bitch defacating & urinating in area where they sleep

Question
QUESTION: I have two Westie female dogs that are in a nice a/c shed because I breed. It is a 12x14 shed paneled with linoleum on floor. I think I am giving them way too much space because they are defacating and urinating in there instead of going out the doggy door to go outside. What do I do? Should I give them only a 4x4 area to sleep and care for their puppies and not give them all that free space?

ANSWER: Living in a shed is not a great life for dogs. I'd bring them into the house and house train them. Unless they are with you, there's no way to make sure they are getting outside. If they are getting used to being "dirty" making them stay in a smaller area may just mean that they will simply have to walk around in their mess. Puppies raised inside are also much better socialized than those who are raised in sheds. The pups can have an xpen on linoleum inside. Are both females bred at the same time? I hope you have time to socialize and get the pups off to a good start, and will take them back if at any time their new owners can't keep them (which is happening more and more often with all the home forclosures) Sandy Case MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com

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QUESTION: Wait! Most breeders just keep them in pens. My outdoor shed is like a home (most people have seen this and said they would live in it.) It looks nice with a small sofa for them to sleep and it is clean except I have to go outside everyday and keep it clean. My male westie will not urinate or defacate inside because I raised him that way. The other females were breeding dogs that I bought. Anyway again; if I make their area smaller do you think they will go outside on their very nice dog pen that is concrete and I can just wash off and keep clean. I do socialize with them everyday; sometimes 3-4 times a day; playing with them. I take them out and let them run around and then let them go back inside to sleep.

Answer
Most of the breeders I know whom I would recommend keep their dogs primarily as pets. Puppies are raised in a safe area of the house, so they are used to a lot of things they just won't experience in a shed, however nice the shed is. The only way to get the dogs trained is to train them - probably not possible with the very limited interaction you describe. If you don't see it happen, you can't prevent it from happening. Since you apparently bought them as adults (for breeders) it's possible that they already don't know they have options besides eliminating where they live. I suspect if you make their area smaller, they will simply learn to be "dirty" and will teach that to their puppies. And that can be a nightmare for new owners who actually do want their dog to be a house pet.