What am I doing wrong??? HELP!

jodeye79 · 12-22-2012, 03:16 PM

If anyone can give me any advice, I would so appreciate it.

Ok, my new girl, Maya, is almost 17 weeks old. I've been crate training her and since I'm new to all of this puppy training stuff, I want to know what I need to do different.

I have a roommate who is home all day and from what I can see, we do things almost the same. I think we have a pretty good schedule down. Here's the deal:

From what I've read, a 16 week old pup should be able to hold her pee for at least 2-3 hours now, but it seems Maya has a really hard time holding it for even an hour. She has an average of 1-2 accidents in her crate daily (pee only, never any poo). We let her out every 45-60 minutes. Meals are given at almost the same times daily (+-30 minutes). Exercise is given approximately the same time daily (30-45 minute walks in the morning and afternoon).

What are we doing wrong??? Any suggestions??? She stays in her crate when she is not outside. Occasionally we put her in an ex pen in the living room, but there is no way I'm letting this girl roam the house with her small bladder.

I love her to death, but this is getting slightly frustrating. Maya was really sick the first 7 weeks of her life so she could have some catching up to do??? She also drinks water like there's no tomorrow throughout the day. We take water away around 6:30 pm each evening. I have to get up in the middle of the night with her yet as well, but no accidents at night anymore now that I've been doing this. I'm able to go a little longer each week as well.

Thanks for any feedback!!!

**::::COACH::::** · 12-22-2012, 03:58 PM

It sounds like the crate might be a little too big for her. Try putting the divider in there so that she has not much room. Just enough so that she can sit, turn around and lay down.

jodeye79 · 12-22-2012, 04:15 PM

I have the divider in there...she pees and then pretty much lays on top of it. However, the blankets I use are the fleece ones so the urine wicks down to the bottom and it doesn't feel wet on top. I have used a towel and it didn't seem to deter her from doing it either.

**performanceknls** · 12-22-2012, 04:52 PM

Sounds like a UTI (urinary tract infection) If she is really having a hard time holding it for an hour then my bet is she has something medically wrong. Till you can get her to the vet I would try and not put her in the crate maybe outside or inside and your roommate putting her out every 20 min or so. You do not want her to get use to peeing in a crate. I know mist vets will be closed till the 26, no need to go to the emergency vet but try not to let her sit in pee. You do not want her to become a dirty dog. She could also have an abnormal bladder like it's too small. A quick vet visit and some good antibiotics should help. Also when you go to the vet get something strong like clavamox, UTI's can be stubborn buggers and if you treat with a less aggressive antibiotic like cephalexin it could not go away completely and come back. Clavamox for 10 days!!

jodeye79 · 12-22-2012, 05:06 PM

Oh man, do you think my lil pup has had a UTI since I got her 5 or 6 weeks ago???

I feel like she was already used to peeing in the crate when I got her. There's nowhere to keep her other than the crate right now. When I do find that she has gone in her crate, I immediately give her a bath, clean out the crate with an all natural cleaner, and put in a new blanket.

I thought about UTI, but she can go 5-6 hours at night without an accident.

**dixieland** · 12-23-2012, 04:00 AM

Also I want to add that there is no reason for a pup to be drinking alot of water all day unless it is outside in the hot sun.You need to limit the water.I would only let mine drink freely while outside playing or exercising and then at feed times.There's really no need for the pup to drink water all day long.
Also maybe you could try not using a towel or blanket at all in the crate.Maybe if there's nothing to absorb it then it will hold it until going out.
And are you sure the roomate is taking her out during the day like she says?

jodeye79 · 12-23-2012, 04:33 AM

I definitely think limiting water will help and will start doing so in the morning.

I've been debating about not having a blanket in the crate. Will probably try this tomorrow too.

Obviously I'm not 100% sure my roommate is taking her out on schedule but I do trust her and feel as though she does what she says. I will say most accidents happen on her watch but she is watching the pup a lot....maybe more than I am.

