I have a 14 1/2 week old GSD that stays in his Crate when we are at work. Our puppy has recently started to pee in his crate on a regular basis. Our jobs are such that we can not come home at lunch to let him out. His Crate is a little large for him and I have put boxes in the crate as Mr. Frawley suggest. He has several of his favorite chew toys in the crate including one with a hollow center that I have tried filling with Peanut Butter or treats to keep him occupied. The other problem is he reeks and I'm afraid to bathe him to often because I don't want to dry out his skin and add to the problem, but nobody wants to get around a stinky dog. I would rather spend the time playing with him when I come home not cleaning out his kennel. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help.

I would consider building an outdoor dog run. That way he isn't in a position where he has to lay in his P waiting for someone to let him out.

So far as not wanting to dry out his skin, well, urine, aside from stinking isn't exactly good for his skin either. If you use a good quality gentle shampoo and rinse well you shouldn't have a problem. Leaving him dirty like that only teaches the dog to be dirty.

Only other option is to find someone to come let the dog out, maybe a neighbor kid, while you are gone. You can't expect a pup of this age to hold it all day.

I didn't mean to imply that I left him stinky. I always clean him up when he does this. Our son gets home early in the afternoon and lets him out.Most of the time everything is good then. It's after he puts him back in the crate that he goes in the crate.

I am assuming a 8 hr work day plus travel time? That is a long time for a puppy of that age to hold it and assuming he is in the crate a night - that is a lot of crate time. I would try to hire someone to come in and ex the pup - or if that is not possible maybe day boarding? Crate training is good if they are learning how to be "dry" but if you push the time envelope too much he isn't learning anything but "I'm gonna be in here a looong time". Have you considered an outdoor run with appropriate shelter and water or an indoor/outdoor run might be the least stressfull thing for the dog. On the smell thing - I don't think it would hurt the dog to wash him as it is better than reeking of urine.

If your son is letting him out.. perhaps he is letting him drink too much water.. and not allowing him to pee again before putting him back in the crate... ask him about that...

jody

put a dog door in the wall fix the crate up to it and make a run out in the yard.dog can still get in ac/heat but will learn to piss/shoot out doors and you can move the crate when your home and let the dog have the run of the house. the wall is better than a door it's a pain to have a crate at the door

The general rule if I remember correctly is that pups can hold it for 1 hour for every month of age plus one. That means for your pup about 4 to 5 hours before he's ready to explode.
Perhaps he's drinking too much before you leave for work. You could feed him a moistened food/kibble so he get's some water and only give him a couple of ice cubes to lick in the morning for thirst. Only let him drink water at this age when you know someone will be around to let him out. I used the same trick with my dog when he was a pup.
Also, it's imperative that the crate be cleaned with an odour neutralizer and bedding be eliminated. Plastic crates are easier for this (Vari Kennel type).
It would be nice if you had a neighbour you could trust to come in and let the pup out. How about employing a professional bonded pet/house sitter, senior citizen, or housekeeper for 1 hour a day.
I would not worry about it too much at this age, 8 hours + is a lot to ask. BUT if it continues to be a problem by 5-6 months of age that's another story.
I'm sure you'll do fine. Most do. Enjoy your pup. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Originally posted by flynhigh:
I have a 14 1/2 week old GSD that stays in his Crate when we are at work. Our puppy has recently started to pee in his crate on a regular basis. Our jobs are such that we can not come home at lunch to let him out. Your problem is straight forward and very easy to solve. First, you are expecting this young pup to hold on for to long and what you are doing in fact is imprinting the crate as a place to urinate and defecate.

Sorry, if I am insulting here but this should have been dealt with 7 weeks ago.

I have a new Dutch Shepherd about the same age and we are taking him out at the very least, every hour at this stage.

One solution if it is available to you in your present location is Doggy Daycare where the folks running the daycare will set in place a timetable to make sure your puppy is going outside as the imprint and not indoors or as in your case the cage.

If you look carefully at the different daycare facilities in your area you will find one for sure that will also start the basic foundation of motivational training.

Your pup is missing out on some very important life skills by spending so much time in a crate and alone. You are going to be very upset and not enjoy the dog if all you are doing is bathing the urine out of his coat and treating urine burns on the animals skin.

Jerry

A fact of everyday life is people have to work. However; this should in no way interfere with potty-training and is easily accomplished at various stages of the pup's age and the pup's muscle control ability.

To ask a 3 1/2 month old pup to "hold" for more than 4 hours is expecting way too much even if water intake is closely monitored. A pup of this age simply cannot retain their own body fluids for an extended period of time.

For my dogs own safety and my pease of mind; I insist they are within the confines of the house when I am not at home. There are too many evil people in this world who would steal, poison, shoot or any other evil deed that may cross their mind when a dog is left outside with no one at home. Advising someone to build an outside kennel is a quick fix but depending upon their housing area; it may be an open invitation to heartbreak. It happens in the "best" of neighborhoods or country settings.

I have the advantage of a "mud room" off the kitchen that has tile/mopable floor which also contains crates for those who are not trustworthy to have free access to the main house while no one is there to supervise. Placing a baby gate in the doorway; gave my pup and her "dog baby sitter companion" the liberty of movement and papers on the floor in front of the outside doorway to urinate upon. As she grew/aged; her "hold" ability naturally increased and her use of papers decreased. At 5 months old; her interest in the water bucket as a "play toy" kicked in and from then on she was crated thru the day with no accidents within the crate. I did not give her "free access" to water and whenever she did drink; "we" went outside within minutes for her to potty.

Simply opening the door and letting the pup out does not guarentee the pup has their mind on what they are supposed to be doing and will likely result in the pup coming in to potty in the house. "We" walked outside and I encouraged/praised her when she pottied outside. In the crate; she had her blanket and a chew toy but no free access to water. Allowing them to drink upon coming back in only starts the process all over again.

The original question mentions the fact that this pup has"recently started to pee in his crate". Does that mean that he has been OK at some point previously. If so, it seems that a trip to the vet would be in order as this could be an indication of an infection.

I don't like to disagree with people a lot more knowledgeable than I am but as has been pointed out the fact is that people have to work. I am fortunate enough to be able to get home at lunch now but I have brought up pups when I couldn't and they were able to hold it all day at a fairly young age.

The important thing is to get up quite early and get them outdoors two or three times before leaving them so their bladder is well emptied. I don't like limiting water but for the first little while it is necessary in the morning.

I brought my present pup home at 9 wks and within 2 days he was sleeping 6-7 hours through the night in his crate with no accidents. And I was quite ready to get up with him if he made any noise at all. He just didn't need to. So why not all day?