Advice Needed

[nickipicky13]

I have a 7 1/2 month old rotti (female) and a 4-year old staffordshire terrier mix (also female). I've had the puppy since April and I've had the 4-year-old since she was six months old. If I let them both out of their crates at the same time, it's like the doggie WWF. They do not growl or harm each other, but they rough-house and wrestle with each other... NON STOP. I can't even walk the two of them together. I have to take each one out separately. Of course, the one who's left behind gets jealous. The puppy is usually the antagonist and I can't get her to leave the other dog alone.

My second issue is the puppy has been relieving herself in her crate at least once daily. I let her out after she eats, drinks, etc. and she'll just run around and play. I tell her potty and praise her if she goes, but many times she won't. I put her back in her crate and 10 minutes later she pees there. The other dog knows where the designated spot is, but the puppy won't go there (I'm guessing it's a territorial thing?). 90% of the time I wake up to a mess in her crate (#1 and #2). I can't deal with it anymore. She's just about 80 lbs and thats a lot of crap! We've done beginning obedience and the trainer tells me to be patient with her. But I think if she can do a sit-stay she should know when and where to go potty.

[BostonRott]

You need to take her outside on leash, and not allow her to run and play until she has done her business. Stay in a set area and wait her out. You may also need to get her out more frequently.

[nickipicky13]

Thanks for the advice. I have tried that and instead of going, she'll come up to me and sit and then lean on me and nuzzle me to try to get me to pet and play with her. The more I say "go potty" the more anxious I think she gets because then, she'll lay at my feet and just look up at me with those big brown eyes.

[BostonRott]

She has no idea what "go potty" means. And the more you say it while she's doing incorrect behaviours, the more she thinks that "go potty" has other meanings. You need to go back to square one. Say the phrase ONLY when she is actively going. Take her out on leash immediately after eating, awaking or playing.

Do not allow her to push you around or demand things. Set your time limite: 3 min, 5 min, etc. If she doesn't go, immediately back into the house (still on leash) and straight to the crate. Take her out again in 5 minutes and repeat. NO running and playing until she pees or poops. If it means a few days of no running and playing until she gets this figured out, o well, life is tough.

Take a favorite reward with you and praise/reward her for going. But remember, ONLY say the phrase when she is actually going. If you say it while she's walking and sniffing, she'll learn "go potty" means walk and sniff. If you say it while she's pestering you, she thinks "go potty" means pester you.........and then she's confused and worried when you correct her for it or act upset. Make sense?

[nickipicky13]

Thanks for the advice. We'll give it a go. I'll let you know how we make out. Thanks again!

[dmoniz]

I have a Miniture Pinscher who did that. The problem is that they think that the crate is the right place to go. New habits need to be made. What I did was put in a dog door that went to a dog run. I then took the back off of my wire crate - or you can take the door off the plastic type and put the crate up to the dog door. At this point the dog will most likely start going to the dog run to pee and poo instead of in her crate. After the new habit has been formed (a couple months) you shouldn't have a problem anymore.

[nickipicky13]

Any ideas on the rough housing?

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by nickipicky13

Any ideas on the rough housing?

How often do they get to exercise? Maybe they need more walks.
The puppy is still really young and will enjoy roughhousing for some time to come yet. Mine will be two at the end of the month and they both LOVE to rough house ALOT! I let them play a little bit and if they get to rough I will make them go settle down. If one of them insists on antagonizing the other, that one goes on leash for a while and the fun and games comes to an end

[airwalk]

there is this sented thing that you can buy from your vet, it smells bad, almost like pee and you can put some drops on the spot you wish your pup to go.... Mine just knew not to do it inside the crate, but in your case it is worth the try...
One more thing, maybe its just my dog, but mine has to walk for at least 15 minutes before he poops...lol, so maybe you don't walk her long enough??