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My puppy holds pee in crate for 6 hours, then pees inside. Is it bad?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | 3 months and 20 days old | 7 lbs

My puppy is not potty trained i am trying to train her but she doesn't work with me, I bought her a crate to put her in while im at school. Yesterday was my first day on leaving her in there i left for about 6 hours came back and didnt see no pee or poop on the pad in her crate, i let her out of the crate and peed all over the floor it was like a puddle of pee & she pooped. Was she holding it in the whole time? If so is it bad for her to do that?Should i still put her in the crate while gone?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 27th, 2017

It does sound like Bella was holding it in the whole time, and six hours is too long to leave a three month old puppy without a potty break. She needs to be let out to go potty at least once every three hours. You can still put her in the crate while you are gone, but I would come back if you can every three hours to let her out, or you can hire someone to let her out every three hours. As she grows, she won't need to be let out every three hours, and by the time she is six months old, she could hold it for up to six hours, so having someone come by is only a short term thing. Crate training is an effective way to potty train a dog, and I do recommend it. I will give you my method for potty training Bella when you are home with her:

Start by keeping your puppy on a regular feeding schedule, and taking away her food between meals. Take her out to potty first thing every morning, and once every 30 minutes to an hour. Always make sure she goes out after meals, first thing when she wakes up from a nap, last thing before bedtime at night, and right before you leave the house. Take her to the same spot each time to go potty. Her scent there will encourage her to go. Stay with her outside each time she goes to potty, at least until she is fully house trained. When she goes outside, praise her and give her a treat.

I hope this all helps :-)
Vote Icon8Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By David Darvishian

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 12th, 2017

    Hi and thanks for using PetCoach! Sorry to hear about Bella. I would advise taking her to your veterinarian to make sure that she doesn't have a low-grade urinary tract infection. If a urinary problem gets ruled out, then I would start her house training all over again.

    Please refer to this link for some good tips- https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-tips-to-potty-train-your-dog-young-and-old/

    Basically, it's all about consistency and knowing when the time is right to take the puppy outside. Young puppies will take some time to train. They need time to mature and understand what you are expecting of them. So, here are the times to focus on and please understand they will have accidents during the training program.

    Take them out when they wake up from a nap or long sleep,

    Right after playing or during playing when they lose focus and start wandering around looking for somewhere to go,

    Right after they eat or drink,

    or whenever they appear to be searching for a bathroom spot.

    If they do NOT go to the bathroom outside bring them back inside and place them in their crate with a toy or something to occupy them. Try to take them out again in 15 minutes or so. If they are not crate trained, keep them on a leash right by your side so they cannot wander away and eliminate in the house.

    Take them out to the same spot in the yard each time. Do Not Play with them during these times, this will only confuse them. Take them out to potty and nothing else at these times. Play times should be separate from these times. Reward them verbally and sometimes with food when they eliminate outside in the designated area. Always leave one or two bowel movements in the area so they get used to going in the designated area. Use the same door each time when going out to potty. It's all about consistency in the beginning.
    If they have an accident in the house, scoop them up and get them outside, Do Not Make a Big Deal out of it even though it's trying your nerves. Never allow the puppy to witness you cleaning up the mess either. Try to do it when they are not looking.

    This process takes consistency and repetition. In my experience, bully breeds are some of the easiest to train because they are so willing to please their owners.

    Also, I would advise not sleeping with Bella right now. I would crate train her if untrained and make her sleep in her crate. Keeping the crate in the bedroom will help with any separation anxiety.

    Good luck with Bella. Remember consistency, repetition and positive rewards.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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