peeing in the crate

Question
Please help!  We have had our 6 month old puppy for 1 1/2 weeks.  We work so hard on house training her.  We feed only in monring at night and are aware when she drinks.  We take her out very often.  She can hold her urine all night long but if I leave for a coupld of hours during the day and leave her in her crate she will pee - even if she peed right before I put her in.  She hates the crate by the way and I have tried putting treats and toys in there to encourage her.  I do have to force her into her crate but I give her lots of praise and add fun toys.  There is no bedding or anything in the crate.  I think she may go in there b/c she's upset - lots of whining and crying (which she does all the time)  She is some kind of border collie mix.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Kyra, how long are you leaving her in the crate before she pees in it? You need to find out how long she goes without peeing in the crate first, so that you can practice letting her out just before that amount of time has elapsed. What I would do to help her acclimate to the crate would be to put her in there for short periods of time while you are at home. Feed her in there as well, without locking the door. Practice tossing in a special yummy treat (one that she gets at no other time, and that she really really likes) for her to go in and get, without you closing the door on her, and when she will willingly go in the crate after the treat, you can start closing the door as she goes in, and opening it again once she gets the treat. Gradually increase the amount of time that you have the door closed after she goes in after a treat (don't say a word to her while she's in there). When she will go in for a treat and be content with you holding the door closed for up to one minute, you can practice locking the door, waiting a few seconds, and then unlocking it and letting her out. Then, when she's okay for at least one minute with the door locked and you standing next to the crate, you can practice walking a few steps away, then immediately returning and letting her out, etc. It's extremely important that you ignore her when she is in the crate, and DO NOT let her out if she is barking, whining, pawing at the door, etc. You want to teach her that being calm and quiet in the crate gets her let out.


You might also try leaving a radio or the TV on for her when you leave, so that she doesn't feel as anxious. A Kong or Nylabone to keep her busy might also help.