How to Train Your Dog to Not Pee in His Crate

Hello, First, a puppy's ability to hold their bladder will be different while asleep versus awake, so if pup is waking up a lot, they will need to go out more often, if they stay asleep they will be able to hold it for longer. I would crate pup at night in a crate that's large enough to stand up, turn around, and lie down, but not so big they can go potty in one end and stand in the opposite end to avoid the accident. The size will encourage pup to hold their bladder then cry to be let out when they need to go potty - which helps with potty training and learning to eventually sleep through the night (expect crying in the crate at first though - that's normal as they adjust). Don't put anything absorbent into the crate; instead, use something like primopads.com vinyl covered crate pads, to give cushion without absorbing pee. That will further discourage accidents in the crate. After pup falls asleep (likely some crying involved at first), then when they wake up, if it's been at least 2 hours since they last went potty, take them outside, keep the potty trip super boring without treats or play, then put them right back to bed in the crate (you don't want to give them any reasons for waking up other than the need to pee at night). If they don't wake after 2 hours, let them sleep, they may make it 4-5 if they stay asleep. Make sure you can hear them when they cry by either having the crate in your room or using an audio baby monitor if in another room. To help a puppy learn to sleep through the night as early as their bladder will let them, I don't recommend waking them for potty trips, but waiting until they wake on their own, UNLESS they are having accidents in the crate, are not crated, or you tend to sleep through their cries to go outside - in those cases, take them out every 2-3 hours at this age at night. Again, crating will help with more sleep and potty training to progress more quickly at this age, even though it will mean crying at first. Practice the methods from the article below during daytime hours to help pup get used to a crate sooner, so that they will be more comfortable at night in it. https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Sept. 11, 2023

Hello Brianne, Has pup always peed in the kennel or is this something that's recently begun after pup was thoroughly potty trained? If this is new, I would speak with your vet. It could be a sign of a medical issue like a uti. I am not a vet. If there is not a medical cause and this is not a recent development, check out the Crate Training method from the article linked below and see if you are following the tips for crate training found there. Make sure that the crate doesn't have anything absorbent in it - including a soft bed or towel, otherwise that may be why pup is going potty in there. Check out www.primopads.com if you need a non-absorbent bed for him. Make sure the crate is only big enough for him to turn around, lie down and stand up, and not so big that he can potty in one end and stand in the opposite end to avoid it. Dogs have a natural desire to keep a confined space clean so it needs to be the right size to encourage that natural desire. Use a cleaner that contains enzymes to clean any previous or current accidents - only enzymes will remove the smell and remaining smells encourage the dog to potty in the same location again later. Pay attention to the frequency of potty trips in the method below. If pup is having to hold it too long between potty trips, pup will be forced to go potty in the crate, and the more that happens the less motivated they will be to hold it in there. At this age pup should be able to hold it 4 hours if the crate is set up right so they are motivated. Also, go with pup outside when they are taken potty right before crating if you aren't already. Watch pup and be sure that they are fully using the bathroom and not just getting distracted then coming back inside, or marking a little and holding the rest of their urine. Those could also be the reason for the accidents. If you are giving pup large amount of water in the crate or right before crating pup, that could be another reason. Crate Training method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside If you are still struggling after applying the above suggestions, then unfortunately pup may have already lost his desire to hold it while in a confined space. This commonly happens when someone accidentally teaches pup to do so by placing something like a puppy pad on one end of a larger crate or confining a puppy in cage where they are forced to pee through wired flooring - like at a pet store and some shelters. There are rare pups who simply do it anyway, even though nothing happened to teach that. In those cases you can try feeding pup his meals in there to discourage it but most of the time you simply have to switch potty training methods until he is fully potty trained - at which point you might be able to use a crate for travel again later in life. Check out the Tethering method from the article linked below. Whenever you are home, use the Tethering method. Also, set up an exercise pen in a room that you can close off access to later on (pup will learn it's okay to potty in this room so choose accordingly). A guest bathroom, laundry room, or master closet with good ventilation are a few options. Don't set the exercise up in a main area of the house like the den or kitchen if you have other options. Tethering method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside Use the Exercise Pen method from the article linked below, and instead of a litter box like the article mentions, use a real grass pad to stay consistent with teaching pup to potty on grass outside - which is far less confusing than pee pads (Don't use pee pads if the end goal is pottying outside!). Since your goal is pottying outside only use the Exercise Pen at night and when you are not home. When pup will hold his bladder while in the rest of the house consistently and can hold it for as long as you are gone for during the day and overnight, then remove the exercise pen and grass pad completely, close off access to the room that the pen was in so he won't go into there looking to pee, and take him potty outside only. Since he may still chew longer even after potty training, when you leave him alone, be sure to leave him in a safe area that's been puppy proofed, like a cordoned off area of the kitchen with chew toys - until he is out of the destructive chewing phases too - which typically happens between 1-2 years for most dogs with the right training. Exercise Pen method: https://wagwalking.com/training/litter-box-train-a-chihuahua-puppy Real grass pad brands - Also found on Amazon www.freshpatch.com www.doggielawn.com You can also make your own out of a piece of grass sod cut up and a large, shallow plastic storage container. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

July 5, 2021