New Member

Posts: 1
From:tampa, fl USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-27-2003 10:00 AM         

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Hello, we recently obtained a cairn terrier male through a pet store. I know how bad it is to buy from one but we were there getting hermit crab food and stumbled across this 4 month old male that no one had taken home and had been there since about 7 weeks old. We have wanted a cairn for a while now and he and my 4 year old really clicked together so we got him. Now my question is that he has been in a cage I am assuming since he was there and knows nothing other that that. So he does not mind peeing and pooping in the crate. How can I get him to start thinking that he does not want to do that in the crate? He also eats his poop YUCK, how can I stop him of that? I have been able to get him to poop outside 2 or three times now but he likes to do it on my wood deck not the lawn. We take him outside but he will sniff around for up to 15 min and then go back inside and as soon as he gets in the crate he pees. Thank you for any help that you can be!
All the Best
April

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Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 09-27-2003 10:12 PM         

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Oh, that poor, confused puppy! Im not really sure how to get him to stop going in the crate. For now, anytime you can get him to go outside (on the grass)...the second he is done praise him and give him a treat. Maybe once he gets the idea that going on grass = treat and praise he will stop going inside the crate. As far as poop eating goes...I added meat tenderizer to my aussie x's food when she was doing this as a puppy and it worked. I only had to use it for about 2 wks. Someone online told me meat tenderizer was a bad idea due to its high sodium content (the receptionist at my vets office is the one who told me to use it) so you may want to ask your vet first. If not, there are products for this problem such as Forbid or Deter that you can try. Ask your vet about them. Good luck.

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Member

Posts: 320
From:Allagash, Maine USA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 09-28-2003 12:19 AM         

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Delphis--- the poor baby!! He is scared of the grass because he has been in that cage for so long.. Tht is so cruel for animals to be locked in there on display.. I am happy that you saved this poor little guy.. Maybe you should try and not crate him to see if it helps him any since he is so used to a life so far of being crated up and in a small confined area. I am thinking maybe if he realized he has all sorts of room to play, he will start seeing things the way most normal puppies do. Take him outside often and let your son play with him and you play with him and his toys out there. Also, the pee in his crate and poop, clean it and put the poop and the paper towel you use to wipe his pee on your lawn and each time you take him out, which I would take him every two hours, after meals, playtime, naps and when he immediately comes out of his crate. Do not let him on the deck to use the bathroom.. he needs to understand that going on the grass whether to play or use the bathroom is not a bad thing.. The play time out there will help him with that as well. Instead of a crate could you have him gated into your kitchen or something? Just to give him that small sense of freedom, that he is not locked up. Also, do not bring him in (best if you go out with him when he goes) until he goes to the bathroom and of course have a tasty treat to gie him and praise as much as you can after he goes and give the treat.. he will start to think, "Wow, all I ave to do is go to the bathroom and they treat me that good!!" and will want to do it more often. As far as the poop eating, I have no recommendations as far as that goes. I can only say try to stay on top of getting it cleaned. I heard somewhere that puppies eat their own feces due to a lack of a certain nutrient in their diet.. not sure of how true it is. Anyhow.. hope all works well. Congrats on your new addition to your family!

Angie

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