Help! My Dog Keeps Peeing in His Crate

Although you shouldn’t treat your pup harshly (after an accident), you must take appropriate measures to discourage this behavior. A crate is a safe place for your canine companion, and he/she is not supposed to eliminate while he/she is inside it. If your dog keeps peeing in his crate, you should immediately intervene to correct this behavior. Keep reading to find out why your dog is peeing in his crate and what you can do about it.

Why Does My Dog Keeps Peeing in His Crate?

A multitude of reasons can make your dog pee in his/her crate. Therefore, it’s important to pinpoint the exact cause (of this behavior) before implementing an appropriate solution. Some common causes of a dog peeing in his crate are discussed below.

Anxiety

If your dog is agitated, he/she may urinate in random places due to anxiety. For instance, some dogs have separation anxiety and leaving them alone for long periods can make them chaotic. Excessive stress will make your dog urinate all-around your home (including his/her crate).  

Overactive Bladder

Wag Walking explains that older dogs tend to have an overactive bladder (or incontinence). They start urinating more than normal and this usually leads to more accidents. An easy way to identify incontinence is to keep an eye out for sudden changes in your dog’s bathroom habits. If your dog is peeing more than normal, it’s not a good idea to keep him/her in the crate for too long.

Improper Training

Proper potty training is necessary for every canine because dogs don’t know when to go to the bathroom by themselves. This is why an untrained dog tends to pee in random places.

Training a dog to eliminate at appropriate places is a time-consuming process and will require a lot of dedication. Therefore, some dog owners found it difficult to train their pups and have to experience inappropriate elimination, frequently.

Urinary Tract Infection

Rover mentions that dogs with a urinary tract infection feel the urge to pee more than normal dogs. Leaving such a pup in his/her crate for extended periods can make him/her pee inside the crate. Long spells of loneliness exaggerate the problem even more because they lead to anxiety. The combination of anxiety and a urinary tract infection can make your dog pee everywhere in the house.

Sudden Change in Surroundings

Dogs are a creature of routine and don’t like sudden changes in their surroundings. Therefore, if you have made any change in your house, it’s quite likely to make your pooch anxious. For instance, changing the position of your furniture or bringing something new at home can be disturbing for your dog.

Likewise, if you recently got a new animal in the house, he/she could be the reason for sudden peeing in the crate. Not all dog breeds get along well with other animals and you must consider this factor before adopting another pet.

What Can I Do If My Dog Keeps Peeing in His Crate?

Once you have identified the underlying cause, it’s time to eliminate it from your pup’s system. The following are some useful solutions for you if your dog keeps peeing in his crate.

Train Your Dog

If your dog is not potty-trained, this is the first and ultimate solution. Although this daunting task can take a lot of time, it is worth the effort in the long run. Alternatively, you can always look for a professional behaviorist to train your dog on how to use the bathroom properly. In this way, your dog will eventually learn the appropriate place to relieve himself/herself.

Regulate Water Quantity

According to Cuteness, dogs need about an ounce of water per pound of their weight. If you are giving him/her more water, he/she will pee more than normal. In this situation, the chances of him/her peeing in the crate will also increase. Therefore, you should only give water to your dog during the feeding time unless a medical condition requires him/her to drink more water.

NOTE: If your pup has come back from an intensive exercise session, you can give him/her some water to ensure hydration.

Clean the Crate Properly

Dogs can smell their urine unless it’s cleaned properly. The bacterial activity (on the urine) releases ammonia that gives off a bad stench. The dog will try to ‘refresh’ the crate by peeing more and this vicious cycle will keep continuing.

Vinegar and water solution is an effective commodity to clean the area because it neutralizes the smell of ammonia. On top of that, vinegar kills most of the germs and bacteria. You can also use special odor-reducing sprays to counter the smell.

Consult Your Vet

Your dog may be peeing in his/her crate due to an underlying medical condition. If you feel that’s the case, visit your vet immediately for a proper diagnosis. Most illnesses can be cured (without spending too much) if they are identified in time. Therefore, you must schedule an appointment with your vet if your pup is peeing inappropriately.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Why has my dog started peeing in a crate at night?

A. The following are some reasons that can make your dog peeing in the crate at night.

• Anxiety
• Fear
• Lack of training
• Illness, like urinary tract infection and incontinence

Q. Why is my dog peeing in the crate suddenly?

A. A sudden change in your dog’s peeing behavior can be a sign of a physical or behavioral problem. You should start by consulting your vet to eliminate the possibility of an underlying medical problem. Once it is done, you can correct this inappropriate behavior by using the following techniques.

• Housetrain your dog
• Monitor his/her water intake
• Clean the area of accidents properly
• Remove the factors that are making your pup anxious or fearful, like loud noises.