Our dog Tucker (9 months old) has recently started going pee when ever we leave him in his kennel. It is just starting to get hot again and he has to transition from using the dog door into the Arizona room all day to holding it in kennel for 4-5 hours at a time. He has never had a problem in the past, but this last week he has gone pee when left for any amount of time ranging from 2-4 hours in his kennel. He never has accidents in the house because he can use the dog door. No bladder infection (vet checked) and he goes potty before we put him in the kennel. I am assuming he has just gotten used to going when ever he wants. Any ideas? I am getting tired of washing blankets and dogs when we arrive home. I have crate trained three dogs prior to this without any problems and at one time Tucker was holding it with out any problems.
Potty in the kennel
- Thread starter cooper22
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Take the blankets out of the crate 
Dogs don't pee in their crates for one reason only - because they'll have to sit in it, which is worse than the discomfort of a full bladder. Well, up to a certain point it is - obviously the discomfort will become the greater evil at some stage, and the dog will have to pee. Having blankets to soak up the pee does influence when that point is reached that discomfort is worse than peeing. Soo - take those away. That will leave him with the option of holding on, or REALLY having to sit in it (unless he's one of the few who thinks of peeing out through the crate bars, of course - but not many think of that).
If, btw, he actually does still pee and you come home to a dog drenched in urine - then you have a clear signal that this dog, for whatever reason, is NOT capable of holding on that long. That could be a physical issue, or possibly an anxiety-based one - but no dog will sit in a literal puddle of pee if they've any other option.
Dogs don't pee in their crates for one reason only - because they'll have to sit in it, which is worse than the discomfort of a full bladder. Well, up to a certain point it is - obviously the discomfort will become the greater evil at some stage, and the dog will have to pee. Having blankets to soak up the pee does influence when that point is reached that discomfort is worse than peeing. Soo - take those away. That will leave him with the option of holding on, or REALLY having to sit in it (unless he's one of the few who thinks of peeing out through the crate bars, of course - but not many think of that).
If, btw, he actually does still pee and you come home to a dog drenched in urine - then you have a clear signal that this dog, for whatever reason, is NOT capable of holding on that long. That could be a physical issue, or possibly an anxiety-based one - but no dog will sit in a literal puddle of pee if they've any other option.
WeLoveDuke
Boxer Booster
Our dogs went through stages of holding it in the crate and not holding it. Duke finally started holding it (with no accidents ever again) around 13 months (we only ask them to hold it for about 4.5 hrs., TOPS). Mack, who's 18 months, still has an accident once every 2-3 weeks (we think it's on days when he spends his lunch hour outside drinking rain puddles...that seems to be the pattern, anyway!).
BTW - both of ours figured out how to pee out of their crates. Duke would pee out the front. Mack pees out the side - and sometimes into Duke's kennel! GROSS! I can just imagine what Duke is "saying" when that happens! LOL. Then, it's two dogs and two kennels to clean...
Don't worry - it will eventually stop!
BTW - both of ours figured out how to pee out of their crates. Duke would pee out the front. Mack pees out the side - and sometimes into Duke's kennel! GROSS! I can just imagine what Duke is "saying" when that happens! LOL. Then, it's two dogs and two kennels to clean...
Don't worry - it will eventually stop!
Thanks for the suggestions. I will try removing the blankets from his kennel and see how he does. I think he is just so used to going when ever he wants that he has gotten lazy to some extent. Up until 6 months old he was crated for 4-5 hours at a time without any accidents (ever) and now suddenly he can't make it for even 3 hours?
I don't think he is upset about us losing one of our dogs (Cooper), but I guess anything is possible. He wasn't having any problems until this week and it is the first week without Cooper.
I don't think he is upset about us losing one of our dogs (Cooper), but I guess anything is possible. He wasn't having any problems until this week and it is the first week without Cooper.
Re: Potty in the kennel (one more thing)
When he does pee in his kennel it is not like he empties his entire bladder he just pees some and then when we come home he doesn't have to pee much at all. I make sure he hasn't had a lot of water before he goes in and there is no water in his crate. Hmmm... We will keep trying and let you know. Thanks again.
When he does pee in his kennel it is not like he empties his entire bladder he just pees some and then when we come home he doesn't have to pee much at all. I make sure he hasn't had a lot of water before he goes in and there is no water in his crate. Hmmm... We will keep trying and let you know. Thanks again.
sabrinalenor
Boxer Pal
We starting having this problem about 2 weeks ago. He was going an average of 5-6hrs. Then I was home for 2 weeks and he was not in the kennel more than an hour or so. When I went back to work, he started to pee. We have been putting him in his kennel without padding and ensure he goes potty before every time in the kennel. So far three nights in a row, I have come home to him sitting in pee.
He was neutered 1.5 weeks ago.
Thanks,
Sabrina
He was neutered 1.5 weeks ago.
Thanks,
Sabrina
ELubas
Boxer Insane
I do not think you are over thinking. Losing Cooper is stressful for him-is this the first round back in the crate since Cooper has been gone?
ELubas
Boxer Insane
Shurligurl
Boxer Pal
My male boxer also had his moments. He stopped having accidents in his crate at around 11 months of age and then all of a sudden (like a switch had been turned on) he had accidents every day for about one month. Then as quick as the switch was turned on, it was off and now he has no more accidents. It was so frustrating but he did get over it.
For you to have two and have them pee outside their crates that is a bummer. They are pretty smart aren't they. My male boxer "still" doesn't lift his leg when he goes pee. I don't know why he doesn't.
Cheryl
For you to have two and have them pee outside their crates that is a bummer. They are pretty smart aren't they. My male boxer "still" doesn't lift his leg when he goes pee. I don't know why he doesn't.
Cheryl
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