Doggie Play Pens

Question
QUESTION: We just brought our 7wk old female lab puppy home six days ago. During the day while we are at work, she is in a 4x4x4 chain link doggie play pen (which is on cool concrete). I come home at lunch to spend some time with her and clean out her play pen because she poops right in the middle of her area and then she walks in it. I understand she has no other option for relieving herself, but why does she step in it? Her paws seem clean, so I am guessing that she licks them clean and that really bothers me. We also have a 8x20 dog run which just needs a gate...would this be a better option? Also, I notice that when she is disciplined she starts excessive licking in her potty area and biting her feet legs and tail. Please help. Thanks in advance for your advice.

ANSWER: As long as you don't have to leave her more than 4-5 hours, she might be better off in a small crate in the house.  It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first. What the puppy wants more than anything else is to be others, you, anyone else in the household, and any other pets. In our modern society, even if we are home, other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have. The only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around. The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.  the best idea might be to buy a 36'' one and block off most of it for now.  


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Our puppy already loves her crate, so that works, thank you. Can you please address the last part of my question of why she licks herself excessively and why she bites her feet, legs, and tail, when she is disciplined? Thank you. Much appreciated!

Answer
One thing would be to use more positive training methods.  Try getting a book and working from it.  

Here is a list put together by the professionals at a dog guide school for those caring for their dogs.

The Cultural Clash by Jean Donaldson, 1996

Excel-crated Learning by Pamela Reid, 1996

Don't Shoot the Dog, by Karen Pryor, 1996

Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 1993

Second Hand dog, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 1988

Dog Problems, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 1989

Super Puppy, by Peter J. Vollmer, 1988

HELP, Mt dog Has an Attitude, by Gwen Bohnenkamp, 1994

Owners' Guide Better Behavior in Dogs and Cats, by William Campbell, 1989

What All Good dogs Should Know, By Wendy Vollmer, 1991

How to Raise a Dog When Nobody is Home, Jerry Kilmer, 1991

You could also work at building his confidence.  

Start with obedience training. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ As you praise the dog for following your commands, it will build its confidence.

Play tug of war with the dog and lose. However at the end of the game, take the rope or toy and put it up, less the dog becomes confused about who is top dog. Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds. Ones I made lasted much better. Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the foot. Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope. Melt the ends, and tie knots in it. Get them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer. Watch carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.