New dog peed in his crate. Is it because the crate is too big?

First I would make sure that Titan's crate is not too large - it should be big enough for him to stand up and turn around but not much larger. You may need to put a barrier in to make it smaller if it is too large. If it seems like it is an appropriate size you may want to have your vet examine him and make sure he doesn't have signs of a urinary tract infection. If there is no medical reason for this behavior you may need to try taking him outside on a schedule at night to hopefully prevent accidents in the crate.

So a crate should be big enough for them to stand up and turn around. It is usually a pretty tight turn but they can still turn around in it. If she can't turn around at all then yes, you need to get a bigger crate. If you are just worried she won't be comfortable then you can go up in size. Just keep in mind that in order to crate train a dog you don't want the crate to be too big. If it is too big, they will be tempted to pee/poop on one side and sleep on the other size. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for your questions. You mentioned blood work but do make sure her urine was checked for any abnormalities. Here are two links which may be helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-crate-train-your-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-choose-a-wire-kennel-or-plastic-crate-for-your-dog/ Also, make sure she is getting to opportunity to potty every 3-4 hours for now. As she shows she can hold it, gradually increase the time you ask her to hold it. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This is a very common problem with puppies :) It sounds like the pen he is in is probably too large - it gives him too much space to work with, and makes it easy for him to wake up and find a spot to pee, rather than either holding it or whining to let you know he needs to go out. Instead of the pen, I would recommend having him sleep in a crate in your bedroom at night. Most puppies instinctively do not want to pee where they are sleeping, so in most cases this means that the pup will whine to wake you up if he needs to go out during the night. As he gets older and his bladder control improves, he should start to be able to hold it all night with no problems.

It seems she might need a small kennel. There should only be enough room for her to stand up and turn a complete circle. Any other room then they tend to soil in one area and lay in another so they do not get dirty. Puppies tend to get distracted easily and may find playing and exploring outside more important than going to the bathroom. I would start taking her out on leash and staying close by you reward her with treats as she goes in the correct place.

Since it sounds like this is a recent behavior change for Luca, I would be concerned that he may have a medical problem of some kind causing him to have trouble controlling his bowel movements - so the first step would be to have him checked by a vet. He/she can do a fecal exam as well as other testing if needed to check for any problems. If his exam and lab work is all normal, then it may take a bit more detective work to figure out what is causing this behavior. If it only happens when you're not home, then I would be very suspicious that he may have separation anxiety - this is a very common cause of accidents in the crate when owners are not home. You can try videotaping him one day while you go out if you want to know for sure if this is the problem. If so, he may need prescription anti-anxiety medication to help keep him from becoming so upset - this would be something to discuss with your vet if you suspect that this may be the issue.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The increased urination you describe could be due to a urinary tract infection, urinary stones, metabolic condition, a tumor, among other possibilities. I agree with you that if this is something relatively new, it may be due to a medical reason. I recommend that you have Opie evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Further diagnostics would include abdominal imaging and lab work. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day!