So I wrote a couple weeks ago how Duma HATED the crate. She cried and cried and shook and put her tail between her legs every time we put her in there. So I went and bought her a 4×4 kennel to put in the office. She LOVED it . . . stopped crying, slept through the night - all was right with her world (and my sleep!).
Then the time came when Hubby went back to work and I had to work. Figured if she could go all night without going out, she could make it 3 hours - so I hired the neighbor girl to come over at lunch, let her out to go potty, feed her lunch, and take her on a short walk. Then 3 hours later my dude would come home from school to take Duma out to do her business again.
Apparently, I was wrong. Duma was M-A-D that we left her alone all day, even with the visits from he neighbor. She even peed in her kennel! To try to make that not happen, I boxed in all of her kennel so there was just enough room for her pillow - cuz dogs won’t pee where they sleep, right? Um, wrong again. Yes, I’m a dumbass. The following is what her kennel configuration looked like:
Notice how I so neatly made her “steps” in there. Amazingly, she didn’t jump out on to the futon, but she did let me know EXACTLY how she felt about being cooped up in there all day and EXACTLY how she felt about that crate. Take a close look at the top of the crate:
Hey - at least she didn’t pee on her pillow!
The kennel is now again empty except for her pillow. And after a conversation with the vet, I am working at home a couple more days until Hubby comes home again, then he’ll be home for 2 weeks. And THEN she’ll be big enough that we KNOW she can hold it for 3 hours at a time - and it’ll be back in the slamma for the puppy!
All I have to say is, “pretty smart dog you got there”.
Love
Mom
I am peeing in my pants! They work you just like kids do! Be strong! Mocha did great with her crate for the first year. Then she decided she didn’t like it so we took her comfy bed and put it on the floor in our room. Then she visited Megan and Taylor during the night so she could sleep with them - didn’t work because she has to lay right next to you and neither of them like it. Finally, Dave went to MN for a long weekend and I let Mocha on our bed and that was the end of it. Now she sleeps cuddled up next to me and Dave doesn’t mind that she warms his side of the bed up before he gets up there. As long as she doesn’t get an itch or decide she needs to clean herself in the middle of the night we all do just fine.
Duma will be sleeping with Jason after she’s fully trained . . . she sleeps with him for a couple hours after he goes to be until we go to bed. Her issue is during the day . . . I can’t WAIT until she can go longer during the day! Or, until it gets warm enough to put her outside in the kennel when we’re not home - as soon as the snow melts, we’re flagging the yard so we can train her on the underground fence and we’re building her kennel. That day cannot come soon enough for me!
Good luck with the peeing pup! How creative that Duma hopped up there and send you a message loud and clear. I am glad you are able to work from home for a bit until you know she can go long enough during the day. Bring on spring!
See, this is why we can’t get a puppy. I can barely handle what comes with three kids and a husband without adding a puppy that is also smarter than me to the mix!
That is hilarious. I love that Duma climbed on top to leave you her message loud and clear.
On another note…the kennel…is amazing…think they make ones for 3 year olds?
Oh yes - the kennel also comes in a size with 4 foot high walls - so I’m sure it would work for a 3 year old
Ha! That’s too funny that she got on top of the crate and peed up there! My dog used to pee where she slept too- so that whole thing about how they won’t pee on their own bed is obviously a bunch of crap.