dachshund soiling her crate

Question

-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...the dachshund messing up her crate.  You needed somes questions answered before giving advice. Question #1: Her crate is small - 24" and I have a divider in it to make it smaller.  Question #2: She is in the crate for 3 hours at a time.  Question #3: I take her out first thing in the morning and then several times after she eats (over a period of 1 1/2 hours). Then she goes out at noon and two times at night. Question #4: I feed her 2 times a day and she has water except when in the crate and not after 7 PM.  Question #5:  I don't really react at all when she soils her crate.  I just clean it up and probably look frustrated.  Question #6: She has a pad in her crate.  I have several so I keep washing them.  Today I put a towel in there.  I just bought a diaper to put on her when she is running around the house, but she pooped in it today.    

-----Question-----
Help!  My 16 week old dachshund poops and pees in her crate and will not go on wee wee pads or outside.  She does not seem to mind if her crate is soiled. She just plays on the wee wee pads.  outside she just chews on grass or leaves. I have had her for 3 days.
-----Answer-----
Hello, Nora, and congrats on your new addition to the family! I have a few questions for you before I can give adequate advice:

1. How big is her crate (dimensions)?
2. How long do you keep her in the crate at a time?
3. How many times do you take her outside to potty, and do you just let her out in the yard or take her on leash?
4. How often do you feed her and give her access to water?
5. What do you do when you find that she's soiled in her crate?
6. Does she have bedding material in her crate?

Kristen

Answer
Thanks for getting back to me, Nora. The first thing I'd suggest is taking the bedding material out of her crate. Many times, dogs will soil in their crate if they have some way to 'bury' it or cover it up, so until she is housebroken, she should not have any bedding in her crate. Wee wee pads are scented to attract and encourage puppies to potty on them, so if you've been using them in her crate, you've actually been teaching her to potty in it, inadvertently.  

When you take her out to potty, she should be on a leash so she cannot get distracted by leaves or grass. When you take her outside, keep her moving to help stimulate her bowels and bladder, and when she starts showing signs that she's ready to go (circling, sniffing around intently, squatting), stop and allow her to go. You might want to repeat a word or phrase that you want her to associate with pottying outside, when she starts to go. It can be whatever you want; I say, "Go pee-pee" to my dogs when I want them to go to the bathroom. Then, when she's finished, praise praise praise her! Tell her "Good pee-pee! Good girl! Yes! What a good girl you are! Good pee-pee!" etc. Then you can take off or drop the leash and play with her for a few minutes if it is safe, before taking her back in. If she does not potty within 10-15 minutes, take her back inside and put her straight in the crate (with the leash still on). Keep an eye on her, and try again in 5 minutes, OR if you see her starting to potty in the crate. Repeat until she goes outside, and follow up with praise and play before you bring her back in.

When she's loose in the house, it may be beneficial to let her wear the doggie diaper, as well as keeping her blocked in the room you are in with baby gates or closed doors, so if you see her starting to show signs of needing to potty, you can take her outside again. The diaper will ensure that she does not actually make a mess inside, and it can also serve as a 'correction device' because when she potties in it, it will be uncomfortable for her and she will soon associate pottying in the house with being uncomfortable, but pottying outside earns her praise and play, as well as relieving her desire to 'go.'

It sounds like you are doing everything else right, so I can't really offer more in the way of advice, except to have patience. Some dogs, and some breeds, can be more difficult than others to housebreak. Just keep up the routine and she should figure it out eventually.

Kristen