puppie pooping in crate

Question
Hi Charlotte,  I just got a puppie from a pet store 2 days ago he is a 5 month old bichon frise my only problem with him is he poops in his crate.  I think it's because he had to poop in his cage at the pet store.  Do you know of any way to break him of this habit.  Today he did poop outside for me for the first time.  I get up every 2 to 3 hours a night to let him out usually the first time I get up there is pooh in the crate.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  
Thank you
Susan  

Answer
Hi susan;
Is the door of the crate closed when the puppy is in it?
If so, he couldn't get to a proper place to go during the night.
I don't use crates.
A crate is just good if you leave the door open all the time, and the dog just uses it for a bed when they want to lie down, or go to sleep.
I just do NOT believe in keeping a dog or cat in a crate.
With proper training, it is not necessary to close them up in something.
Do you live in a house with a fenced back yard available?
If so, you can install a doggy door, and train the dog to go ourside, and if it has to go in the night, it will go outside.
If you live in an apartment, and you need to take him out and stay with him, and don't want to get up in the night, you might train him to go on a puppy pad in an area that doesn't have carpet and is easy to clean. A tiled floor, for instance, a bathroom, laundry room etc.
When you feed him at night, be sure you take him out and he has plenty of time to go, and do a thorough job of it, then before bedtime, take him out to finish anything he needs to do. Don't leave food for him to eat at nightm, as they have to have a bowel movement every time they eat.
Give him water before the before bed outing, and he will probably urinate, and not have to have water during the night.
When he goes where you want him to go, praise him like he won an academy award.
Really make a big deal of what a smart puppy he is and how proud you are of him. lots of petting and praising when he does it right.
If you have trouble getting him to go when you are outside, exercise will help him get the urge. Walking, chasing a ball etc.
Petco and Petsmart stores have weekend obedience clases, that are fun for both the dog and the owner, and you have a qualified trainer to show you how to train and handle your dog.
Once you learn the training, with this dog, you will know how to train them by yourself.
Please don't buy another dog or cat from a pestore.
These stores are what keeps the puppy mills and kitty mills in business.
The people who run these things care absolutely nothing about proper and careful breeding. They just keep the animals in cages, and the filthiest, most deplorable conditions.
They get no medical attention, and enough food to keep them alive and producing. they breed every time a dog comes into season, and drain her of puppies, then simply club her in the head when he doesn't produce enough puppies anymore.
Pet stores get animals from these disgraceful places, and from irresponsible breeders that pay no attention to breed quality, and if their breeder dogs have defects, they just go ahead and breed them, and pass the defects along.
No responsible breeder will sell their lotters to a pet store. They are very protective of the homes their puppies go to.
If you get a dog or cat in the future, please go through the Humane society, or a rescue group.
You can even get pure bred dogs this way. For almost every breed, there are rescue groups that rescue that particular breed.
The foster families that keep these dogs and cats, have them checked out by a Vet, watch them to learn their personality so they know what kind of home they will do best in, andtrain them somewhat.
I live in a Dallas suburb, and foster for several rescue groups.
I also belong to the American Humane Society, and we hunt down and close up as many of these puppy and kitty mills as we can locate.
We rescue the animals, nurse them to health , then adopt them out to goo families.
If you don't have a Petsmart or Petco store in your area, check with the Humane Society about group classes, and rescue groups also have them.
Man's best friend is a company with stores all over the country. They have private lessons and group lessons.
If you are going to continue with the crate, make sure he has had an outing and done his business after he has eaten and before you put him in the crate.
If he has a designated place to go, and has emptied his bladder and had a bowel movement before he goes in the crate, you should not have to get up every two hours to take him out.
When I am housebreaking a puppy, I let them sleep with me. Actually they always sleep with me, but when you are housebreaking it helps a lot.
When they need to go, they get up and stir around, looking for a place to go. Set your inner clock to be aware when they move around, and wake up, and when they start moving, you will wake, and can get them outside to do their business.
Hope this helps you.
If you have more questions, please feel free to write anytime.
Charlotte