pees in cage now!

[baileysdad]

all of a sudden, just when we thought he was getting it right, bailey will pee in his cage (if we put him there) after being left loose in the house with us for a while. he's done this maybe 2, 3 nights in a row - always in the same manner. is this his way of making sure he gets out of his cage? as soon as we realize what he's done.... we do get him out and clean him, then clean his mess.

[JemarsSerena]

How big is Bailey, and how big is the crate? How often do you go out? Things we need to know to help.

[baileysdad]

bailey is almost 5 months old and the metal cage is big enough for an adult rotty. the cage is split for the moment so that he doesn't do his business in there and so far it has been working well. its only a few times now, at night, specially when i'm home, he wants out - so peeing in there is his way of getting what he wants as we have to remove him from the crate to clean up his mess.... ????

[SABELLESMOM]

While Rottweilers are very smart, believe me none of them has the capacity to figure out several steps to such a complex conclusion.

Are you taking him out before crating? Is he using the opportunity to relieve himself? One suggestion would be to take him for a late night walk before crating for the night.

Another would be to check the size of the crate. If it's larger than he can comfortably turn around to lie down, it's too big. You can purchase crate barriers to make the area smaller.

And how old is this guy? People sometimes think small pupppies should be "trained" much faster than physically possible for them.

As the human in his life, I'm sure you realise, it requires constant vigilance...looking for when the pup becomes "uncomfortable," or "looking for a spot." Very young pups need to be toileted every 2-3 hours, and especially about an hour after meals (1/2h at 8-9 wks, yet). Older pups, may need a vet check for a urine infection.

Some people tie a bell to the back door. Each time as you take the pup out have him touch the bell with his nose or paw. Bell ring = door opens. That way he can ask to go out. I have 3 dogs. Unfortunately no one uses the bell method, but they each have their own way of asking to go out. Maybe he'll catch on to the bell, or maybe he'll just sit at the back door, or maybe he'll come and get you, who knows?

[baileysdad]

well, it happened last night and this is how it went down....

my wife was at home with the dog all day. i got home around 9pm after work and as usual he's always excited to see me. about 10 minutes before i got home, my wife had taken him for a walk, did his business, both #1 and #2. when i got home, he was loose in the house, hanging around the kitchen where we were. like i said, he was happy to see me and stayed as close to me as he could. about 1/2 hour later (9:30pm), i decided to walk over the neighboor's house and have a beer. my wife crated him so she can get her work done. thats when he pee'd in his cage. he's done it a few of times now - always under the same circumstances: he's loose in the house, i'm home, he goes outside to do his thing, we bring him back in, put him in his cage and then pees. so far. he'll only do it when i'm home - if my wife is there alone, kids or no kids, he'll behave!

[SABELLESMOM]

Well if he has to pee within forty minutes then he's not emptying his bladder. In which case, I'd be suspicious of a urinary tract infection.

Another question, well two: 1) What are you using to clean the crate tray? You need to use something that totally eliminates the smell of urine. 2) Is he neutered? This could be the period where marking becomes an issue, tho I'd have to defer to someone more knowlegable on the subject.

Why not, since you are home and he obviously adores you, do something with him yourself? Say during the time your wife wants to get her work done. You could work outside on some light training. I realise it's dark, but another walk perhaps? Ball toss?

[baileysdad]

dont think its an infection, he's been to the vet recently, and like i said earlier, this only happens at the same time, same situation every night!

i clean the tray with soap and water, and then wipe it with a pet odour spray (house breaking stuff) to make sure there is no smell.

[giglz15]

My Rottie Duke did the same thing. He did it to get out of his crate. As soon as I gave up on crate training him he only had like 2 accidents in the house after that one of was my fault. And right now he is sleeping in his crate by his own choice. Melonie

Also when my husband is home and crates Duke he is fine. But as soon as I come home he is howling crying digging anything to get out. Maybe he just loves you and has learned that peeing in his crate gets him out even if its for a short time. Id make Duke sit in his pee. Not for a long time but long enough for him to be like man this sucks. I also took out anything that would soak up the pee. So that when he peed he had to step in it.

[baileysdad]

Originally Posted by giglz15

My Rottie Duke did the same thing. He did it to get out of his crate. As soon as I gave up on crate training him he only had like 2 accidents in the house after that one of was my fault. And right now he is sleeping in his crate by his own choice. Melonie

Also when my husband is home and crates Duke he is fine. But as soon as I come home he is howling crying digging anything to get out. Maybe he just loves you and has learned that peeing in his crate gets him out even if its for a short time. Id make Duke sit in his pee. Not for a long time but long enough for him to be like man this sucks. I also took out anything that would soak up the pee. So that when he peed he had to step in it.

exactly what goes on.... when i'm home - i know it sounds weird, but i'm almost sure he does this purposly to get out and come see me!

[Anne]

At not yet 5 months of age he's only a young puppy. I doubt he would have been desexed at this young age.(can't remember who asked if he was)

How long is he kept in the crate during the day when your wife is home with him? Can you not leave him out of the crate and spend time with him whilst your wife does her work when you come home?

I would make sure to take him outside to empty out before crating him.

A trip to the vet won't rule out a urinary tract infection unless a sample of his urine has been tested.

[SABELLESMOM]

Originally Posted by baileysdad

exactly what goes on.... when i'm home - i know it sounds weird, but i'm almost sure he does this purposly to get out and come see me!

Dogs are not devious, however, as was suggested before, you could take him and do something with him when you get home. He loves you and wants to be with you.

[giglz15]

Well I never even should of thought of Duke peeing in his kennel.....

Duke has recently been released from his kennel rest. Yesterday I was home all day so he was out all day in the house with the other dogs. He played a lot but mostly stayed laying down. Anyways all the playing made him seem a little stiff in his back end. So I let them all out at 11pm for the last potty of the night. They were all out about 10 mins. They all came in, but I made Duke sleep in his kennel. When I told him to kennel he looked at me then at the bedroom door came a few steps looked at the bedroom door came a few steps more. He went in but was rather upset about it. My husband stayed up late playing some stupid computer game. He said he let Duke out at 3:45 am because he was whinning in the kennel. He brought Duke back in and was in bed by 4:00 am. At exactly 4:02 am Duke howled. Now I knew exactly what he did. He has a I peed in my kennel howl. Like OMG this is soo gross let me OUT!!!!! Well I got up and checked and sure enough he had peed. I took out his blanket and all that was left was a little pee. Well I had to get up at 5:00am so I decided to make him stay in it. It was only 45 mins. And man was he mad that he didn't get out of his kennel like he wanted. I did clean it this am and put him right back in after it was dry. But anyways I know he did it because I made him sleep in his kennel after a week of sleeping back in the bedroom. Melonie