potty training

Question
hello...I am new as an owner and have never had a jack russell. Okay, he is 11 weeks old and came from a pen with a mom and dad and 4 brothers and sister. I am attempting to house train. he does good at going potty outside. I am feeding him in the morning and once in the evening. I take him out to poo shortly after feeding. he has been pretty good at pooing outside with a couple of exceptions. I am trying to crate train him at night. Last night he pooped in the crate. I have made it smaller so he wouldn't have room to good to the bathroom. Am I doing this right? Is there another or better way to do it. I am a school teacher and will be gone for a large part of the day. School begins in less than 2 weeks. Please, if you can suggest anything. I would appreciate it.

Answer
Lawrence -

Sounds like you have been doing your homework !

You mention all the things I would tell you... the crate, the timing of feeding and going outside, making the crate smaller, etc.

You are doing a very good job - much better than many people who struggle with this task.  A couple of additional points

1.  He is quite young yet and expecting 100% in a short period of time will be a tough goal to meet.

2.  If he is not peeing outside every time you take him out, you can start using a tiny treat (think 1/4 pencil eraser sized piece of cheese) when he does pee outside - and act happy.  They also make little scented posts you put in the lawn to stimulate them to pee on it (or you can sneak out at night and make someplace smell like your urine)

3.  and my last point is to make sure you take him out at least every hour when you're home at this point in his life. This will give him lots of chances to "succeed" and for you to be happy & excited about it (lots of praise, please).  Maximizing the opportunities for successes and minimizing the opportunities for failure are exactly like teaching, right ?

Enjoy your new kiddo, and please brush up on jack russells because they are certainly terriers in every sense of the word.

-Beth