[TigerZero615]

Hi. I have 4 dogs: Beagle/Pug mix, Beagle/Rat Terrier Mix, Lab and Lab/Stafford Mix. I currently have the Lab and the Lab/Stafford mix in crates during the day. The Lab will be 4 and the Lab mix will be 3 this year in October. Only reason the lab is in the crate still is because he is very nosey on things i.e. kitchen counters. The Lab/Stafford Mix for some reason pees outside his crate while we are not home. I'm not sure what to do. He does urinate before he goes in his crate. I understand its for 8 hours, but if we are home and he's free, there are no accidents. Can anyone suggest something or have more questions?

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by TigerZero615

Hi. I have 4 dogs: Beagle/Pug mix, Beagle/Rat Terrier Mix, Lab and Lab/Stafford Mix. I currently have the Lab and the Lab/Stafford mix in crates during the day. The Lab will be 4 and the Lab mix will be 3 this year in October. Only reason the lab is in the crate still is because he is very nosey on things i.e. kitchen counters. The Lab/Stafford Mix for some reason pees outside his crate while we are not home. I'm not sure what to do. He does urinate before he goes in his crate. I understand its for 8 hours, but if we are home and he's free, there are no accidents. Can anyone suggest something or have more questions?

All I have to say is--I feel sorry for those 2 dogs being crated (CAGED) for 8 hrs. everyday!!! I don't care what your reasons are--It just isn't right!!

And more than likely--more like 16 hrs. a day if you prob. cage them at night too!

[TigerZero615]

Let me reply to my thread. The two dogs are in crates for a max of 8 hours for 2 days, maybe 3 days a week. Otherwise my wife and I are home. They sleep in the bedroom with us at night and have no accidents. We often will leave for an hour or 2 and they are fine. It seems to only happen when my wife and I both work on the same day that it happens. This is why I can't figure out what is going on. I came to this site to for ideas and suggestions, not to have rude comments and people sending me messages about feeling sorry for the dogs, etc. So if anyone has suggestions, please let me know.

[DoggieVogue]

Hmm I wonder if it may have something to do with you leaving, and the dog feeling some separation anxiety and reacting to that. Is there anyway someone could come take him out half way through the day? Give him some love and play time? that could help. Just an idea!

[angiesample]

you need to make your dogs crate his "safe place"... u should feed him his meals in his crate, dont lock the door just put the food in there. Also put treats in the randomly... so he s always looking to see if he has gotten treats. NEVER use the crate for punishments. Put him in his crate when u are home sometimes so he doesnt associate the crate with you leaving. You could also try covering the crate to make him feel safer. Lastly i would make sure u have taken him for a walk before you put him in. It will take a while but these things will help. I use to have a horrible time with the crate and now my dog LOVES her crate. She lays in there all the time, without me even asking. Good luck!

[Todd]

I have a few questions for you.

Do the dogs act upset or resist when they are crated? This would in fct back up the separation anxiety stuff. To clarify, are all 4 dogs crated? If some aren't the ones being crated could be jelous or upset by this. I would do an experiment. Leave the dogs in the crate for only 2 hours. See if they pee inside the crate then. If not the problem is most likely they simply can't hold it for 8 hours, which is far too long to be crated in one day no matter how many time a week it occurs. The night is different. A dog drinks throughout the day and should be active, not sleeping all the time. Do you go 8 hours without using the bathroom during the day? That's probably why they go in the house also when you are gone. If they do pee then this may indicate there is another problem such as separation anxiety, general anxiety, or jelousy (something alone those lines... an emotional issue rather than a physical one). Since the dogs hold it all night though I'd say there isn't a bladder problem. Try this then update us for further advice. After figuring this out, consider dropping them off a a doggie daycare center a few days during the week when you two are gone all day.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by TigerZero615

Let me reply to my thread. The two dogs are in crates for a max of 8 hours for 2 days, maybe 3 days a week. Otherwise my wife and I are home. They sleep in the bedroom with us at night and have no accidents. We often will leave for an hour or 2 and they are fine. It seems to only happen when my wife and I both work on the same day that it happens. This is why I can't figure out what is going on. I came to this site to for ideas and suggestions, not to have rude comments and people sending me messages about feeling sorry for the dogs, etc. So if anyone has suggestions, please let me know.

Sorry to come on so strong---I feel more for dogs than I do humans to start with. Glad to hear that my suspicions aren't as bad as I thought. You left out some of the info so I had to try and read between the lines. I have never liked dogs being crated to start with--But thanks to conversations with Yogi about them--I can see that some dogs like them but I still don't agree with prolonged confinement! Another thing that 'set me off'---My Corky is dying right now of heart failure/dilated cardiomyopathy and I have been wishing I could of spent more time with him over the years--paying more attention to him. When I saw your post, I immediately thought the poor dogs needed more attention and should be acknowledged while they are still alive and well. Sorry! But still think 8 hrs in a crate is too long during the day! Well at least it isn't every day as I was 1st thinking. I hope you can resolve the problems that are making you crate the 2 dogs while you are gone.
After reading your 2nd post--I was thinking like some of the other members who replied that it sounds something on the order of separation anxiety.