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Archived Message

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
by Charles

I am having problems housebreaking our new Maltese puppy. Her name is Daisy, and she is 16 weeks old. My wife and I are gone 8-9 hours a day, but spend most all our time at home giving Daisy attention. We started to crate train her, but she goes in the crate anyway. She doen't have a problem urinating, which she does when we walk her just before we leave for work and several times a night. We are pretty consistent with our times, too. Can anyone offer any suggestions? We feed her Eukanuba Puppy formula, and she doen't like any puppy treats we give her (no table scraps, except Leah gives her peanut butter sometimes). HELP!

DISCUSSION:

If you are using bedding at the bottom of the crate, try removing it. If you are not using bedding, try to put a towel for her to sleep on. I had the same problem and would alternate this method until she stopped eliminating in the crate. It took about a week. My maltese stopped wetting in the crate when I didn't have any bedding down. Good Luck!
-Patrick Geddes

Charles, I couldn't be away from a bathroom for 8 to 9 hrs a stretch. Could you? I don't understand how people think a dog should be. Daisy probably really has to go. She's not being naughty. She'd rather not go where she sleeps but has no choice.
-Sharon

Instead of a crate, you might try a puppy play pen. You can purchase it at a pet store. It is a small portable fence that you can shape in any direction. I use it in a rectangular shape and put papers at one end and bed, food, water, and a toy at the other. 8 to 9 hours is a long time for a baby to wait to go to the bathroom, and she probably just has to go. I also use my play pen when we are on trips to let them play safely along the way. It is also a good baby gate for large openings.
-Marsha A.