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jack russell mix (pupp)

20 9:26:09

Question
We just rescued a jack russel mixed breed female.  Bella, her new name, is 6 months old.  We were told by the person we adopted her from that she was a shitzu and yorkie mix.  When we took her to the vet, for her check-up, the vet said that Bella was predominantly jack russel terrier mixed with yorkie (if she had to guess).  I think one of the reasons the adopting agency left out Jack Russell in their description of Bella was because of the Jack Russell characteristics.  In any event, she is an amazing little dog, energetic, headstrong, lovable, etc. I can't even describe how stinking cute she is (gorgeous coat, expressive eyes, jack russell body through and through).  We love her to pieces, even when she pees all over the house.  Bella and our 7 year old Bichon became friends from the start, although Bella clearly tries to knock the Bichon out of his alpha status every now and again (not happening).  Okay, my question is related to crate training.  When I crate Bella (no more than 2 to 3 hours at a time), she pees and poops in her crate 90% of the time.  It's obvious she doesn't like the crate, because when she's not crated, she avoids it like the plague and when I put her in there, she makes it known that she doesn't want to be in there.  She does make outside, however, never when we take her for a walk on the leash (never).  Any advice you can give would be very much appreciated.  Oh, and she is also a submissive urinator (sp).  Poor thing, I think she may have been abused.

Answer
Hi Antoinette,
You say you "just" rescued her (that was awesome of you!) and even though she is already six months old, she is just like a brand new puppy. You have to treat her like an 8 week old and get her outside every one to 2 hours to train her to pee/poop outside. She probably hates the crate because it wasn't used properly in the first 6 months of her life, so you'll have to start fresh with that training too. Make it a haven for her - make her associate the crate in only positive ways. Leave the door to it open all day so she can go in and get out whenever she wants. Leave cheese or extra special treats inside, and always go overboard with praise and love when she is in there. Fill a Kong with goodies and leave it in there. If she takes it out, that's OK, at least she went in to get it. This training is going to take TIME - at least 6 months so don't get discouraged or give up, she's relying on your love and patience now and you are undoing the previous 6 months of her life, that unfortunately is the most critical for socializing. You have work ahead of you but you sound committed and responsible. You could buy one of those circular self standing gates and put her bed inside of that for her to stay/sleep in while re-introducing her to the crate. The crate probably feels like a small prison right now, so avoid locking her into it until you see her getting very comfortable with it (laying down in it (with the door open) chomping on a rawhide or the Kong.  Again, don't expect fast results, but I'm sure eventually she will learn that you love and care for her and those first 6 months will fade out of her memory. Love, patience and consistency in training will go very far. Very best of luck with her, and thanks for being so kind and taking her in.