If you are reading this then you are a working pet parent. Otherwise, have would not leave your dog alone at home in the crate for a while.
Firstly, the process of prevention of crate soiling can be achieved in one of the two ways. Those two ways are either take him out of the crate for potty/pee breaks or providing one inside his crate.
Crate soiling is different than that of having a potty/pee spot inside the crate. When a dog does his business anywhere inside the crate, it is called as crate soiling. On the other hand, dog urinating/defecating on the litter area inside the crate is not crate soiling.
You will not need a litter box when the crate has a grated grill floor and sliding tray beneath like the one shown in the image below.
Crate soiling means when a dog accidentally or intentionally urinates/defecate the crate where he would sleep. Generally, dogs do not like to excrete or urinate where they eat or sleep, but due to elongated crate periods and no breaks compel them to do so.
After a few times, such dogs will not feel bad for soiling their crate or even your home. Probably a dog will spoil the place where he will be most comfortable i.e. a sofa, carpet, doormat, or even on or under your bed.
Why Crate Train a Dog for Potty Training?
Normally, most of the pet parents have this question prior to trying crate training. Moreover, people feel using a crate is cruel and even expecting a dog to potty train via a crate is even worse.
However, crate training is not cruel and when you take your little champion out for frequent pee/potty breaks then nothing is cruel.
Now, using a crate to teach the dog to control his pee or poop while inside the crate is an effective option. Remember, because dogs don’t like to soil their living and eating place.
Thus, all the dogs signal their masters if want to get outside the crate for pee/potty breaks. Generally, a dog will whine along with scratching the floor. Then you shall not delay any further taking him out immediately. Because, if once a dog gets accustomed to the accident inside his crate then he will start soiling the whole house.
So, you take your pooch out to urinate or defecate according to his signal communication while you are around, which is an easy task. But after you are gone locking him in his crate, the circumstances change and solution too as described below.
Check out this Amazing DIY Dog Crate!
What if You’re Out and Cannot Take Your Dog for Pee/Potty Breaks?
If you are a working pet parent or even have to leave your pet inside the crate for more than 1 to 2 hours then we recommend you to arrange a litter space inside the crate. Look for the options below:
A potty/pee spot inside a crate is when the crate is huge enough to accommodate a litter box and a bed within the crate (similar to the image below).
This provision is fairly possible when you have a double door metal dog crate or a large plastic dog crate. Additionally, a divider inside the dog crate can provide the separation between the dog’s bedroom and bathroom inside the crate.
Only the difference here is this divider has an opening allowing a dog to pass to his bathroom and come back to his bedroom. (see the image below)
There is one best option to facilitate a Fido with utmost hygienic crates yet having a litter spot near-by. That is using a large enclosure i.e. attaching a crate with the kennel pen.
Using carabiners you can attach the crate in substitution of one side of that exercise kennel pen(Image below). Thus, you can put a litter box or mat in the farthest corner of the exercise pen. And a crate always available when a dog needs a more secure area.
How to Crate Train a Dog for Potty Training & Stop Crate Soiling
Here are some easy option and procedures, firstly do not expect a young puppy to abide by these rules. Start potty training after that period when a puppy grows older than 12 to 15 weeks. Because only after that age, he will be able to hold and find a suitable place to urinate or defecate.
Case I: While you are around your pooch
- After eating and drinking a dog will have an urge to urinate and defecate. Thus, take him for pee breaks every hour or two. And potty breaks a bit after feeding or on his call.
- Take him to the same spot every time. It will inculcate a habit of using that place instead of home to do his daily business.
- Remember, the first thing in the morning and the last thing before the night will be his time to potty/pee. After that, you can easily sleep at night and without any disappointment in the morning.
Case II: While you are not at home/He is inside his crate(Use a dog crate with the potty area)
- Use a double door crate, where a small area will be his bed and other will his potty area.
- Use a divider with an opening allowing him to pass on either side i.e. from his bed to his litter space and vice versa. Select a dog crate with a divider for potty.
- Combining an exercise pen with a crate, put the litter box or matt at a corner away from the crate.
- Use a dog crate with grated grill floor and a tray beneath that.
The EndNote
Some dogs are stubborn and some are obedient, they require more training and mild training respectively. Therefore, give a dog enough time to learn to do his business at an appropriate place.
At petlovesbest.com, we consistent and patient while training him to do so, your anger does not help him in this situation. Never punish him for his accidents, try to inculcate the good habits with rewarding treats.
Let’s spread the dog love, shall we?
- Check out How to make a Soundproof Dog Crate!