Why is my Puppy Peeing in the Crate? Here's Why and How to Stop it!

Does your puppy keep peeing in the crate and you are at a loss as to why and are ready to start pulling your hair out? You are now asking yourself, “Why is my puppy peeing in the crate?” I have been right where you are before and I know just how frustrating it is!

Stress not my friend, I am going to give you 5 reasons why your puppy is peeing in the crate. I am also going to help you put a stop to your puppy peeing in the crate! Problem solved!

A crate is like a den for your puppy. Dogs naturally don’t go potty where they sleep but sometimes they will go against their instincts and do their business where they normally wouldn’t.

Table of Contents

5 Reasons Your Puppy May be Peeing in The Crate are as Follows:

Your puppy’s crate is too big.
Your puppy has a nice, soft bed.
Your puppy just can’t hold it any longer.
Your Puppy Smells Where it Has Previously Soiled.
Your Puppy is Excited.

Reason #1: Your Puppy’s Crate is too Big.

If your puppy is pottying in the crate chances are your puppy’s crate is too big. If a puppy’s crate is too big, he will go to the opposite side he sleeps at to go potty. This isn’t a maybe or possibility… It is a given that your puppy WILL do this when their crate is too big.

Solution: Properly Size the Crate to Your Puppy.

In order to prevent your puppy from peeing on the opposite side of the crate, you need to make sure that you get the correct size crate for your puppy.
Make sure your puppy has enough room to stand up, lay down and turn around. You can measure your puppy from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail and then add 2 to 4 inches to it.

It is wise to buy a crate that your puppy will grow into. This will save you money. Be sure when you buy a bigger crate to get one that comes with a divider so that you can properly size the crate for your puppy as he grows.

Reason # 2: Your Puppy has a Nice, Soft Bed.

Another reason your puppy may be peeing in the crate is because they have a nice, comfy bed in there.

Have you ever noticed your puppy will find your rug or carpet and pee on it before he pees on the hardwood floor? This is because puppies like to potty on soft surfaces.

I know what you’re thinking but I want my puppy to be comfortable, that’s the point of a place of comfort right? Yes, you are right but hold off on the super soft and comfy bed until your puppy is potty trained and has no accidents (especially in the crate).

Solution: Use a Crate Mat.

A crate mat is soft enough to provide enough comfort for your puppy to relax, while also giving enough firmness to be less enticing to pee on.

Reason #3: Your Puppy Just Can’t Hold it Any Longer!

It is easy to lose track of time and not realize how long it has been since you’ve taken your puppy out until he uses the potty in his crate.

Also, when you are gone for long periods of time and your puppy can’t be taken out frequently he just may not be able to hold it any longer.

Solution: Take Your Puppy out More Frequently.

Be sure to take your puppy out more frequently and regularly. A puppy usually needs to pee 15-30 minutes after eating or drinking, after the have a burst of energy from playing, and after a good nap.

You can set a timer and take your pup out every 30 minutes to an hour to ‘go potty’. If your pup goes let him play a few minutes before going back in the crate. As your puppy’s bladder gets stronger, you can spread the time out in between potty breaks.

If you are going to be gone for a long time, make arrangements for someone to come in and take your puppy out or you may want to consider a doggie day care.

Reason #4: Your Puppy Smells Where it Has Previously Soiled!

If your puppy has a prior offense of pottying in the crate, be it on the crate mat or the floor of the crate, your puppy may still smell where he went and thinks that is his potty area.

Dogs have a keen sense of smell and can smell things us humans can’t. Even if you have “cleaned” and “washed” the mess and you don’t smell it doesn’t mean your puppy doesn’t.

Solution: Invest in a Cleaner Specifically for Cleaning up Urine Odors.

Instead of washing the crate mat or wiping the crate down with just any cleaner, use a detergent or cleaner that is made to get rid of urine and pet odors. These cleaners remove the smell of urine, making it undetectable to your pup that it was ever there.

Reason #5: Your Puppy is Excited!

You may notice this mostly happens when you have been gone for a while and you come home. When you get home you greet your puppy just as excited as they are. Your puppy’s tail is going 90 to nothing and then you see it… the pee begins to dribble in the crate.

What is happening is your puppy is so excited and his adrenaline is pumping. Your puppy has already been holding his pee while you were gone and it is highly likely that he has to go potty.

As a puppy his brain becomes overworked and one system begins misfiring, which is usually the bladder because it is already weak causing your puppy to pee.

Solution: Ignore your Puppy.

I know this is hard to do especially when you get home after a long day and you see your puppy is incredibly excited to see you. And to be quite honest, you are just as excited to see them.

When you show your excitement and even start talking to your puppy in a high-pitched voice, you increase their excitement and adrenaline. This increases the behavior of your dog peeing in the crate.

When you get home I want you to ignore your dog. Don’t look at him, talk to him or even acknowledge him. Go about your daily life just as if you didn’t have a puppy.

Once your puppy calms down then you can greet your puppy in a calm and mellow voice. Don’t do this in an excited voice as you will get your dog very excited again. As soon as you take you puppy out of the crate, take him potty and then he can have playtime for a little while.

This will stop your puppy from peeing when excited and it will also teach your puppy the behavior that he will not be greeted until he is calm and relaxed.

Help! My Puppy is still Peeing in the Crate…
If you find that you have tried everything I mentioned above and your puppy is still peeing in the crate, you will want to visit your vet to rule out any health problems such as anxiety, urinary tract infection, etc. If your puppy has a health problem.

Recap.

It is very stressful and frustrating when your puppy is peeing in the crate. Trust me, I know! Although a crate is like a puppy’s den, a puppy will sometimes go against their instincts and pee in the crate.

There are 5 reasons that puppy’s pee in the crate and they are as follows: