Accidents in crate!

[Maggie Martin]

Hi, I am new and have a precious 9 week old GoldenDoodle girl that we have had and been crate training for one week. She is now sleeping thru the night and will whimper around 6 a.m. And that is fine for me to get up with her then. During the day, I take her out probably every 20 minutes. Our life is centered around trips outside, but I think she is doing well. She is a calm smart little pup.The problem is, she has now had 3 accidents of peeing in her crate. We have left the house for an hour without any problem. And I can leave her in her crate at times up to 2 hrs with us home, without any problem. But day before yesterday, we left for 1 1/2 hours (walking and tiring her out prior to crating her. Leaving her favorite chew toy, no water prior, etc.) and she peed in her crate. I felt so bad for her as I know it's not a comfortable thing. I cleaned the crate thoroughly (plastic crate, not metal) and got her all clean. Then we took her to our daughter's house for dinner that night leaving the crate across about 10 ft from us so she could watch us. She never whimpered like she does at night time, and yet had another pee incident. I felt like maybe she was scared with the strangers, new place, etc. But today we had to leave for 2 hours (taking her out previously, fav. Chew toy, tv on, etc) and she had another accident. I have thrown out those toys so the scent isn't on them. She doesn't seem to get too anxious when left her alone for an hour. She is happy in her crate and goes in it to play with the door open. My husband has asked me why she can hold it all night (6-8 hrs.) and yet can't during these 2 hour periods. I don't know what to do other than of course not leaving for longer than an hour. Any suggestions are VERY welcome.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

She's a baby. Give it time.  Give it a few months.

Its called training, not a miracle cure~ the crate that is.  Sounds like you are doing a great job with taking her out.

Leave all toys out of the crate for now. Just an empty plastic pan will do.  It will save you clean ups and help with the scents.

Start using potty bells now. Those will come in handy months down the road.

This will all come into place.

[Maggie Martin]

Joanne, thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I wasn't sure if this was unusual or not. So the bells you are referring to are what you put on your door to jingle when you are going out to "potty"?

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

All normal and our little girl did the same thing. As she grew older, less and less accidents in the crate. I know it's baffling....they can go all night without an accident, but leave them an hr or two, and you come home to a wet kennel. The mysteries of puppydom!
Sounds like you are doing everything right...just remember, she is a baby.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Sounds about right.  It could be a bladder infection, but I doubt it.  She probably is just crying because she knows you are gone.  Give her a little time, she is very young.  I always carry my puppies when we go outside and put them down where you want them to go.  It seems to help.

[Maggie Martin]

Rosemary, thank you for sharing that yours did the same thing. And you three are so right, she's a baby. I feel much better now. And Lynda, my husband asked if I should be carrying her outside the way I have been. The one time I didn't, she had an accident at the door. So I learned my lesson . I don't know how I raised a dog years ago without internet and YouTube videos. Then formation now is so wonderful. I have been reading and trying to learn the right things to raise a healthy happy pup. But this forum is very comforting, as I can ask real questions and get great suggestions from you all. So THANK YOU so much. And there are so many good posts I have been reading from the archives on here. So glad I found this site. VERY excited about our little Baby. Very happy to see s much love for Doodles on here. I am feeling normal again, with my puppy fever lol.