hours to 6 hours, and then 8 hours, and so on until he gives you exactly the kind of behavior he was giving you before. But remember, it is his nature to be more active in the daytime. Just as he has to adapt to your new schedules, you need to be mindful of his!

Stay calm and assertive,

Cesar Millan

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Thu, 08/26/2010 - 6:28am — elvisirish69

Caging an animal 10-12hrs a day

Im sorry but I trully believe its cruel to cage any animal for 10-12 hrs a day! What kind of life is that? Would you want to be caged that long? You need to hire someone to come let them out for a while if you need to wrok those long hours. Or put them in daycare. Please think about it.

Fri, 07/02/2010 - 3:43pm — akuijer

Why confine your dog to a crate all day?

When did it become okay to confine a dog in a crate for 10-12 hours a day while you are away from home?

I strongly believe this is not the way to offer a balanced home for a dog. I believe it is not natural for a dog to be confined in a small space, where it can hardly move around, even if there is someone who comes around at some point during the day and takes the dog out! I think a dog needs attention, exercise and stimulation, how can this be achieved when your dog is confined to a crate for such a long period during the day?

I also leave my dog home alone for 8-9 hours a day, but she (a Tervueren Sheperd), is allowed to roam free through the house, with three cats to keep her company. And guess what: she does not releave herself anywhere in the house, nor does she chew on things she is not supposed to chew on! And no, my neighbors do not complain about her barking or howling. Sure, she will sleep most of the time, but does that mean she should lie down on the exact same spot all day? Come on, a dog should be allowed to move around!

I am not saying a crate shouldn't be used at all, it can be very useful when housebreaking a puppy or preventing unwanted behavior when you leave the house for a short period. I just want you to think about why your dogs have to be in a crate for 10-12 hours a day. If you have a balanced dog which has been trained/raised properly, there should be no reason for this dog to be in a crate all day! If your dog has issues with you leaving the house (soiling, chewing, barking excessively) and is therefore put in a crate, address those issues instead of confining your dog and thereby constricting its freedom of movement. More importantly, address the underlying psychological issues that result in these behaviors!

Mon, 08/23/2010 - 7:25am — jsatov

other dogs

I don't know if you noticed, but she mentioned that they have two dogs. It's never a good idea to leave two dogs alone in a house, especially for that many hours. Most dogs will fight over nothing. Even Cesar's balanced pack will get into scuffles. They're dogs, it's what they do.

Your dog won't fight with your cats, because they're most likely dominant over her. Just as well, a cat won't be interested in, for example, her kong or her favorite bone. There's very little for them to fight over, since the dog no longer sees them as prey. But every dog sees every other dog as just that - a dog. And dogs are usually interested in the same things. So it's best to play it safe when you have more than one dog and keep them crated while you're not around.

Besides, walls aren't natural to a dog, regardless of how big they are. A crate and a house are both kennels to a dog. True freedom is outside in nature.

Fri, 07/16/2010 - 9:20pm — faceves

Crating

Is there any chance for you to take your dog in the crate to work?

Since little dogs will need to relieve every so hours like Cesar pointed, bringing the dog to work will allow you to take care of it's needs.

Say you start your normal routine, but not only take your briefcase, grab the dog in it's crate and take it to work, you don't need to be checking every couple minutes for him. So just take and think he's back at home, just go take him to somewhere you can let him relieve every 4 hours and then start adding to the time.

With time the dog will learn to restrain himself when he's at his "home" this case the crate.

Also be sure to repeat the process at home taking the dog to the relief designated area, letting him roam on the house when you are there, having always a watchful eye for when it starts his potty ritual every dog has one, you just gotta pay attention until you catch on his/her ways.

Remember that dog is still a child, and even if you teach a child to go to the bathroom, after hours of not being able to go, the kid will just do it wherever he is, be that your house or a crate.

P.S. I had a Golden Retriever that my sister took, his potty training made him last almost 36 hours without going to the bathroom because he refused to go anywhere that wasn't our yard. (Needless to say she started coming daily so the dog could relief until she gave the dog away, sad day ='( )