I need help!!!!!!! Having problems with Taco!!!!!!!!!!

[aliciatobytaco]

Taco has always been my well behaved puppy.........Not lately!!!!
Okay- he used to sleep in a crate with Toby, but Toby decided that was his territory and he didn't want him in there anymore. So I bought Taco his own crate. Taco can't sleep with me in my bed b/c when he did he would pee pee a little. The crate would always restrict him and teach him to hold it through the night. In the mornings I would sometimes go get Taco out of his crate and let him lay with me. BAD IDEA!!! Would you want to sleep in a crate after feeling the comforts of a nice, big warm bed???Over the weekend Taco decided he was going to use the bathroom in his crate. I didn't think much of it the first time...Accidents happen..
The next night was horrible. He cried all night...I let him out once to go to the bathroom. He didn't go, but instead ran straight to my bed and tried to jump in it.I grabbed him up and put him back in the crate. He cried and cried and cried. When I got him out the next morning , the crate was disgusting. He had peed and pooped like 4 times in it. It wasn't diarreha (sp?) either. He doesn't have a stomach bug either b/c he is fine once I take him out. I thought the problem was the crate size, so last night I put him ina much smaller one. He cried and pooped in it. I then put him in the crate with Toby for the rest of the night. Guess what, he pooped in it too. He doesn't eat after a certain time at night and uses the bathroom right before we go to bed, so its not like he doesn't have a chance to go. Like I said before ,(this sounds gross) his poops are normal, not runny so he isn't sick. I feel like he is doing this out of rebellion. He is p*ssed off because I am making him sleep in a crate. What do you guys think??? I don't know what to do now. Do I make him stay in the crate even though he has used the bathroom in it?? Taco is very, very smart and knows how to work me! He is fine during the day. Full of energy, eating normally, running around like crazy... What is going on??? :( :?:

[Tracy, Daisy & Zoe]

not sure what the answer is here...but once i started putting daisy in the bed with us she expects it every night...she will whine and cry until we put her in with us, so maybe he is a little angry/stubborn...good luck with this :)

[chiwawagaga]

Sounds to me that once he tasted steak as it were he doesn't want hamburger anymore..or in other words he likes the bed and does'nt want the crate anymore...I think if you can stand the crying it would be best to leave him in the crate but not by himself..unless Toby will hurt him when kept together, they both must learn that you have the control...Once Taco learns he will have to lie in his own mess and no one will save him, he will probably stop...BUT standing the crying and howling until they come to that realization will be tremendously hard for any caring mommy or daddy and a test of your will power...they are after all our babies..but dig your heels in and make a go of it...good luck...let us know how it goes....

[Amaze]

I definately think that both Taco and Toby are testing their status with you and each other. If Toby will not allow Taco to sleep in his crate with him, it is his way of asserting his dominance over him. Taco, in turn has decided that he can't "out-rank" Toby, so is trying to outrank you instead.

It is extremely important to make him realize that you are "top dog" in your house and there are several books out on how to do so, allowing this to continue will bring on other, unwanted behaviors. What many people don't realize is that the one or two "bad" behaviors our dogs exhibit are really all connected to their drive to be the highest status possible in their family pack (think wolf-pack) and will express themselves in other ways if not constantly reminded of their "place."

This is what I would do:

As long as his needs are taken care of before crating (fed, let out, etc.) and there is no reason for him to go potty in his crate, he is doing it as a way to show you his displeasure and rebellion. I would continue crating him. Also, it is extremely important that you don't yell at him or even acknowledge his barking and crying in the crate, by doing so, you let him have the upperhand and so gives him the idea that he is the boss, not you. Make bed time as unstressful as possible, say your "goodnights" atleast 10 minutes before crating him, put him in the crate with no fan-fair or talking. Don't make eye contact, or acknowledge him-you are the boss and as the alpha have the right to remove him from the "pack" at any time and he needs to accept this. I would turn the light off, close the door, and leave the room for the rest of the night without speaking to him. The next morning, you need to maintain your "leadership" by letting him out of the crate and ignoring him for 5 minutes or so-as the leader, you are allowed to come and go as you please and ignoring him will let him know that it is no big deal, nothing to be concerned with, and to go about his day. Greet him on your terms after he stops trying to get your attention and then you can reward him.

