Potty Training for Kennel

[wbutler1954]

I need help. My 9 month old tan shepard urinate in the kennel at night even if I take him out before bedtime around 10pm. I know he can hold it, but he doesn't mind sleeping in his urine. He goes in the morning when I take him out around 4am. I give him treats and praise when he goes outside, so I'm not sure what I can do short of taking him out in the middle of the night.

HELP

[Lauren]

I know how frustrating that can be!

Are you sure that he really can hold his urine and is not incontinent? Has he done this all along or has this just started? If the vet says he is healthy I would start by cleaning his kennel (is it a crate? or a big kennel?) and bedding with vinegar (it gets rid of all of the urine smells that might trigger him to think it is ok to pee there.) Remove his water by 8:00 pm

Then for a while at least I would get up in the middle of the night and make him go out. NO playing, NO fun, just out on the leash and right back in after he goes. We try not to even turn on the lights.

If he is dry in the morning, then I would keep doing that and go to let him out a little later every few nights. Before you know it, you may be able to make all the way through the night...

Good Luck!!!

[CaroleBoaz]

My dogs are older, but one really needs to go out and potty at 4 am. And I know that he isn't playing tricks on me. He wakes me, potties, and we go right back to bed. It's annoying, but when you have to go...

[wbutler1954]

He has had to go frequently since he was a young pup from when I got him at about 8 weeks. The Vet said that its not a health issue that he should be able to hold it when he reaches 7 to 8 months. I have a plastic kennel that is not overly large. It does have enough room for him to stand and to be fed. I use a urine eliminator every time I clean his kennel. I have been trying to catch him when he goes in the kennel so that I can let him know that I am not please; but I get no warning signs. I hope at some point that he will no longer want to soil his kennel.

Thanks for the tips. I will try getting up at around 2am and taking him out. I will also continue to praise him with treats when he goes outside instead of his kennel.

[Christie M]

Is he still intact? Or has he been neutered?

I disagree with your vet that he will suddenly be able to hold it as he gets older. Some dogs care, Some dogs don't. But often its conditioning (being left in too long....not blaming you though) or a physical reason that causes them to have issues.

One other option could be anxiety in the crate or just being awake when he should be sleeping. Other things I would add to you protocol is to try to access his activities at night (via recorder maybe). Exercise the CRAP out of him (LOL) before bed and make sure he has a high value interactive toy to work with when he goes in the crate.

Then yeah, I agree with setting an alarm. Get up before he does at first. Outside. Eliminate. Bed. No rewards at that time. If that is successful for a week or so, then set the alarm 5 minutes later each night (or every other or every couple, depending on him) and see if you can wean him off of it.

[Dutchringgirl]

by 9 months he should be good. At 4 months Sadie could go all night. Maybe its the guy thing??