Puppy urinating in crate

[BaileyP]

My boxer is 3 months old, and he is with me throughout the whole day, i take him out to potty right after he eats and its great. he barely has any accidents, but at night when i put him in his crate to sleep I always wake up in the morning to take him out and he's peed everywhere and all over his blanket and toys. I always take him out to potty before he goes in his crate and i don't let him drink water before going to sleep, but he still manages to pee everywhere. I really don't know what to do :S The other day i took him out at around 2am and he woke me up at 8 30 crying to take him out and when i went to let him out he had urinated everywhere...

[TwoDogs]

What time does he go out for his last pee at night? What time do you take up the water at night? Your post mentioned getting up at 8:30 in the morning--is that the time you usually wake up and put him out? 2am to 8:30 is a 6 1/2 hour stretch. It could be that your guy just can't go that long between potty times just yet.

[BaileyP]

Thank you for the advice! I figured that puppies can't hold their bladder much since he drinks and 20 minutes later needs to go out and I'm trying to take him out earlier in the morning and even in the middle of the night but im pregnant, so i find it really hard to get up due to morning sickness etc. But the reason I worried was because he didn't use to urinate in his crate, but last night i took his water out 3 hours before his bed time and I also took him out and woke up at around 8:30 am and he didn't pee himself, so I was extremely happy with him ! Thank you again for the advice it really really helped.

[BxrMommieNAZ]

That's a LONG time for a 3 month old baby to go without going to the bathroom (and you definitely do not want to start the pottying in the crate, HORRIBLE habit that is darn near impossible to stop once it's gotten started and turned into a habit). At 3 months old he should still be given the opportunity to go every 4 hours or so in in the middle of the night. I understand you're pregnant (been there done that), but you made the choice to get the pup and to be pregnant, and it isn't very long that you have to get up in the middle of the night or very long that you need to be up, it's just out and back to the crate, but your pup is trying to tell you that he can't go that long and it's your job to listen. So I would set your alarm 4 hours or so after puppy goes to bed and then 4 hours after you get up and take him out in the night and then it should be time to get up a bit later.

(for the "morning sickness" setting a loaf of bread by your bed and heating 1/2 piece of bread can help as it helps to absorb any acid in your stomach).

Good luck!

[Jpep]

a 12 week old dog would be lucky to hold pee for 4 hrs, the idea of the crate training is that they are less likely to go in the crate especially while sleeping but unfortunately a crate can't stop the dogs anatomy.

Puppy's develop very quickly and you'll find that every month they can hold their urine longer and longer. On avg a 12 week old can hold it 2-3hrs, a 18-19 week old can hold it a good 4hrs, its definitely not easy but its not rocket science either, set the alarm, maybe you can alternate with another family member, what ever you need to do. I understand restricting water but if you put him to bed around 11pm that means you took his water away at 8pm, then he woke you up at 8:30, thats over 12 hours with out water. Maybe my math is not exactly right but you said he pees in 20minutes of drinking so how about take his water away 45minutes before he goes to bed, before you crate him bring him out to do his business, put him in his crate at 11, you can take him out at 2am like you have been, then with any luck another family member can take him out around 5am then when you wake up around 8am you can take him.

Remember the key to house training is eliminating the accidents, every accident is a set back is accomplishing your goals, plus its a psychological strain on the dog if he knows he's not suppose to go in his crate and he's doing everything he can not to go.

Best of luck

[logiesmom]

I have had similar issues with my pup Logan who is 16wks. He had one bad week and i was begining to get nervous about the whole thing. We did switch his food, withhold nighttime watering and went back to basics(the time when he was most successful). I kept track of his pottying habits. I let him have water when we get back from our nightly walk at 8pm. His last turnout is around 1030/1100. I find that if i take hime out for the last time before then, he will pee in the crate. The good thing is that within the last few days, he has started letting us know when he has to go out when he is in his crate by whining. He hasn't had an accident in over a week....knock on wood. You just have to be consistent and don't be too hard on them. Try taking a look at yourself first and seeing what you could have done to prevent the accident. At his age, i wouldn't expect him to hold it more than 4 hours...six if you are lucky.
Holly and logan

[Sansal]

Do you keep your dogs crate in the bedroom with you? That way you might hear when he gets up in the middle of the night and you can take him outside before he pees.