 5 month old peeing in crate
#299047 - 10/11/2010 06:58 AM |
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Vader is doing great with potty training overall...if he's out of his crate he will always go to the door to let us know he needs to go out. He will also "go potty" on command as soon as we're outside. The issue that I'm having is that he is really bad about peeing inside his crate. I'm confused because I know this goes against his instict to keep his "den" clean so I don't know why he continues to do it. We take him out often and make sure he doesn't stay in there too long without a potty break. I also have him on a schedule for his water intake and make sure he doesn't drink a ton and then go into the kennel for a long period. No matter what we do, I will still find him with a wet crate. He will even do it when I'm sitting beside him...his crate is by the computer and yesterday he was taking a nap, stood up and just peed without even warning me he had to go. I'm really getting tired of washing his bed daily (and bathing him!) so I need to figure out why this is happening. Like I said, it's only in his crate.
"Vader" my 8 month mal
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 Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Olivia Brown ]
#299056 - 10/11/2010 09:04 AM |
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Hi Olivia,
Although he's good at letting you know when he needs to go, you can't depend on it at 5 months. 
What worked for me was to take her out very frequently; way more than should have been necessary at that age. I'm talking like once an hour (or more)if you can do it that frequently. Pay very close attention to when he wakes from naps, or even preempt him by waking him and scooting him outside before he has a chance to pee. ( My problem was opposite of yours; no peeing in the crate, but she'd squat in the house occasionally.)
And mark and praise (throw a party, as Connie likes to say) so that he really begins to understand the idea that going outside is what you want.
With mine, she was not really reliable until about 7 months, but once the light bulb went off, she completely 'got' it.
If you are using the same bedding, (washing it) you might want to consider ditching it and replacing with new to make sure that there is no residual pee smell in it.
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Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Lynne Barrows ]
#299064 - 10/11/2010 10:37 AM |
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Thanks for the input...I considered buying a new bed but then I don't want to waste that money until I'm confident he won't pee on it again, kwim? I would hate to buy a new one and then have it peed on the next day. I will definitely buy him a new one once he is going longer without wetting it. I've been taking him out constantly today and I'm hoping that eventually he will catch on. He knows he's only supposed to go outside, but for some reason he keeps peeing in the crate.
"Vader" my 8 month mal
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Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Olivia Brown ]
#299065 - 10/11/2010 10:43 AM |
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I'd follow Lynne's suggestions to the letter, as well as dropping off a spec at the vet's if you see signs of dribbling, frequent small (or no) pee, etc.
I'd say he is still confused about the outdoors being the only place to go.
If he has to pee when he is in his crate, then in some way he's "in there too long without a potty break."
For now, I'd be taking him out all the time, exactly as Lynne says, to break this habit that has been allowed to start.
You will not regret the extra effort. 
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Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Olivia Brown ]
#299071 - 10/11/2010 12:21 PM |
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I considered buying a new bed but then I don't want to waste that money until I'm confident he won't pee on it again, kwim? I would hate to buy a new one and then have it peed on the next day. Yeah, I don't blame you. Will he chew up an old towel or folded sheet?
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Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Lynne Barrows ]
#299090 - 10/11/2010 04:21 PM |
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Connie, I get what you're saying but I'm positive we aren't leaving him in there too long w/o a break. He is in there for a max of 30 minutes at a time unless it's night time or we are all away from the house (rare). He can go for hours without peeing in the house when he's out playing, but when he's in the crate, he always seems to go...even if we've just taken him out.
Lynne-
He does chew towels but I have a few that I don't mind donating to him so that's what I'm using for now. They are easier to wash than his big thick bed and it was expensive so I hate to see it ruined.
"Vader" my 8 month mal
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Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Olivia Brown ]
#299093 - 10/11/2010 04:31 PM |
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I'll agree with what's been mentioned above, but have you also tried taking the bed/towels out completely to see if that makes a difference?
Is this a new problem or has he been doing this since day one? Did you see the litter and the conditions they were raised in when you bought him? What type of set-up did they have for the pups?
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Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Olivia Brown ]
#299096 - 10/11/2010 04:39 PM |
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Connie, I get what you're saying but I'm positive we aren't leaving him in there too long w/o a break. He is in there for a max of 30 minutes at a time unless it's night time or we are all away from the house (rare). He can go for hours without peeing in the house when he's out playing, but when he's in the crate, he always seems to go...even if we've just taken him out.
I understand.
I think in this situation, he'd probably be tethered to me.
I'd probably spend a while with the dog tethered to me so there could be no chance of his peeing inside without my seeing him squat or lift his leg or whatever he does to ready himself to go, and then I would hustle him right outside, praising him like crazy for the "good potty" or whatever you call outdoor potty.
I'd take this action immediately because of the habit that has started and my desire to end it immediately. Every time he goes in the crate, going in the crate becomes more "normal."
"Pay very close attention to when he wakes from naps, or even preempt him by waking him and scooting him outside before he has a chance to pee."
I would follow this suggestion, too.
All of this extra effort is so worth it, IMO. I always have "pre-owned" dogs, including dogs who have never been indoors, and dogs who have had no choice but to potty in their kennel or crate, and, like Lynne, have learned the value of not allowing a habit to continue (or start), no matter what level of vigilance and attachment (literal attachment) it may take for a while.
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Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Olivia Brown ]
#299108 - 10/11/2010 06:36 PM |
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He knows he's only supposed to go outside, but for some reason he keeps peeing in the crate.
I disagree... for whatever reason, he thinks it is okay to pee in his crate. YOU know he's only supposed to go outside, but it isn't quite clear in his mind yet.
Do everthing suggested and I would try to remove any bedding/towels, etc... Perhaps no "absorbant" material will have an effect.
Good luck and hang in there! This too shall pass. 
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Re: 5 month old peeing in crate
[Re: Konnie Hein ]
#299113 - 10/11/2010 07:08 PM |
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I'll agree with what's been mentioned above, but have you also tried taking the bed/towels out completely to see if that makes a difference?
I would remove the bed from the crate.
What material is the bed made out of?
I have found that some pups will pee on bedding that is similar to what was in their whelping area. If your breeder used cedar for example and you have cedar in the pillow.
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