Need help with housebreaking

[hunter]

I have a 4 month old pit bull puppy who absolutely refuses to poop outside. We have done all the traditional things for housebreaking, such as scheduled feedings and waterings, taking him outside on a schedule, watching his body language for signals, catching him in the act and running him outside to his spot, etc. His crate is only large enough for him to stand up and turn around in and yet he poops in there constantly. When we take him out he'll pee and we will give him more than enough time to poop as well, but he won't, so we come inside and it never fails, within 5 minutes he poops in the house or his cage. Does someone have any other suggestions??? At this point we'll try just about anything!! Thanks!

[kjd]

hunter,

A normal dog is not going to mess his crate. This sounds as if he might have come from a puppy mill, where he was forced to learn to use the crate. Do you know his background?

kjd

[hunter]

No, he did not come from a puppy mill. We bought him from a private party, where the family had already tried to start with a little housebreaking, even though he was only about 8 or 9 weeks old when we got him. The only dogs in the home were his mother and his brother. His other siblings had already been adopted. He's a really good boy in every other respect, we just can't get him to realize that pooping is for outside.

[kjd]

I am surprised. Since he doesn't seem to have any inhibitions about living in his own soil, it will probably take longer to housetrain him.

You said he usually poops within 5 minutes of getting back into the house. What about bringing him in, counting to ten, and taking him right back out? Kind of do a revolving door until he finally poops outside -- then praise and treat like crazy.

Other people on the forum may have experience with dogs who've learned to poop in the crate and may have better ideas.

kjd