Puppy housetrained but not crate trained

[Tumbleweed4829]

I have a 4 month old rott/lab puppy. I finally got her housetrained where she rarely has an accident in the house but the crate is a whole different story. No matter how long I put her in the crate she always pees. She is not crated more than 4 hours at a time and no water is given after 7pm at night. I put her in there; left for an hour and she still went in her crate. I always let her out before putting her in her crate and she will pee at least 3 times before coming back inside. I am just getting very frustrated because I don't understand; I thought dogs don't go where they lay. Her crate is only large enough where all she can do is stand, turn around and lay down. Last night I finally thought to take the towel out of her crate and she went anyway and laid in it. Now I feel like I'm being cruel to her by not putting the towel in there. She also will now go to her blanket that I have for her outside of her crate and pee on it right after I've let her out and she went 3 times. Is it normal for a puppy to go that many times when you let them out or should I worry that something is wrong?

[moondog]

Unless a puppy has been raised sitting in their urine, they don't want to lay in it...so she very well may have a urinary tract infection, in which case she will feel an urge to pee far more often than is normal and won't be able to hold it. I'd have her checked for that....take a first-pee-in-the-morning sample to the vet with you and have them check it for infection. A soup ladle is a great way to catch a urine sample..

[lengel]

Could be vaginitis too. Definitely get a urine sample to the vet. A clean jar lid works well for collection if she is uncomfortable with you standing near her when she pees. Soup ladle is a great idea as well.