Help -- Puppy issues

[adpiucf]

T*P-- it sounds like Violet's new crate is a little too large for her. I ran into this same issue with Riley. I ended up crate training her in her travel crate, rather than the large crate I'd bought for this same reason.

Hindsight is 20/20-- the best thing to have done initially would have been to purchase a crate that would suit her final adult size and partition it off so she had just enough room to settle down--- slowly giving her more room as she grew. But that's in the past!

Your new crate is too large for Violet-- as long as she has enough room, she will mess on one side and stay on the clean side.

Don't feed her in the crate--- crate time is nap time and play with her favorite toy time. If she eats in the crate, she's going to have to eliminate soon after. It's ok to treat her in the crate to get her used to being in it.

Section off part of the crate with a piece of wood or plastic. Violet should have just enough to room to circle and settle down. Gradually, you may be able to give her more and more room. You may be able to slowly condiiton her to treat the crate as a sacred "no pee" zone!

It's crate training all over again. It may feel slow and tedious, but this should solve your problem. Ask your vet-- let us know how it goes!

I hope this helps! PM me-- my cocker spaniel has tested my patience in the potty training department!!!

Pi Love,
ADPiUCF