forums: Training

Crating after surgery

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Participants in this thread:	msdecor8tr Kelly Dunbar
msdecor8tr 1 post	I just had my 6 month old Shih Tzu neutered. We crate him now successfully but since the surgery two days ago he is having trouble using the bathroom outside. I’ve never crated a puppy before. Since our bathroom routine is disrupted would it be a huge mistake to put a pee pee pad in the kennel for just a couple of days? He has stitches and we were told to keep him secured for about a week. He already had an accident in the kennel this afternoon. I keep taking him out but it’s awfully painful for him being drug in and out as much as we usually do. Please advise…. Thanks
Kelly Dunbar Berkeley, CA 68 posts	I would not recommend putting a pee pad in his crate. You really don’t want him getting used to the idea that it is okay to eliminate there. Do your absolute best to take him out on leash frequently, for very short periods and if at all possible keep him going outside. You don’t want to undo all of the good early work you’ve done. Your vet probably just doesn’t want him running, playing, or jumping because of his incision, but a walk on leash to eliminate would be okay. Or even better don’t walk him, just stand in one place for 2 or 3 minutes or until he goes, whichever is shorter. If he doesn’t go in the 2-3 minute time limit put him back in his crate and try again 15- 30 minutes later. Just go back to basic house training for a little while. If you really don’t want to take him outside, or can’t be home to let him out more frequently during his healing process, please consider using a long-term confinement area (doggy playpen) for now rather than setting up a toilet area right in his crate. Here is the link to how to build a doggy playpen, a small bathroom or laundry room would work with this setup too: http://dogtime.com/housetraining-playroom-0-to-... Best of luck!
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