12 Week Old Puppy Training

by Lisa
(New Jersey)

I have an 12 week old puppy who cries when she goes in the crate and cries if I am not in her sight.

She was kept in a crate with her mom and 2 other sisters with a wee-wee pad which they were allowed to soil then and stay all day. She now relates to the pads as comfort and when they are in the house she lays on them even if they have been soiled.

How do I break this she will pee all over the house poop wherever in the crate or out of the crate. Please help the Vet told me she is still too young to take outside because she had not had all her shots so taking her out is not an option after she eats.

I watch her closely and try and catch her but she can be walking and going at the same time.


Hi Lisa
You certainly have a bit of a problem here. Unfortunately pups from Puppy Mills, Pet Shops and breeders who allow them to live in soiled pens, are often a challenge to housebreak as their natural instincts to stay clean have basically been overwritten when babies.

Although your pup has not had all her vaccinations, and the vet is technically correct in saying that she shouldn't be outside yet, if she's had one or two sets, she should be fine to go outside in your own fenced yard. The only danger is in public places such as parks, city sidewalks, public grassy areas where other un-vaccinated or sick dogs may have been. Your own yard should be safe.

I would recommend getting rid of the puppy pads altogether and starting to take her outside to do her business. Although she has been eliminating in her crate, make sure that's not being encouraged by putting her in a crate that is too large. It should just be big enough for her to sit down, stand up, lie down and turn around without touching the sides, no bigger.

My Crate Training A Puppy page gives lots of tips and advice on crate training. I think it will help you.

If you don't have a safe area outside to take her to, why not try a dog-litter-box rather than the wee-wee pads. She will not have the same association with this and hopefully won't lie in it.

Young puppies need a potty break every 30 mins to 1 hour during the day, and after every meal, drink, playtime and nap. You need to supervise her VERY closely when she's not crated and take her out as many times as necessary.

The fact that she's crying at night and when she can't see you indicates some degree of separation anxiety. To help prevent this from growing, check out my article/s on Separation Anxiety have lots of information to help you deal with this.

I hope this helps you out some. Best of luck with her. You'll need a lot of patience, and she'll need a lot of love, but I think it will work out for you both in time.