I need help!!! Puppy still peeing in his crate!!

[Donna,Riley and Charlie]

My puppy is 13 weeks old and I can't get him to stop peeing in his crate!! He only does it every now and then but the last two nights he has done it. I feel like I am doing everything I should be doing so I am at a loss now!! He gets his water taken away around 6 pm. I let him out a lot in between before bed. I let him out around 11 pm for the last time. I have moved his divider up so small that He has to really struggle to turn around in his crate! I feel really sorry for him! He does cry to wake me up until after he has already used his crate!! HELP!! I have got to get this to stop!!

[Adina P]

Does he pee on a blanket or other cloth item IN the crate or just straight into an empty crate?

[Donna,Riley and Charlie]

I have nothing in there with him. Except for a few toys! Not much room for anything else. Tried the blanket when we first brought him home for one night but he peed on it too!

[Caroline]

Hi Donna, I was going to ask the same question, in case the old pee spots were "hot spots," where he kept going because he had been there before. Are you using enzymatic cleanser on the areas he's been? Just to discourage him by totally getting rid of the old scent...
The bladder capacity for 12 week old puppies is 90 minutes, and it's apparently 2 hours for 18 week old pups (according to Ian Dunbar). By restricting his evening water, you will be extending this. The only other thing I can think of is to set the alarm and take him out/to his toilet area regularly throughout the night (depending on how often he is going already) in order to pre-empt him from peeing in his crate.
I did this with Christy - sometimes she would cry to go to the potty when she was in the crate, and sometimes she would just wee in her crate, but eventually the light bulb went on and she "got it".
Needless to say I did not sleep very well the first few months we had her, but it passes soon! Good luck

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

This is what I would try. Clean the crate with lysol wipes. Put a big pillow in it (one you can throw in the wash) Big enough to cover the whole floor. Make the crate the den/bed only. No food in the crate or water in the crate. It is his bed only. Do you only crate at night? Is he beside your bed in the crate at night?. I would reserve the crate as the cozy bed, for sleep time/nap time only.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Do you have human children or is this your "first child"? It sounds like a potty training issue and he hasn't got the idea yet that the potty is outside. Figure he is still in diapers and doesn't understand about going only in his designated area. I would think that four hours would be about his limit. So if he goes at 11:00, then put on your alarm for 3:00, get up, take him out to his designated area, and after he goes, take him right back to his crate. Then he should be good until morning. It is kinda of like night-time feedings with an infant. Good luck.

[Tamara & Giada]

I was just going to say this also......set an alam. You can move up the time every few days by 15 min. eventually the time will be when you get up. GL!!!

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

I had this problem when Timbow was a puppy. The best thing for you to do is make a mental note of the time that he starts crying and start setting your alarm clock for about 30 minutes before that. You're going to have to take him out once in the middle of the night until he can hold it longer. This part doesn't last forever, so don't worry. They're just still such babies that they need that middle of the night potty. Good luck!

[Donna,Riley and Charlie]

I do clean the cage with the Nature's miracle, every time he goes. The biggest thing is he went about 9 to 10 nights with out peeing at all during the night. This just started the last two days! That is what I don't understand. He has done it in his cage during the day too. He has done it right after I have taken him out and he went. I was home and in the other room and he did it. He is so unpredictable. I have three other dogs and I have never had to deal with this before. I also have two teen daughters. As I said, it isn't like the first time I have trained a dog. There is no real pattern to this! It is strange. Hopefully I will eventually put my finger on it. It is the peeing in the cage that bugs me. Dogs aren't suppose to do that or want to do that! It does bother him after he does it. He throws a fit!! Don't know why he does it. It also eats his poo when he goes in his cage and outside. So I put him on a lead every time he goes out, to keep him from it outside!

[Beth & Piper]

Have you had him checked for a UTI? If he was able to hold it before for over a week, I would have his urine checked ASAP.

Is he just peeing in his crate or is he also pooping in it? If so, you really might need to take him out several times during the night like others have mentioned above. Our puppy did get up twice a night for several week before he was able to wait until the morning-well, at least until 5:30, he still only sleeps 6 hours at night!!

[McMillan's Rescue]

I agree, you need to take him out more frequently during the night and get the urine checked asap.
I have a golden retriever who is over a year old that still has to go out at 3 am if she has any water before bedtime. Limit water after 9 pm.

[Donna,Riley and Charlie]

That is what I was sort of worried about! I have a friend who has a female goldendoodle and she has had urinary tract infections but I didn't think boys get it as bad. It doesn't' make sense how he can hold it all night for 5 nights and then all of a sudden start peeing in his cage! He did again tonight! None of my dogs have ever been this bad!

[Beth & Piper]

Yes, male does have UTI's! Instead of being frustrated with him, get a urine sample to the vet. Not only are you mad at him, but if he has a UTI he is uncomfortable. Especially since he was able to hold it longer before, obviously something has changed; he isn't peeing to piss you off!