If your dog is constantly peeing in the crate, there are a few things you can do to help stop this behavior.
Crate training is one of the most effective ways to manage and prevent your dog from urinating inside the crate. This involves teaching your dog that their crate is a place where they can only have access to when they are calm and relaxed.
Let us take a look at 12 highly effective ways to stop your dog from peeing in their crate, including establishing a potty break routine, conditioning with treats, and making their crate cozier.
12. Establish A Proper Potty Break Routine
You know your dogs best. You know when they eat. You know how often they pee or poo.
And with time, you start to recognize patterns for their potty breaks. Use this information to your advantage to predict when they are most likely to pee in the crate and offer alternative spots before it happens.
It also helps to establish and stick to a potty break routine. With time, this will help train your dog’s bladder. Just don’t make the breaks too far apart.
11. Use Treats To Reward Them For Holding It
Crate training is all about conditioning. You could, therefore, definitely use treats as a way of training the dog to not go in their crate.
One way to do this is by rewarding your pup with treats and praise whenever they go potty in the right place and withholding them when they go in the crate.
As earlier mentioned, the treats also help them associate the crate with food which helps further the cause.
10. Get A Smaller Crate
The less space your dog has to work with, the less likely they will pee in their crates. This does not mean stuffing the poor little furball into a tiny crate.
This might just aggravate them more and make them more likely to have little accidents.
Instead, get something with enough space for their comfort but not so much that they feel comfortable going potty in the free space.
9. Use A Pee Pad And Crate Divider
If you already have a large crate and do not want to get another, you could simply divide it up and add a pee pad on one side. This comes in particularly handy if you plan on having the dog in the crate for long periods of time as you go to work.
You should check out the Rocket & Rex Washable Dog Pee Pads for their reusability. Just line one end of the large crate with the highly absorbent and leak-proof pad and clean it up at the end of the day.
8. Regulate The Dog’s Water Consumption
Another way to prevent your dog from peeing in the crate is by ensuring they have nothing in their bladders to unleash in the first place. This does not mean starving your dog of water to the point of dehydration. Simply avoid giving them water a few hours before they go to bed.
This is especially useful for dogs with anxiety or physical health issues that are causing incontinence.
7. Clean Up Any Potty Accidents As Soon As They Occur
Dogs are very territorial, and without training, they are driven strongly by instincts. This is why they tend to keep peeing over and over again in the crate because they recognize their own scent.
The best way to avoid this is to ensure that you thoroughly clean up the crate after they have a potty accident to discourage them from using it again when the urge strikes.
6. Let Your Dog Out More Often
Dogs pee every 5 to 8 hours depending on the breed and how much water they consume, in addition to other individual factors. You, therefore, cannot expect anything else than a pee puddle if you leave them in beyond their bladder’s capacity to hold it.
If you are around the house, make sure to let them out frequently to relieve themselves if you want to avoid potty accidents.
5. Try Feeding Them In Or Near The Crate
Remember that it is not in a dog’s instinct to pee or poop where they eat, and this is an instinct they stick to very firmly. It could therefore help to associate the crate with food. One way to do this is to pass the dog some treats while in there.
You could also set up their food and water tray inside or next to the crate.
4. Play With Them While In The Crate
Playing with the dog in the crate is a fantastic way to get them more comfortable with the confinements. This will help those dogs who suffer from anxiety associated with limited space.
You could also include some of their favorite toys as permanent additions to the crate. VANFINE Dog Squeaky Toy is an excellent option for this case. The latex chew toys will definitely keep them entertained and help work out any pent-up tension.
3. Make Their Crate Feel More Cozy And Homey
Another way to get your dog comfortable being inside the crate is by making it more cozy and homey. This is especially beneficial for dogs with separation anxiety so they can feel nice and safe even while you are away.
Dog blankets and pillows would work really well, turning it from a cold, metal prison into a fun place to hang out.
You could also get a crate cover to offer more privacy and increase the feeling of security, in which case we recommend the HiCaptain Double Door Dog Crate Cover for its unique design using roller shades.
2. Deal With Any Psychological Issues
Another common cause of incontinence in dogs in their crates is psychological issues.
The main one is separation anxiety which could happen when you leave for work or even go to bed in a different room. It could also be due to phobias triggered by things like loud noises.
Here, we recommend essential oils lavender for their calming effects. The Smart Wi-Fi Wireless Ultrasonic Diffuser from Sierra Modern Home should come in very handy in this case with its smart capabilities, multiple diffuser modes, and whisper-quiet operations.
1. Take Care Of Any Underlying Health Issues
In some cases, your furry best friend may be peeing in their crate because they no longer have control over their continence. This could be due to weak bladder muscles. It could also be a result of an irritated urinary tract.
Whatever the case, it is important to consult a vet to rule out health issues and treat any that are there. This is the case, especially with already potty-trained dogs.
Related Questions
What Is The Hardest Dog To Potty Train?
The Bichon Frise breed is considered one of the most difficult dogs to train. Despite being of pretty decent intelligence levels, these dogs have a very short attention span and can be very stubborn, making training sessions an absolute nightmare. They also tend to forget their training very easily when excited or anxious, making potty training these pooches a continuous effort.
Why Does My Puppy Pee In The House After Being Outside?
One of the main reasons why puppies pee indoors after being outside is the fact that they do not realize that it is wrong. Plain and simple. The best way to deal with this is to keep them outdoors until they pee. With time, they will learn that outside is the place to go potty and will do it before coming into the house.
Do Puppies Pee Where They Sleep?
It is possible for puppies to pee where they sleep for many reasons. It could be physical problems like incontinence due to bladder or urethral irritation. It could also be a psychological issue like phobias and separation anxiety. However, this should not be an issue with sufficient training or health actions.
