Going potty in the crate?

Question

My dog has been crated at bed time or when no one is home for 5 years. She has recently (the past 6 to 8 months) been peeing in her crate. I thought she might have too much space so we put the divider in the crate to keep her from having a "pee section" and a "sleep section". It didn't stop so I took her to two different vets. There were no problems with the urinalysis or physical exam. The first vet gave me a medication for a urinary tract infection just in case, and she took it twice a day until it was gone. The second vet recommended a medication for incontinence and she has been taking that twice a day. Now she is peeing AND pooping in the crate. I don't know what is going on. She doesn't exhibit any signs of diabetes or anything and my other dog is in a crate right next to her and doesn't do this. I hate to do it, but today I am taking her blanket out of the crate because if she's going to keep soiling it, it will be easier to just clean the plastic cage floor. ANY advice???

In response to some of the messages so far, she goes out to potty 4 times a day pretty much on a schedule. She eats twice a day also on schedule, and water is available all day that she is loose but not while crated. My fiance works from home so it is certainly not a "you don't have time for her" problem, and we make sure she does go when she's outside. We bought a house in December and that is pretty much when the problem started, but I think if that was the cause she would be over it by now. She has a lot more space to play here and shouldn't be unhappy at all.

More details in response to your messages >
She is a 5 year old (almost 6) female pitbull. She actually LIKES her crate. We call it bed. I just have to tell her "time to go to bed" and she'll run to her crate. She will actually go in it and lay down even when she's loose if I leave the door open. Lately she is sometimes hesitant to go to "bed" because it smells. The way she sniffs it and her reaction seem almost like she doesn't realize SHE did that.

She has always had an issue with peeing on carpet and that is why she has to be crated when no people are around to begin with. I don't know what the attraction is but if the people are out or sleeping, she will find carpet and pee on it. It wasn't until we moved to the new house though that she started peeing in her crate. Now she's pooping in it tooI can't believe she still does it even since I put in the divider and she can't get away from her own mess. I've never even dealt with a puppy willing to do that. I don't know what to do :(

Update:

So, when I went through everyone's answers a few nights ago I took some of the recommendations and tried them out. It's a little too soon to be sure, but so far what I'm doing is working. I took her bedding out of the crate and cleaned it VERY thoroughly, removed the divider, and the past two nights we started taking walks right before bedtime. It's been two days and she has not had any crate accidents. I feel bad about her not having anything soft to lay on at night, but I'm going to go with what works.

Thanks to all for your input!

Answer 1

jk

Answer 2

A crate is a den to the dog. It's not recommended that you put a blanket in it, as some dogs will soil their bedding, but not the den.

This may be an indication that you're crating your dog for too long, or with inappropriate timing in relation to her meals and watering schedule. Look up crate training on google, there are many excellent sites.

The fact that she's been crated for 5 years and has just started this is bothersome however, and may indicate a problem that she perceives in her environment. Have you gotten a new pet, moved her crate, rearranged the furniture? It may also be something hysical that the vet's aren't picking up on, and blood tests may be called for. I'd recommend finding a vet with experience in behavioral issues. Dogs don't break their house breaking for no reason, but there are so many possible variables that you need an expert's opinion.

In the meantime, get up and walk her more a night. It may be a physical problem, but it could also be a bid for attention if she feels threatened by a change in her environment. You may have to retrain her.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Maybe some kind of anxiety from moving to a new house, even though it's been awhile. She just might be having a hard time adjusting. My dog would do that when we left, pee on the floor-even if I was gone 5 minutes. Tried the crate, she'd poop and pee and smear it all around. Now she goes outside when no one's home. Or, maybe she's just getting old, even though she doesn't appear to be that old, and she just can't hold it as well anymore.

Answer 4

She might need a new crate and blanket. if her scent is all over it, she'll think it's okay to soil the area. If she's small enough, you might want to consider litterbox training her, which would allow you to leave her crate open, so she could just wander out of the crate and poop in the litterbox. Purina makes a great one, and it has a training guide online. she might just need a refresher course in training.

In my one bedroom apt, I have a little crate set up inside of a dog excercise pen(by precision, available at petco), with the dogs food, water, and crate(and bed) on one side and his litterbox on the other. because i work an 8 hour day and it's not fair to the dog to make him wait for me to get home to go to the bathroom.

Okay, given your recently added additional details, She IS having trouble adjusting to her new surroundings. you need to buy her a new crate and new blanket, take a week off and retrain her as if she was a puppy.

Answer 5

This sounds like a behavioral problem. It is quite possible that she is exhibiting some sort of separation anxiety. There's nothing really you can do, but make sure that she knows that the crate is not some sort of punishment. Try to give her a chew toy or something to occupy her time. You may want to even try re-training with the crate, puppy pads aren't recomended unless you plan on her using the bathroom indoors all the time, they tend to use the bathroom where the pads were, even if you have removed them from her environment. Reward her for going into her crate. and if she messes in the amount of time that you are gone(a reasonable amount of time), punish her, then ignore her. When you clean her crate, use an "odor absorbing" cleaner, and let it air dry. Do not put a blankie in there with her.

Answer 6

Does your pet use any kind of puppy pad? I know everyone says you cant teach an old dog new tricks but I don't believe that. Is it possible for you to just leave her crate open for her and teach her to use a puppy pad close to her crate. Our older dog will sleep in her crate and come out to pee on the pad at night. (though most times its no problem for her to hold her bladder over night) its kinda stating the obvious to say take her out to pee before bed but I'll say it anyway :) Maybe she has become afraid of the crate for some reason and is trying to bring her fear to your attention.

Answer 7

I don't know why your vet didn't mention that if you spray her food and sprinkle salt on it it will help her control her bladder better. Dogs do not digest salt the same way humans do, and it won't hurt her. You can give that a try, or not.
Another thing is something might be upsetting her when she is in her crate while you are not around. I would make sure that nothing is happening to her while she is in her crate. Good luck

Answer 8

you obviously need a going outside to go potty routine...it needs more time outside and much more frequent than what your giving it....poor thing...if you don't have time for it....you shouldn't own a pet

well if your fiance is at home the entire day, and still taking your pets outside 4 times a day then you wouldn't have this problem...does this occur only when you are away?? Or even when you are at home as well? I still feel it sounds crazy if they get all of the outside that they need and still come into the crate and urinate and poop. Maybe its a very stressed dog...hopefully it isn't being neglected or abused....even just yelling at your pets is like hitting them.....good luck

Answer 9

Sounds like you have done everything just as I would. I guess my only advice would be to try yet another vet. What type of dog is she? Do they have a tendency to have accidents? I'm assuming she's not in the cage too long to hold it, but maybe it's something in her breed? Good luck, let us know how you make out!

Answer 10

she is used to the crate. you need to a small crate resembling 'box' with no bottom and place it out side every once in awhile take her outside and she'll hopefully go into the box to go to the bathroom once she gets used to the idea of going outside remove the box and your problem will be solved

Answer 11

u should put your dog on a shedual for eating ... i put my puppies on one and they dont mess in theyre crates at night. 3 x daily and put the food and water up after supper that is a start other then that im not sure sounds to me like maybe shes got a little attitude.