>>Hi
>>This is my new baby, Jill, she is 8 weeks olf BC/JRT - lol. I have anotehr JRT called Jack so now have Jack and Jill. She is a stubborn toileter. Was outside for nearly an hour at 4am and she still wouldn't wee. I have bought a crate today so I can confine her but not sure how this crating works. Jack is very good with her but I wouldn't want to risk leaving her alone with him in the house. When Jack was a pup he weed every time I took him out but Jill seems to be able to hold hers for hours and doesn't have any set time, same for pooping. Any help re the crate thingw ould be appreciated
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The crate is only for when you cannot supervise the dog. Overcrating is a common problem, so have her out with you whenever you can possibly truly WATCH her.
Crate time should be a maximum of no more than the dog's age in months plus one. In other words, never crate a 2 month old puppy longe than 3 hours at any one time, a 3 month puppy for any more than 4 hours at one time, etc. Up to 8 hours. Don't crate a dog of any age longer than 8 hours.
The idea is for the pup to sleep when crated. Do not go to the dog when she is making noise. That teaches her to scream for someone to come let her out of the crate and often leads to a lifetime of freaking out and fighting the restraint when crated.
During sleep the need to urinate and defecate is temporarily suppressed, but the body has to catch up when the pup is awake. So take the pup out every hour when you are at home and awake--plus of course every other time the dog gives signs of needing to go out.
It helps to put the crate in your bedroom at night and in the room with you during the day so that the puppy doesn't have to get used to the crate and to being alone all at the same time.
Be sure that the puppy's needs are met before crating and that you take the pup out for needs before the puppy has to ask. Crating can save a dog's life at various times, so you want to create a calm foundation for a dog to be able to relax in the crate lifelong. If you let the pup out of the crate when she makes noise, the whole process will take longer and put more stress on her.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com