Accidents in the crate.

[Melissa]

Well, since my last posting, Buddy has gotten better about being in his crate.  He usually only barks for a few minutes before settling down, then of course when he wakes up or maybe has the urge to go potty.  One thing that has happened a few mornings the last few days is that he will bark to wake us about 5am or so.  We get up and are prepared to take him out to potty.  However when we get to him he has already had an accident in his crate.  Usually it is only pee (one morning it was poop, but he had had some diarrhea so he probably just couldn't hold it).  Yes we have the crate insert so it is small enough for him to lay down on his side with his feet stretched out and nothing more.  When we find him he is standing in it.  Once he actually layed down in it.

 

Has anyone else had this problem?  It isn't everyday, but I would say 2-3 days out of 7.  Any thoughts?  Thanks!

[Leslie J]

Maybe you need to take him out at 4:00 am (I know ouch!) before he has the accident. It sounds like by the time he is barking the need is too urgent to wait for you. Then, put him back in the crate and go back to sleep (it's dark, so it should be a night time potty).

[Sandra Griffith]

I agree with Leslie. Your pup probably just couldn't hold it while you got ready. Try taking Buddy out about 1/2 hour before he has had his accidents at night. Prepare for your early morning outings the night before so that you can get out quickly (slip on shoes, leash etc.). Once a puppy wakes up their bladder does too (unfortunately). Also, pick up your water bowls 2-3 hours before bed-time. This way he won't have a chance to empty his bladder a little before bed. Hang in there, this period does not last long.

[Kyoko]

I used to be awaken by Charlie waking up and starting to shift / move around in a crate. ( When she was a tiny puppy) At that time, I got up and took her out for potty. May be Buddy is giving you some indications before he actually bark? I don't know how old he is or where his crate is located, but may be you can find some sort of indications that he needs to go to potty, before he really have to go!! :-) I also minimized the time spent getting myself ready. I just thew on my jacket and some sort of slip on shoes and took her out. It was kind of hard because it was in a middle of winter, too....

[Ann Kendig]

How is the training going Melissa?

[Melissa]

Not as good as we had hoped. I set the alarm for 4 am and when I got downstairs he had already pooped in the crate and had ate a little of it. He did not bark or anything. I just don't understand. Just when we have a good couple days with no accidents, he then has a few with accidents. It is really wearing on me at the moment. :( Will it ever get better?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes. Peri was pretty good in the crate, then she had a week where it was not so good (around 10 or 11 weeks old I think). I promise it will get better. Just keep doing what you are doing. Buddy is still very young. And they poop SO MUCH at that age. Peri was 6-8 times per day. Good grief I thought I would die. I would say by 5 months, that had slowed to 4-5 and now she is totally regular at 3-4/day.
Other quick thought: Are you walking him around before bedtime? I remember we would walk Peri for 15 minutes before bed and she would poop twice sometimes. She never really had a problem at night because of this I think.

[Melissa]

Buddy seems to go about 3-4 times a day right now. For a few days he would go in the am, in the afternoon and right before bedtime. But then he had some diarrhea and he got off schedule and it seems like he goes in the middle of the night and then a few hours later and that could be it for 10+ hours. I guess what is so frustrating is that he is doing it in his crate and not warning us in anyway. Right now I am trying to take him out every 2-3 hours. The vet told us he should be able to hold it for 4 hours before he needs to pee. He just had his 12 week vet visit and everything was good. As far as bedtime, I take him out in the back yard and walk him back and forth to hopefully get him to go.

I appreciate any and all the advice and also just being able to share the frustrations with everyone. It really helps to know we are not the only ones to go thru this...it just seems that way sometimes. *sigh*

[Ann Kendig]

I agree with Allyson, it will get better. My dogs were poopin and peeing machines! Sometimes I never thought it would get better. Still to this day (both are now a year old) I still have to watch for accidents because they are too busy having fun and one of them forgot to go potty...outside!!!! (Neither one fesses up to going in the house, they both just stand there looking guilty.) For a looonnng time I took them outside MANY times through the day. Hang in there!!!!

[Miranda]

Hey Melissa!

We had this issue with our puppy recently as well. The puppy would start crying around 2 or 3 am. We would just run her outside super quick and she would pee, and then we would come right back in and go to sleep. The trick was we just threw on shoes and maybe grabbed a sweatshirt and out we went. No time for anything else! I used to keep a bag of treats by the door with my keys as well so I would just grab them an go. She is now 4.5 months old, and we probably haven't been out late at night since she was about 12 or 13 weeks old. But we are up usually by 630 now.

As for crate accidents... my boyfriend would come home from work to find her covered in pee. Usually she didn't poop in it...but if she had diarrhea she would. She was only home for 4 hours by herself. She hated the crate as well, and I think part of it was anxiety. Anyway, that also subsided as she got older and was able to hold her bladder for a longer period of time (and maybe she realized that it' s gross lol.) We still give her a kong filled with peanut butter when we crate her.....keeps her busy for a little while :)

Just hang in there.....it gets better...trust me!!