What to do about peeing in crate

[maureenc]

If you take him out to potty, and he doesn't. Then bring him back in and put him back in his crate and take him out 10 minutes later.

I understood this, don't worry. If he doesn't potty, I set the wind up kitchen timer for 10 - 15 and take him out again.

He still pees/poos in the crate pretty regularly (once a day or more)

When I'm playing with/watching him, he tells me he has to go out and everything is fine. But if he's in the crate, he just lets it go and howls for the cleaning service.

I rarely have him in there for more than an hour (I have 1 hour consultation appts with customers in my home. They all want to meet him, but half the time I go to get him after our hour is up and he's a smelly mess...)

How do you spend all day watching the dog and still work? I do have a mortgage to pay and a business to run...

I just physically can't pay attention to him 24/7 - I have to take a shower, meet with customers, check email, potty myself, etc. But when I put him in that crate, he pees or poos. And fingerpaints. (ech)

I'm really at wits end.

Turned out he did have a UTI. I took him in shortly after my original post (Thank you eskienoel !), & we got that cleared up, & it cut down on the frequency - now he's only covered in pee/poo once a day or so... instead of several times.

[maureenc]

And forgot to mention that I've implemented a lot of the suggestions from all of you so thank you so much - when I find him pee soaked, I set the timer for 30 minutes and let him be miserable for a bit before cleaning him up.

(I still have to wash him though - just can't stand the urine smell on his fur)

Meticulously cleaning the crate with Nature's Miracle

And we have limited water - the vet said at least every two hours he has to be watered though - not just at meals/playtime (playtime is all day though at this point...)

We do great as long as I'm focused on him, and he gets to tell when we go out.

But once I put him in that crate... I was starting to think it might be separation anxiety, but he doesn't pee if I leave him alone in the kitchen - so I can do this for 10 minutes or so but any longer and he's found some other sort of trouble to get into... (chewed a cabinet or a floor tile - fortunately cabinets are "shabby chic" and floor tiles are just peel n stick - ha ha)

I'm starting to feel imprisoned by the egg timer.

Walks do seem to be helping though (vet said I should do walks_ - he has a bit less energy and is easier to manage...

[jennyb]

Yup, tire that puppy out!  Tired dogs are well behaved dogs.  And don't tire him out only physically, tire out his brain too.  Challenge him mentally with short training sessions.

If the crate isn't working, and the kitchen isn't safe, have you thought about an xpen?  It works well for our two.  And the way an xpen is constructed, it allows us to shape the pen the way we want and shrink it as we want it.

[sanddollar_78240]

Grasping at straws, here, but all I got. Would it be possible to confine him to the kitchen or the bathroom for a short while when Y'All are home? If so, maybe if you put his water bowl on a wee pad, it would help (he may be too old/ big for this to work). Lina potty trained herself when she was ridiculously young, but it was because she'd drink, take a few steps & sprinkle.
 Or what about a wrap?

[sanddollar_78240]

Just found something that might help, too. KV Vet (kvpet.com) has something called Dry Fur. They're crate liners & a little pricey, but might help in a pinch. Price range is $6.99 for 19.5 x 12.5 up to 8.99 for 24.5 x 17.25. Three sizes (so a size in between those, too) & come in a pkg of 2.

[Yukon]

Try an ex pen in an area where he's not near anything chewy. And if he is chewing your floors, you can get mats/floors for ex pens, too.

He should be able to hold it for at least 2-3 hours at a time.  You mentioned that his playtime is "all day" -- what is his daily routine?  Do you have him on a set schedule (mealtimes, walks, potty times, playtimes, and naps) all at the same times every day?  If not, try that.  Put away the egg timer, and just use a clock -- write down a schedule that provides for short periods during the day when you will walk him, play with him, feed him, etc.  Pretend that you have to leave for work, and you're simply not available other times.  You walk him, you leave, you come back 2-3 hours later for his next walk.  If he pottied, just clean it up, take him out and praise like crazy for pottying outside.  Then vigorous playtime.  Then walk, then nap.   Dogs really thrive on routine and consistency. He should be able to start anticipating when his next walk/meal/playtime will be and adjust accordingly.  He also needs lots of sleep still at his age, so he needs alone/quiet time to nap.  Yukon used to get all riled up and cranky when he was overtired.  That was when he would protest most vigorously that he did NOT need a nap in his crate... 

Also -- if he is still pottying in the crate, you might want to do a follow up visit with the vet to make sure the UTI is cleared up.  And cut back on the amount, if not the frequency, of water.

[maureenc]

Well, I think he has finally made the connection between the action of relieving himself and "that yucky stuff that's all around my feet so I have to howl for the cleanup crew".

Banner - I think leaving him in the mess to be miserable for awhile did the trick!

We have now gone for 4 whole days/nights without crate peeing / pooping. Hurrah!

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and wisdom!!!!

[Yukon]

We have now gone for 4 whole days/nights without crate peeing / pooping. Hurrah!

YAY!!!!

[jennyb]

Yeah!!!!

He's still a baby so don't be surprised if there are a few more crate accidents. 

[Eskielvr]

- when I find him pee soaked, I set the timer for 30 minutes and let him be miserable for a bit before cleaning him up.

That's just cruel, and it doesn't teach him anything as he doesn't understand. Same as people who think shoving their noses in it does anything, or hitting them with a newspaper. Dogs don't reason like we do and he doesn't equate laying in pee for half an hour to his actions of peeing in it.

If you take him out and he doesn't pee, clip a leash to him on one end, and around you with the other. Everywhere you go, he goes. You watch him and if he starts to go you can catch him in the act, give a gentle "No", and take him out again.