3mo old English Bulldog peeing in the crate

DieselsMama · 02-18-2010

Hi! I have a 3 month old English Bulldog male that wants to continue to pee in his crate everyday. I have had him now for 3 weeks and it is has been every day. It does not matter if he is in there for 30 minutes or 3 hours. The crate is only big enough for him to stand and turn around. So, he is lying in his pee. I was under the impression that they would not go to the bathroom where they sleep? Odviously that theory has been blown out of the water. LOL

Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated. Hubby is tired of bathing him every day and his poor skin is getting dried out from getting a bath every day. LOL

Yogi · 02-18-2010

The concept of not sleeping where they pee pertains to an inherited trait linked to wolves. In most cases this is true as the was the issue in the den. A crate suffices as the den to most dogs thus most will not go in their crates. Keeping in mind that a dam will continuously keep the den clean by eating feces from her pups. Not all dogs carry inherited traits therefore have to be trained. You did not note how often the dog is in the crate. Also, does the dog have access to water all day long?
There are things you can do to help curb this but keep in mind, this is still a puppy and therefore is still learning. Even in this breed the length of time in a crate with expectations of holding it is limited at best. As the dogs bladder develops so will the time it will be able to hold it.
You may start with a serious cleaning of the crate to eliminate any residual urine odor then replace bedding. Remove the water at least an hour or so before crating. Take the dog out for a good run in the yard. By doing this it increases the metabolism which increases the need to to go.
Good luck.

DieselsMama · 02-18-2010

Thank you... Sometimes he is in the crate for 30 minutes while I go outside into the hottub (he can not go as I live in Erie, PA where it is cold and snow covered..) 2 hours while I go to the store or 6 hours while hubby and I are working. It doesnt seem to matter whether it is 30 minutes or 6 hours. We clean the crate everyday with a "doggie enzyme" distroyer. With him being a puppy, he only has access to limited amounts of water with breakfast and dinner. Do you think he will "grow" out of this stage?

Yogi · 02-18-2010

On the whole they generally do. Try feeding him in the crate and closing it while he is in there. Make the crate a place where he wants to be more than where he has to go. This may start to curb this.

DieselsMama · 02-18-2010

Maybe a bit of anxiety? What about a bigger crate?

Todd · 02-18-2010

Yes, it is fairly unusual for a dog to willingly relieve his or her self where they sleep. I agree with what Yogi said about monitoring the amount of water he or she drinks, for dog's bladders are only so strong. Also, just like Yogi said, be sure to completely wash out the crate and use a scent neutralizer designed specifically for dogs to spray the area with. Often time merely scrubbing the area with soap and water isn't quite enough to completely eliminate the smell. Remember, dog has noses thousands of times stronger than our own. Have you had him/her checked for a Urinary Tract Infection or some sort of bladder infection otherwise? Also, has he been fixed? Although more common in females, both males and females can suffer from Urinary Inconsonance as a result of being fixed.

Yogi · 02-18-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselsMama

Maybe a bit of anxiety? What about a bigger crate?

At this point you want to avoid a bigger crate. For the same reason, if they have room they will definitely see this as a place to go. Anxiety could be an issue. Try putting something that has your scent on the crate when he is in there. This sometimes will give the dog the sense that you are still there.
Also as Todd mentioned, though rare in males and in puppies. UTI's as well as incontinence issues should be checked. It never hurts to rule this out.

Lara's mom · 02-20-2010

I have three dogs and attempted to crate train every one of them. So far, I'm 0 for 3. I finally just admitted defeat every time and packed the dratted thing up and returned it to my locker. Things got better as soon as the crate disappeared. I'm going to sell the useless thing at our buildings next garage sale. That crate is cursed!!!

Todd · 02-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I have three dogs and attempted to crate train every one of them. So far, I'm 0 for 3. I finally just admitted defeat every time and packed the dratted thing up and returned it to my locker. Things got better as soon as the crate disappeared. I'm going to sell the useless thing at our buildings next garage sale. That crate is cursed!!!

could it be because you never fully eliminated the urine scent from the crate? If they smell another dogs urine or their own they will be tempted to mark that spot, male or female. scrubbing with soap and water is often not enough for dogs have noses thousands of time stronger than humans. you should try an oder eliminator/scent neutralizer designed specifically for dogs. have you tried that? it might just do the trick.

Lara's mom · 02-20-2010

Peeing in the crate wasn't the problem. It was the never ending screaming bloody murder whenever I put them in the lousy thing! Had you been standing outside my door, you would have sworn that a dog was being tortured unmercifully. This happened with all three of them. I did everything to make that stupid crate a nice place - toys, blankets, treats, toys...The moment they understood that they were going into the crate, it was a "fight almost to the death" to get them in there.

Then, each and every one of them would scream bloody murder for well over an hour until I became afraid that someone would figure a dog was being abused and call animal services on me. So, I'd let them out. The second they were out of that cursed crate, each and every one of them became perfect angels...Sometimes, you have to realise that you've lost the war...I will be happy to see the last of that miserable crate!!!

Lunareclipse · 02-23-2010

I have the opposite problem. Both Buster and Luna want to sleep in the same crate. I got biggest available and they look rather silly all crammed into it, but that's what they do. Ryan's mom came over for a visit and she thought I was being cruel sticking them both in one crate until I explained to her that they won't sllep by themselves and prefer to cram themselves on top of each other. They even do that when they are not in the crate.

englishbulldogs · 06-07-2010

The puppy will be OK in your kitchen but be prepared for accidents. An 8-10 week old dog is still very young and very likely hasn't gotten the hang of house training yet. It would be best if someone came in during the day to let the dog out, but I know this isn't always possible.

reeskujo · 06-09-2010

I'm very lucky with Seigi...He's never had an accident in his crate...Now even though he's only 13 weeks I no longer have to close him in at night...

I leave his crate door open and he goes in it on his own when he's ready to sleep in there and goes back and firth between there and the kitchen floor...

I stop his water about 2hrs before we go to bed and he goes potty about an hour before I go to bed...

We've pretty much got tthe potty training down..Now with my husky Nina crate training was a nightmare...She would not only pee in it but would bark and howl all night...I covered her crate and that stopped the noise factor but she still peed...Finally we blocked her off in the kitchen with some potty pada and how do go with that..

My Akita Kujo we rescued from animal control and once we brought him home he would never go in a crate again...he would literally bang his head against the crate until you let him out...It was the same way at the groomers...I guess it made him feel like he was back at the shelter...

I guess some dogs it works for others it doesn't.

Yogi · 06-10-2010

I know for me, I start crate training at around 6 weeks. The new ones are now 9 weeks old and have been crated at night for the past 2 1/2 weeks and no accidents. Knock on wood...

liftnlaw · 07-12-2010

I am having the same problem you had when your bulldog puppy was 3 months old. Mine actually prefers to pee in her crate, despite numerous cleanings with all the right stuff, and the fact that she is in the right size crate. She will even come in after going out to the bathroom, and still pee in her crate. Cute as can be...but a little frustating on this aspect of her personality. Any suggestions?