Seperation Anxiety and Crate Training

by Amy
(Chicago)

Our 4 month old puppy has a hard time when we leave. we crate her, and she always is full of saliva from barking and whining and most of the times she poops in her crate and is covered with it when we get home. I have tried letting her be out of the crate when we leave and she poops also. Am I not crating her enough? Too much? HELP!!

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Jan 21, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Great Advice
by: Vicky & Jonah (Az)

I just want to wish u luck. I certainly cannot add any to the wonderful advice all have posted. I agree at 4 mos. 2 hrs max in a crate at one time. They are after all just a baby puppy.
Jan 20, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Separation Anxiety & Crate Training.
by: Suzan Mesquite NV

I got my cotton when she was 12 weeks and when I got her home I put a leash on her and took her outside to show her this is where she does her business. I never crated my coton what I did do was buy a baby playpen for her which she slept in at night and played in sometimes when I was doing house work. It worked great - she didnt feel confined she had lots of room and the sides were mesh netting all over so she could see where I was at all times. She never had any accidents in it.

I don't know how long you keep your coton in her crate I'm assuming it's longer then it should be if she poops in the crate most dogs will never mess where they sleep but this is a puppy whos bladder is small and cant hold it like older dogs. If you go away for long periods you should see if a friend or family memeber can stop by to check and take them out to do their business. I puppy has lots of energy and can't be confined to a small area for long periods of time everyday they need to play and get it out of their system.

I would try a playpen she might like it they are inexpensive and the dog can't hurt themselves. I got mine at walmart it also had 2 wheels under the botton so if you wanted to take it outside in the yard you could wheel it out like a wagon it was great in the outdoors and great indoors too. I always took her out to do her business when she woke up and after she ate and drank water and after playtime too. She was easy to train she knew what she had to do. I always went by the last time my pup did her business and I timed it so I got an idea when she was ready to go outside again I did have pee pads down just incase but she never used them.

When she got too big for her playpen and was able to jump out of it I got a baby gate and put her in the utility room which is a good size area I put her bed in there her toys, water and whatever else she liked. I only did this when I had to go to the store I never left her alone for long. When I did have to be out longer I trained her a little at a time to get her used to me being gone longer then usual. She adjusted well I didn't do this until she got older and was able to hold it in longer. From my experience I had to take cotton out about every 2 to 3 hours to go to the bathroom when she was a pup. Now she's great she will be 3 yrs old in a few months she's my baby cotton girl.

I hope this helps you and your baby puppy. Good Luck to both of you. Once you both get through the puppy stage the rest is a piece of cake. You will enjoy your little baby as she grows and understands.
Jan 18, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		CRATE TRAINING
by: KATHY FROM PA

AMY
I WENT THRU A HARD TIME HOUSE TRAINING TRISCUIT . WHEN I GOT HER SHE WAS 7 MONTHS OLD.I PUT HER IN HER CRATE FOR SHORT PERIODS, AND TOOK HER OUT DOORS FREQUENTLY...SOMETIMES SHE WOULD BE OUTDOORS FOR A HALF HOUR AND THEN WE WOULD COME IN AND SHE WOULD PEE OR POOP INSIDE. I TIRED EVERYTHING...BUT SHE MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE SLOW LEARNERS...YOU SHOULD NEVER YELL AT YOUR PUP AFTER THE FACT IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY SEE HER GOING IN THE HOUSE,, JUST HAVE PATIENCE, AND SHE WILL BE FINE....TRISCUIT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY TRAINED NOW, I HAVE A FEW MORE GREY HAIRS, BUT SHE IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE AND MAKES ME SMILE JUST BY LOOKING AT HER. GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED. KATHY FROM PA AND TRISCUIT TOO
Jan 18, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		CRATING
by: SHERRY - COTTON

HAVE YOU TRIED JUST CRATING FOR A FEW MINUTES, OFFERING A
TREAT AND THEN OPENING THE DOOR? GRADUALLY EXTENDING
THE TIME. -- I HAVE NEVER PUT COTTON IN A CRATE WHEN SHE IS ALONE, SHE RIDES IN ONE IN THE CAR AND IS FINE WITH IT. WE
TRIED CONFINING HER TO THE LAUNDRY ROOM WHEN WE FIRST
GOT HER, SHE HATED IT AND WOULD NOT GO NEAR THAT ROOM
FOR MONTHS. WE QUIT THAT AND JUST PUT DOWN PEE PADS IN A FEW PLACES THRU OUT THE HOUSE. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT-MOSTLY BECAUSE SHE IS MAD AT BEING LEFT ALONE.
SHE NEVERS BOTHERS ANYTHING, EVEN OUR CHRISTMAS TREE, SO
SHE HAS THE RUN OF THE HOUSE. COULD YOU JUST TEST ONE ROOM AT A TIME AND FORGET THE CRATE?

GOOD LUCK!!
Jan 18, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Anxiety & Crate Training
by: Cathy

Not sure if I ever posted a comment, but I've never put Jasmine back into her crate since I got her in July 2010. The first few weeks she had full run of the downstairs when I was at work. Left potty pads however I never knew what I would find once I got home. I have since put up a baby gate in the kitchen, which is a rather large room. She has her bed, blankie, food, water and a potty pad. I keep the radio on, (she likes classic rock!).
Crys when I am closing the gate but otherwise she is fine. She also has a large window and keeps an eye on the new construction that is going on in the developement.
I would see if you can baby gate your dog to one room rather than crate or close the door to that room, so far it seems to be working out fine for us!
Jan 17, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Options
by: Anonymous

At 4 months I used a self standing play "yard" type fence in my living room. It was plastic and I could shape it in a circle, square or rectangle. I put water and a potty pad down and left a radio on to drown out any outside noise that could be startling. It worked great and as he got older I gradually got rid of it. He is 7 now and I have no problems.

Like somebody else said...they are very social dogs so it is not good if they are left alone a lot. Luckily mine has always gone to work with me, to friends when I visit and even pedicures.

I tried two different types of crates and it freaked him out. Not sure why because he has an excellent temperament. He clawed holes in a canvas folding portable one and ate through the wood on a very nice "end table" type crate that looked like furniture. I'm grateful I haven't needed anything for years.
Jan 17, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Alone
by: Anonymous

Cotons do not do well being left alone all day. They are companion dogs. You do not say how long she is crated. There is a vast difference between a short leave taking and an all day disappearance. If you are indeed leaving her all day, ask
yourself if this is the breed for you. If not, be kind and patient, and you will have the best dog!
Jan 17, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Separation anxiety
by: Anonymous

We have two Cotons - during the day, we gate them in the powder room with a pee pad, water and chew toys. At night, we put them in their own crates in our bedroom and they sleep through the night! They are 13 and 10 months old. How long are you crating your puppy for? At 4 months they still can't hold it all day long.
Jan 17, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Missy
by: Joan Keller

Our Coton was 4 months old when we bought her. We tried to crate train her. Nope! She was chewing the crate. Covered with saliva. The Vet said she was stressing out and not to crate her. We tried putting her in the laundry room when we would leave. Much scratching damage. So now when we leave her alone with full run of the house and 1 year later no problem.
Jan 17, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		crate training
by: Anonymous

Amy,
I would post your question on this site. It's a very helpful, informative site for Coton owners.
Cotondetuleargroup@groups.facebook.com
Jan 17, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Anonymous
by: Anonymous

I think that you may just be unlucky, I have 3 Coton's and to be honest they are really good with their toilet habits, but if they do mess and you give them a really good telling off showing them what they have done and shaming them that seem's to do the trick. The only real problem i have is with my male...............when the females are in season he just want's to cock his leg whenever he get's the chance!

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