Mixed dog breeder messed up the house training

I have a Whoodle puppy that is 5 and a half months old. We thought he was house-trained until we found that he had been wetting on fabric surfaces such as bedding and towels. When he’s left more than 3 and a half hours, he’s going in the crate and licking it up. He doesn’t have accidents at night or when we are around to supervise him. We got him from a very reputable breeder, not a puppy mill. The puppies were kept in a lovely farm setting. There was one other litter there at the time along with the horses they also breed. Can you please help me with this very big problem? I’d like to be able to leave him alone for longer than a few hours without an accident.

For those unfamiliar with Whoodles, they’re a cross between a Wheaten terrier and a poodle. Technically speaking, there is no such thing as a purebred Whoodle. It’s a made-up name. much like the Cock-a-poo, Shi-poo, Dorgi and many other something-a-poos.

Personally, I like mixed-breed dogs. They can make great pets. In fact all my dogs are shelter mutts. But prospective owners need to recognize that breeders of mixed breeds do not adhere to any kennel club’s code of ethics.

Designer dogs raise eyebrows and flags among trainers. There’s a big market for these animals. That can lead to commercial for-profit breeding rather than breeding for the betterment of the line.

Responsible breeders set the bar high. Litters are few and far between and usually kept in the home. Most puppies are pre-sold prior to conception. Kennel clubs around the world are embracing stricter regulations. For example, the United Kingdom’s club restricts the number of litters that can be registered from one female and mandates her retirement age. Laws require licences for profit-based breeders.

North America does not have such firm restrictions, leaving pets and prospective owners vulnerable. Discerning between genuine hobby breeding and big business is challenging. Cleanliness is not enough to go on. There is no way of telling whether kennels are always clean, or scrubbed down just before you arrive.

Puppies are notoriously dirty. Keeping one litter is a full-time job. Multiply that by additional litters and horses and you’d need an army to do it right.

Responsible breeding is about the individual care that is given. Problems develop when there are too many litters, insufficient supervision and lack of attention to the emotional needs of the animals.

House-training issues is one problem that is commonly seen. Puppies naturally seek out an appropriate and absorbent place to go. Blankets and bedding that look cosy wind up becoming a toilet. Some go as far as eating their mess.

These animals become accustomed to accidents in areas where they sleep. That makes house training extremely difficult. Crating works on the premise that dogs hold their bladder when confined to a small area. It won’t on dogs that don’t mind or eat the mess.

It’s a problem that’s going to take perseverance to correct. Throughout the day, feed your pup on various mats, blankets and in the crate. This will discourage some dogs from soiling on them.

Over time, have it stay inside for longer periods of time. Slowly and carefully work your way past the 3-hour mark. Always remove it before an accident happens. Immediately take the dog outside.

Most importantly, reward your dog generously with extremely high value treats. With enough motivation your dog will hopefully start holding its bladder in anticipation of earning a very special food reward.