Crate training helps pet parents to save their property, and it helps pet parents to make the housebreaking process a little easier – but what if you’re coming home to an unexpected mess? How to stop dog from peeing in crate is important, but what’s even more important is realizing that no solution is likely to work unless you get to the bottom of the problem in the first place. The reason why one dog may be peeing in their crate may be completely different than another.
Reasons Why Dog Is Peeing In Their Crate
Finding out why your dog may be messing in their crate is crucial to finding out how to stop dog from peeing in crate in the first place. According to Rover, dogs are naturally clean animals, and they tend to want to avoid urinating or defecating where they den. Their crate is their den, and they should naturally want to avoid peeing in this space whenever possible. What this means is that if your dog is peeing in their crate, it’s not simply to make a mess, it’s most likely because something is wrong, and the inappropriate urination is their way of letting you know. Some common reasons why your dog may be peeing in their crate include:
- Their routine has been disrupted – Dogs, and puppies in particular, really rely on their routine in learning what is expected of them and what they can expect throughout their day. If your dog’s routine has been disrupted, your dog may realize too late that their normal potty break has been changed, and this may result in an accident in their crate.
- Your dog doesn’t have a routine yet – If your dog doesn’t have a regular routine, this could result in crate accidents. In these instances, dogs may not know when their next potty break will come, and they may not know to take advantage of them when they can. Incorporating a routine can help to stop these accidents.
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Your dog needs to take a trip to the vet – Mastering how to stop dog from peeing in crate could be as simple as a call to your vet. If your dog is well housebroken, and they don’t usually have accidents in their crate, it could be a medical issue behind that unwanted puddle. According to The American Kennel Club, urinary tract infections are common reasons behind accidents, whether they’re in the crate, on the carpet, or anywhere in the home. When experiencing a UTI, dogs will experience greater urgency along with discomfort while urinating, which may lead them to accidents in their crate they wouldn’t normally otherwise have.
- Anxiety – If pet parents don’t take the time to be patient and positive with crate training, their pups might experience anxiety when it’s time to spend a little time in their den. This anxiety can lead to accidents while in the crate.
- Pet parents can’t hear potty alerts – Dogs, especially young dogs and puppies, can’t always hold it when they need to. Typically, dogs will alert pet parents with a whine or a bark, but it’s pet parents that have to be able to hear it to know it’s time for a potty break.
Putting A Stop To Crate Messes
Once you figure out the “why”, you can then approach learning how to stop it. If your dog has experienced an interrupted routine, the issue may be a “one-off” one and will correct itself when your dog’s routine resumes. In other words – may have been a tried-and-true accident. If your dog has no routine, developing a routine they can count on can help to stop the peeing issue.
If the urination is sudden and happens more than once, it’s always a good idea to take a trip to see your vet. They can rule out any health issues if none exist or diagnose them when needed. If a urinary tract infection is the issue, the problem may be fixed with a round or two of medicine.
If anxiety is the issue, taking a few steps back and re-approaching the crate training process might be necessary. Reinforce positive association with the crate, take it slow, and make sure your dog is comfortable with their den space. A well sized, high quality, and comfortable crate makes all the difference. If you think you’re simply not hearing your dog’s potty alerts, move their crate to a space closer to you to ensure you can hear their cries going forward.
While peeing is the more common issue when it comes to messing in the crate, it’s not the only one. How to stop dog from pooping in crate is similar to how to stop dog from peeing in crate. Pet parents should take their pup for a vet visit just to make sure there’s no underlying health-related issues, they should move the crate to a location they’re more likely to hear any cries or whines, and they should keep their dogs on a routine so their furry best friends always know when they’ll have an opportunity to go.