I am reading a great book called "The Dog Listener" and it based on the principles of relating to your dog in "canine" (like the Horse Whisperer, Monty Robert, "speaks" to horses in equine) rather than expecting them to understand "human." I have already tried some of her method with H&T as well as 3 of my dog-walking customers and I can't BELIEVE how fast they are catching on due to me giving them signals that they can understand! I HIGHLY recommend it to ANYONE with a dog-big or small!!! It also talks about attributing human characteristics unfairly to situations with our dogs, the main reason obedience and force have been used unnecessarily and unsuccessfully.

[LuKi]

Great advice guys! I can't help much here b/c my babies RUN the house here pretty much. I never crate trained b/c I wasn't strong enough to leave them in there while crying and look away. :cry: I just couldn't do it, it was harder but we managed. Sorry, that you are having so many problems, Alyssa gave some great advice, I hope you guys can get this worked out. :flower:

[Romans Mom]

Hi Alicia, I had posted this this morning where you asked in Training Forum under Crate Training. We were posting at the same time! hahaha So here's the same reply from 8:30 this morning there... :D

Here's the things I would check:

His schedule might need to be changed
if he's too cold if he has to go outdoors
and like you mentioned, his crate is too big for potty training properly and needs a smaller one for crate training.

I think Taco might just have to go potty a little earlier, or a little later than usual for some reason and may have to be taken out at that time, placed on his puppy pad or outside. Then put right back in the crate.

Roman cried in his crate, so I placed him on my nightstand or chair, so when he cried, I put my finger in the crate. It's OK to comfort them and let them know you're right there. I hope this answer you question. Let us know how it goes, and If I come across any more, I'll post it.

[aliciatobytaco]

Hi guys!

Thanks for all the great advice everyone!!!

I think there is more going on with Taco than him rebelling. I have a vet appt this morning at 11. Last night was another rough night. He now has runny bowel movements,and his bottom area is very irritated. There is defintly something more going on! I put him in the crate with Toby last night. I got up around 2:00 to let him out to use the peepee pad. He had already had a messy poop once already ...in the crate. I let him out and he went again. He them started scooting. I checked his bottom out and it is very irritated. I then had to clean out his crate and set him back up in it. When I got up around 7:00 to let him out he had gone again in the crate. So I called the vet and they want him to come in today! I hope he is okay, and for his sake he needs to see the vet to figure out what the heck is going on! I will keep let you all know what happens at the vet. :(

[aliciatobytaco]

Alright everyone I feel like such a bad mommy. :cry:

After Taco's bloodwork came back normally the vet told my I could switch him back to regular dog food. So he started eating Eukanuba small bite maintainace adult food. This was about 10 days ago. Apparently the food is not agreeing with his system and he is having an allergic reaction to it.
He said it has taken this long to fully get into his system so the effects are gradually happening. He gave him predisone and a medicine called Metronidazole for his upset stomach. I am also switching back to the vet prescribed food!!

Can you believe all this and it is the DARN food! He did a fecal sample and that came back normal.He wants me to call him back on Saturday and let him know how everything is going. I feel so bad because I thought he was being a spoiled baby! :(
Hopefully he will be back to normal soon!!

[Romans Mom]

I'm so happy the tests came back fine and it's just the food. You're not a bad mommy. You took him to the vet and let the vet do what he knows best. Good team work! :wub: Let us know how everything goes. :)

[Bren75]

Get well wishes! Hope your lil bad boy is better soon :) :lol:

[Amaze]

Alright everyone I feel like such a bad mommy. :cry:

After Taco's bloodwork came back normally the vet told my I could switch him back to regular dog food. So he started eating Eukanuba small bite maintainace adult food. This was about 10 days ago. Apparently the food is not agreeing with his system and he is having an allergic reaction to it.
He said it has taken this long to fully get into his system so the effects are gradually happening. He gave him predisone and a medicine called Metronidazole for his upset stomach. I am also switching back to the vet prescribed food!!

Can you believe all this and it is the DARN food! He did a fecal sample and that came back normal.He wants me to call him back on Saturday and let him know how everything is going. I feel so bad because I thought he was being a spoiled baby! :(
Hopefully he will be back to normal soon!!

Hmmm...I don't think you were being a bad mommy since you were checking his stools and they were normal up until this point. After you get him sorted out, you will have to see if it was his allergies or his attitude causing the crate problems...Good luck and keep us posted!
alyssa