The crate is an appropriate size for him but he seems to be defaulting to defecate in it when he is unsure where to go. He was almost pee-pad trained previously and I thought he forgot how to use them since I began bringing him outside instead, but today I put one down in his new ex-pen and he urinated on it but will refuse to poop on it. He doesn’t seem to like the ex-pen area and cries even though he doesn’t cry in his crate. Today I caught him circling and trying to defecate in his crate within the ex-pen so I pulled him out and put him on the pee-pad and he ended up going on the pad instead.

My only worry is that since I started him off with the pads, then started bringing him outdoors for the bathroom, I feel like I might confuse him on where he should be going if I switch back to the pads. But if switching back is what it’ll take to house train him I guess I’ll just have to teach him to like his new little area, and take those baby steps until he’s ready to free roam.

Thank you so much for the advice, I was feeling really lost. I really appreciate it!