Does your puppy keep having potty accidents inside the crate? Many Dalla’s dog owner’s can find it challenging to prevent accidents, especially when you are not always there to let your puppy out. Fortunately, you can help with crate training by feeding your puppy in the crate and maintaining a consistent routine. Let’s first discuss how mealtimes can be used as a training tool to build positive associations with spending time in the crate.
Building Positive Associations with the Crate
Mealtime is one of a puppy’s favorite parts of the day, so why not use it to your advantage? Teaching your puppy that this enjoyable experience happens when they spend time in the crate helps create a positive association. By having regular meals in the crate, they will learn to view time in the crate as a rewarding experience, rather than as a punishment.
To help build a positive association with the crate and lower your puppy’s stress, you can give your puppy a stuffed Kong in the crate before you leave home. This enrichment activity will keep them occupied when you are unable to spend quality time with your puppy. For a Kong recipe idea, you can check out our blog on ‘How to prepare kongs like a trainer”.
Reducing Potty Accidents
It’s not uncommon for puppies who are struggling with crate training to have accidents in their crate. But how can we discourage this behavior? Feeding your puppy from the crate floor encourages your puppy to keep the crate clean. After all, puppies don’t want to go potty in the same place that they eat. Just remember to remove all their bedding before scattering the kibble on the floor of the crate.
It’s important to note that many potty training accidents can be reduced by keeping your puppy on a consistent food and water schedule.
Maintaining a Consistent Food and Water Schedule
You may have noticed that your puppy needs to go potty shortly after their meal or after drinking. This is because eating stimulates the bowels, so puppies need to go for a potty break soon after drinking or eating.
A puppy shouldn’t need to go potty for as many hours as their age in months, plus one hour. For example, your 5-month-old puppy should be able to hold out for 6 hours during the day. So it’s important to be mindful of how late you feed your puppy, or be prepared to take them out potty later in the night.
Medical Issues Can Cause Accidents
Has your puppy suddenly started having accidents in the crate, even though they weren’t before? Even when they didn’t before. It may be because of a medical issue such as a Urinary Tract Infection or Giardia. If you have made training adjustments and aren’t seeing an improvement, we recommend consulting with your vet to rule out any medical concerns.
We Are Here to Help
Feeding your puppy in the crate, combined with a consistent potty routine, can help support crate training. With proper training, your puppy can be comfortable and calm in the crate, allowing you to relax when your puppy needs to spend some time in the crate.
Do you have any behavioral concerns for your puppy? Or need help teaching obedience, commands, and manners? You can schedule a free consultation today with our Pet Behavior Team.
Beyond the Dog Dallas offers one-on-one in-person, virtual, and board and train programs. Co-founded by Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), our training programs use science-based methods in our training with more than 20 years of experience.
