Did you buy a crate for your little puppy? It is innovative because the crate is an excellent tool for house-training your puppy.
Pups and dogs usually don’t soil their sleeping quarters. An appropriate size crate serves as a den for your little friend where he wishes to crash after a long playful day. Moreover, the puppy learns to control his pee and poop with the help of the crate. By remaining true to its nature, your pup will avoid defecating in the crate to keep it clean and tidy.
But what if your pup starts pooping inside the crate?
Firstly, this behavior is not normal, especially if you have potty trained your puppy and he is still doing his business in the crate. Occasional accidents are no significant concern because your pup is still in the “Learning Phase.” But if pooping in the crate is becoming a norm, you need to sort things out.
Tip: Check your pup’s stool if you find the dog crate filled with poop every morning. Loose stool is a sign of illness. Consult a vet and treat your puppy to resolve the issue.
Reasons Your Pup Is Defecating In The Crate
For starters, a newly-born pup has a lot to grasp. And potty training requires time and patience. Your dog is still processing things, and punishing should be the last thing on your mind.
A puppy soiling the crate is often a sign of improper training or improper crate size. The crate you picked for your pup is quite spacious for the tiny creature. The puppy may also do ‘business’ in the crate because he spends too much time in it. Apart from these significant reasons, there is a list of logical explanations behind a pooping puppy!
So, let’s get to know why your little friend enjoys pooping in the comfort of his crate. We will also give you ideas on crate-train your puppy to prevent the problem from getting persistent.
1. Health Problems
If your pup is chronically pooping into the crate, he may suffer from health issues or bowel infections. Inflammatory bowel disorder is a chronic health situation dissembling your little fellow’s intestinal tract. The intestine cannot absorb the nutrients from food, leading to frequent defecation.
The pup may also lose control over his stool because of internal parasites such as Giardia, tapeworms, coccidia, and internal infections. All these infections and intestinal worms cause diarrhea or loose stool, making it difficult for the pup to hold it in. The tiny creature may also lose control over his bladder as a result of certain medications or due to a particular vaccine.
Colitis, pancreatitis, and eating snacks from trash or unsanitary snacks are other common reasons a pup might have lost control over his bladder.
So, if your pup was previously well-trained, then the little fellow may be suffering from an infection. Observe the poop of your puppy and consult the veterinarian to ensure everything is fine with the dog.
2. Separation Anxiety
Your cuddly little friend loves to be in your presence. So, he begins to get anxious when left alone in the crate for long hours. When you work, you want your pup to be inside the crate. But the dog will get agitated when forced to enter the crate. They will start pacing and whining inside the crate showing their uneasiness. The pup could poop inside the crate when it has an anxiety attack.
If your pup gets uneasy every time he is asked to enter the crate, then the pooping activity is more of a behavioral problem. Have an understanding behavior towards the growing pup and give him treats every time he willingly walks into the crate. If you intend to leave the dog in the crate for long hours, give him soft chew toys and a stuffed Kong. You can also place his favorite food inside the crate before leaving.
3. Potty Training
You bought a puppy home, and now it’s time to potty train it to keep the house clean. Before you start keeping your dog in the crate for an extended period, allow them to go out and empty their bladder every few hours.
Young puppies need more bathroom breaks compared to adult dogs. For instance, a pup who is two months old must go potty every two hours. So, if you want to avoid the mess in the crate, take the dog out every few hours. Take care of your pup’s needs during the night as well. Let the dog go outdoors to do his business. Proper potty training will ensure the dog does not poop inside the crate.
4. Lack Of Exercise
Are you giving your pup enough time and attention? Puppies and dogs have immense amounts of energy. And when they don’t get to utilize all that energy, they feel bored or frustrated. Proper exercise and mental stimulation are always helpful for a dog. Physical workout tires out the dog, and when left inside the crate, they are less likely to whine and poop. A tired pup will go to sleep quickly rather than pacing uncomfortably inside the crate.
Take your pup on walks and create a schedule for the little fellow. Regular playtimes and exercise routines will help you with potty training as well.
5. Unstable Feeding Schedule
How often do you feed your pup? If your pup is munching on food after every hour, he will likely poop without a schedule. However, if you establish a feeding schedule for your dog, you can predict when the bowel movement will occur.
Young puppies usually eat three times a day and eliminate waste 30 to 60 minutes after eating. So, instead of giving the pup random meals, design a feeding schedule and stick to it. Proper meal times will help you decide when the dog needs a bathroom break.
Moreover, ensure your dog defecates before putting him in the crate. If the dog does not have a post-meal bowel movement, refrain from putting food inside the crate.
6. The Size of the Crate
You want your pup to feel cozy and comfortable inside the crate. And so you bought a big spacious crate for your dog. Well, you made a big mistake!
If the crate is big enough for your pup, he will have enough space to create a “pooping corner” and a” sleeping corner.” How clever!
Choose an accommodating crate that does not give your pup extra space to create a bathroom corner. The puppy can stand and stretch inside the crate but does not have enough room to stroll and digest the food.
But since your pup will grow inside the crate, you can choose one with dividers. A container having premade separators are designed especially for puppies. So, be wise while buying a crate for your little fellow.
7. Consider Removing The Bedding
The soft, comfy bedding you provide for your dog is also a culprit if your pup misbehaves in the crate.
Pups are pretty intelligent creatures. When they have bedding and blankets to cover up their mess, they will likely poop inside the crate, especially at night. It allows them to follow their instinct of keeping their resting place clean.
If your pup is continuously soiling its crate and then covers it up with all this extra blanket, it’s time to remove the bedding. Removing the bedding for a short time is necessary to teach your puppy that soiling the crate is unacceptable. Soon the pup will realize that lying in a mess is not an ideal way of spending time in a crate.
8. Foods And Treats
What your pup eats directly impacts his pooping habits. Besides creating a feeding schedule for your little companion, consider the food and treats he is consuming. Please make sure the food and snacks are not only full of nutrients but are healthy for his stomach as well.
Foods with high fiber content often disrupt the bowel movements of the tiny pup. Particular snacks, such as peanut butter, may also not agree with the digestive system. Here you have to adopt a trivial and error technique. Take notes about how the pup reacts to the different food and treats you offer. It will help you choose the best food for your growing puppy without disturbing its pooping habits.
Don’t Encourage The “Crate Pooping” Behavior
Frequent accidents and occasional pooping in the crate might be normal puppy behavior. But as a pet owner, it is your responsibility to stop it. You can also take your dog outside to poop during multiple intervals at night to pick out the exact pooping time of the pup. Although it does mean having some sleepless nights, you need to reinforce positive potty habits in your puppy early.
By sticking to the feeding and potty break schedule, you can stop your dog from pooping inside the crate by adhering to the feeding and potty break schedule. However, if the problem continues, we have some more alternatives to help you out.
- As you potty train your pup, you can use pet diapers to avoid the stress of cleaning all the mess every morning. The diapers are also helpful in keeping the bedding clean.
- Your furry little best friend may crave companionship. Besides, keeping the dog locked up in the crave is not helpful in potty training. When you are not at home for prolonged hours, it’s best to admit your pup into Dog Daycare.
- Hire a professional dog trainer. A dog trainer knows how to train a pup properly. He will have valuable information about how to stop a dog from pooping into the crate. Moreover, professional trainers will help you identify behavioral and health issues you might overlook.
- You have heard of babysitters. Luckily, there are dog sitters as well. If sending your pup to daycare doesn’t sound appealing to you, take the services of a dog sitter. A dog sitter will look after your pup while you are not available. He will take your pet on bathroom breaks. Thus your puppy will soon learn to control poop between his bathroom break.
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