- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Your reliable, potty-trained dog just pooped in their crate. Now what?
While accidents happen, and it’s normal for young puppies to have slip-ups during potty training, it can be concerning if a house-trained adult dog suddenly starts pooping in their crate. But don’t worry—there’s likely a good reason it happened, and a little problem-solving can get to the bottom of it.
We spoke with Dr. Antje Joslin, a veterinarian consultant at Dogtopia, to discuss why dogs poop in their crate, when to be concerned, and how to address the problem.
Reasons Dogs Might Poop in the Crate
From medical to behavioral issues, there are a myriad of reasons why an adult dog might suddenly start pooping in their crate. Paying close attention to your dog’s body language, habits, and health history can help you figure out what’s going on.
Medical issues
If your dog suddenly starts defecating in their crate, it’s always a good idea to rule out any medical issues first. Certain health conditions could cause your normally potty-trained adult dog to start having accidents, as Dr. Joslin points out.
“Dogs experiencing medical issues can have breaks in house-training,” she says. “Gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, bladder illness, metabolic disease, certain medications, or cognitive decline can cause accidents.”
Age
Your dog also might just be getting older. As much as they stay forever puppies in our hearts, our dogs’ behavior and bathroom habits change as they enter their golden years.
“Senior dogs can have a more challenging time holding their stool for extended periods as they age,” says Dr. Joslin. “Some senior dogs may also experience cognitive, physical, or medical problems that may reduce their ability to control their bowel movements.”
Anxiety
Dogs with separation anxiety may have a difficult time controlling their bowels and poop in their crate from the stress of being alone. Others might also have confinement issues and find the crate worsens their anxiety, causing them to feel trapped and even more stressed. If you think your dog pooped in their crate because of separation anxiety, look for other signs of stress, like destructive chewing, pacing, and excessive vocalization.
Environmental stress
If something seriously spooks your dog while they’re in their crate, it can cause them to lose control of their bowels. “Loud noises such as fireworks, thunderstorms, or home repairs can cause stress that may cause accidents in the house or crate,” explains Dr. Joslin.
Adjustment issues
Just like humans, dogs can be sensitive to life changes, like moving to a new home or adjusting to a new schedule. “Changes in eating, drinking, and potty schedules can lead to accidents in the crate,” adds Dr. Joslin.
To help, try not to leave your dog alone for too long during this new adjustment period. Hiring a pet sitter or dog walker to pop in and let them out can also help prevent accidents.
Timing
Even the most reliable dogs have their limits. If your pup seemingly starts having accidents, reexamine how long you left them between potty breaks. Consider also when you let your dog outside before putting them in the crate.
“Make sure to give your dog ample time to potty after feeding and before leaving them in their crate for an extended period,” advises Dr. Joslin.
Training Issues
If you just adopted an adult dog, it might be worth revisiting whether or not more potty training is needed. If your dog didn’t have the proper training as a puppy, learning might take them a bit more time than you originally thought. Working with a professional trainer can help get you back on track.
Photoboyko via iStock
When To Talk to a Vet
If your adult dog is having regular accidents in their crate and there isn’t a clear-cut explanation why, it’s a good idea to check in with your vet.
“The difference between medical or behavioral issues can sometimes be hard to discern, and sometimes both can play a role in lapses in house training. Either way, if your dog is showing consistent changes in house training, a visit to the veterinarian is in order,” advises Dr. Joslin.
Some signs that might indicate a medical issue include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, frequent urination, blood in stool or urine, crying when peeing or pooping, and having accidents while sleeping.
How a vet can help
A vet will likely give your dog an exam to rule out any medical-related or age-related issues that could be causing the accidents. They may also evaluate your dog’s diet and suggest a different food or feeding schedule, as well as look for any signs of behavioral issues. If they suspect that anxiety or stress may be playing a role in your dog’s behavior, they might suggest a treatment plan, possibly consisting of training, medication, or supplements.
How To Stop Crate Accidents
To help keep your dog from defecating in their crate, it’s essential to identify the root cause of the issue. Once you know why your dog is pooping in their crate, you can adjust their routine and address any underlying medical or behavioral concerns. Here’s what you can do.
Talk to a trainer
When addressing crate accidents, a professional dog trainer or animal behaviorist can be a valuable resource. They can help assess your dog and evaluate whether you may need to start over with crate training. They can also give you expert advice on how to rearrange your schedule or the environment if needed, like moving the crate to a quieter location or playing soothing music or a white noise machine while you’re gone.
Use management
Sometimes medical and behavioral issues can take some time to pinpoint. In the meantime, consider having your dog wear a diaper to help make accidents less messy and burdensome to clean up. Dog diapers are available in a range of sizes to ensure a secure and comfortable fit that doesn’t restrict your pet’s movement.
Try outside the crate
Does your dog only have accidents in their crate? If so, you may want to assess whether the crate itself is the issue. Observing your pet outside the crate can reveal if the accidents are linked to crate-specific anxiety and negative associations. You may also want to reexamine if the crate is the right size for your pup.
Change your dog’s schedule
If your dog seems to have accidents around the same time of day or night, it might be worth adjusting their feeding time to an earlier or later schedule. You can also add an extra potty break to see if a small tweak in their routine leads to fewer accidents.
Remove bedding
If your dog is burying poop in their crate, it might be worth temporarily removing any loose bedding. Even if this simple change doesn’t stop the behavior, it will at least make cleaning up accidents easier.
