what if I build a raised floor in the crate?

Question

My puppy is in his crate longer than he can hold it and unfortuantely I cannot let him out to avoid it.
The crate is not too big so that's not the problem.
Here are my options, which is best:

1.Just let him go in his crate until he can hold it and he will stop eventually.
2. take out the current divider and put a pee pee pad on the other side but will that habit carry on to the night and he will do that at night too? Currently he won't pee or poop in his kennel only during the day when we are gone.
3. install a raised floor so that if he does pee it will go to the bottom of the kennel and he wont lay in it?

He's very small 3.5lbs rite now so his pee is about a tablespoon at the moment.
He does not go in his kennel at night or when we are home.

Answer 1

Why did you get a puppy if you could not commit the time to take care of his basic needs? If you continue to crate him day in day out you will have more to worry about than housebreaking as he grows up.

Answer 2

Crate training, if you will be using it for the rest of his life, should definitely include NOT encouraging peeing or defacating in the cage, because as he gets bigger it will be more and more of a mess. If you cannot avoid it happening now, what if you could have a trusted friend come and take him out once during the day? In addition, don't facilitate getting the pee and poop out of his way, as with a bigger crate or raised floor. It is instinctual for animals not to pee and poop in their bedding areas, although puppies have not yet gained full bowel and bladder control and so it is not surprising he cannot yet hold it. Don't make it easier for him to get away from his mess while in the crate. If you absolutely cannot get home to take him out, what about leaving him in a room where there is linoleum flooring? That way he will not be getting used to messing in his crate, but have separate places for a pee pad and a bed. With this, too, I would worry about him getting in the habit of making a mess in the house. As he gets older I can promise his ability to "hold it" will increase. As he grows he will probably make a mess in the crate less, but you don't want to get him conditioned to making a mess in the crate, because dogs are able to overcome the instinctual part of it, and their messes can make it difficult for the owner, having to bathe the dog practically every day. In the interim, try to take him out as often as possible, and maybe a friend could do it at least once during the day too. Try to get him on a steady schedule too. As in waking up and eating and going out at the same times every single day. This will help as he develops more control, and he will begin to know how long he has to hold it before you will be home. Good Luck!

Answer 3

While he's still a puppy, just put down some shredded newspaper to absorb the poop and pee. He's a puppy so it's really hard for him to hold it until he's older. He will eventually be able to hold it longer and won't go in his kennel. Dogs normally do not want to go in their kennel. They like to be clean.

Answer 4

With no doubt, you absolutely need an extra person to let your pup outside to eliminate. Beware of using the crate improperly!

I used the crate as well. I had my apartment manager let my 8 wk old outside every two hours. When the pup was 12 wks, the manager came every three hours. When the pup was 16 wks, the manager came every 4 hours (so she only came once a day because I was gone at work for an 8 workday). It worked wonders for me.

Answer 5

Well it sounds like you answered your own question the raised floor is a good idea but since he is so small a puppy pad would probable work just as well.

Answer 6

If he can hold his poos then I would go with (1) I would line the crate floor with newspaper so if she does have a accident and she does step in it atleast its absorbed and not a puddle.