I have an appointment with the vet on Monday so hopefully I get some answers...at least get things cleared medically. Thanks so much for the input! Such a helpful community!

JoKealoha · 12-23-2012, 04:54 AM

unless she actually has a UTI. then she should be drinking as much as possible.

jodeye79 · 12-23-2012, 01:00 PM

@joKealoha...so if she does have a uti, limit her water, but if she doesn't she should be drinking as much as she needs/wants? That seems backwards to me.

**performanceknls** · 12-23-2012, 05:01 PM

You have to find out if she has a UTI or not. If you take out the blanket and he has to lay in her pee because she can't help it..... that's just crappy! Go to the vet and have her checked out. Now how long is she crated during the day when you are not home? I wouldn't leave water in the crate while she is crated but outside the crate your dog should have free right to water. IMO you should never limit the intake of water outside of the crate you are just asking for kidney problems. Water helps flush the body and every dog has a different water need. I have one dog who drinks 2 gallons a day. I have to replace her bucket of water everyday. I have had lots of blood work to see if there was something wrong but that is just her. If I limit her intake of water she will get dehydrated. I have to strongly disagree with Lisa about limiting the dogs water. I never understood why people think that's a good idea.

Go to the vet, have your pup looked at and you will know the right direction to go in.

jodeye79 · 12-23-2012, 07:07 PM

I have a vet appointment for tomorrow. Thankfully her foster mama is a vet tech and is getting her looked at in the morning at the clinic she works. I am so worried about her!!!

I didn't restrict any water today...I figured it would be best to have her flush out anything that may be in her system. I did take out the blanket for a while after she had an accident not 20 minutes after going out and peeing!!! Then I started feeling bad because I would hate to lay on a hard surface so I put a blanket in her crate again.

Someone else I talked to wondered if she might be diabetic?!?! There are just too many scenarios going through my mind right now...I can't wait for some answers tomorrow.

Thanks again for all of the advice. I will definitely post what I find out tomorrow.

**performanceknls** · 12-23-2012, 07:35 PM

Diabetic? It's a possibility but not likely. You would see a lot of other problems. The common would be a UTI.
How long is she in a crate during the day? I know you have a roommate who lets her out but when do you go to work and when do you come home. Does she pee in the house when she is running around?

jodeye79 · 12-23-2012, 08:23 PM

We do all of our play/interaction with her outside. She is in the crate much of the day, but like I said, we take her outside every 35-50 minutes. Probably spend between 5-15 outside, then back to the crate. When it's nice out we walk her at least 2 times a day for 35-45 minutes. She is not allowed to run around the house right now. When I first got her, we did let her out in the house, but we were cleaning up accidents non-stop. I have an ex pen in the living room and she goes in there in the evenings. She has accidents in the ex pen occasionally...more in the past couple of days.

I leave for work between 5:30 and 6:30 most mornings and get home around 6:30 at night most evenings. I have a really weird work schedule at the moment. There are times I work a 14 hour day.

Autumn-n-Gage · 12-23-2012, 11:22 PM

I am starting to have the same problems with both of my 16 week old pups.. We just went through a UTI with my mastiff and I honestly don't think that's what thy have but I mean they pee ALL the time. When they pee inside they get a NO and put in the 'bad crate' not their normal crate. I mean you all have conflicting views on limiting their access to water... But I don't know what else to do besides that??

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**performanceknls** · 12-24-2012, 09:30 PM

Sounds like she is in a crate too much.... A puppy should not be in a crate that long with nothing to do. If it's not a UTI you are going to battle potty issues in a crate since that's where your pup pretty much lives. I think it's sad a puppy has to be crated that much with not enough stimulation. If you don't have time for her then I suggest maybe rehoming the dog to someone who doesn't have to make her live in a crate. Sorry I hate to say that but a puppy who can't play and only comes out a few times a day for only like 5-15 mins.... That's really sad.....