A crate is a controversial tool worldwide, yet so helpful when it comes time to educate your puppy! Using a crate prevents the destruction of household items and over-excitement in a multi-dog home. It can be a great tool to help with potty training. However, it is difficult for some dogs to hold back, and accidents still happen. It’s frustrating to clean up pee in the crate, but before getting angry at your puppy, you should ask yourself why your dog pees in the crate.
Negative Association
Suppose your dog associates their crate with loneliness, fear and anxiety. In that case, chances are that your pup is experiencing so much stress there that they pee in it. They don’t do it to make any statement but rather because they are experiencing such an intense emotion that they cannot contain themselves. If this is the case with your dog, first ask yourself if the crate is essential or if you are using it because everyone tells you to. If you can change it instead, so your dog is free in the house, in a closed room or pen, choose this option, and your dog will be more comfortable overall.
If the crate is essential, change your dog’s association with it. Dogo app will help you with it! Also, don’t just use the cage when leaving for long. Use the crate at other times of the day – sometimes with the door open, sometimes closed for a few minutes. Make it a game of getting in and out of the crate and leaving all your dog’s food, bones and chewing objects inside. This place will quickly become their private home and a source of comfort! By doing so, accidental pees and poops will decrease.
Duration
Another reason is that your dog pees in the crate: they are there for too long! It’s even more evident if it’s a puppy. Indeed, the puppy cannot yet hold the pee for an extended period, so there is more risk of accidents. If you have to be away for a long time, make sure a family member or dog walker comes during the day to take your dog out for a potty break and to play with them before they return to the crate.
Potty Training Not Completed
When you have a puppy at home, the first months are dedicated, among other things, to potty training. If this training is not completed, there are always risks of accidents in the house or the crate. You must therefore be patient and continue the work: take the puppy out several times a day, especially after a nap, a meal, playtime and after drinking.
Say No to Punishment
No matter why your dog pees in the crate, never punish them. A dog never does this out of bad intention or because they are angry with you. On the contrary, it is simply because they cannot yet hold the pee or because they experience too intense emotion. Punishing the dog at this point will make them more scared and worsen the problem. Also, suppose you punish them while they are inside the crate. In that case, they will likely develop even more negative associations with it.
Crate Training Made Easy
In short, you must be patient and persevering in solving this problem. Take the time to identify the cause of accidents and intervene accordingly. If necessary, or if you believe you are in a situation other than those mentioned above, consult your vet or dog behaviourist, who can help you come up with a personalised plan to solve the issue.
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