Crate

[ForChristsSake]

Does anyone use a crate at night? I've a 12 year old and 11 year old dog. Two kids also. Since my first child came along 6 years ago the second dog keeps weeing and pooing in the house. We used and old fireguard to block off an area and that seemed to work most of the time. But the dogs push it out and poo and wee in the room. I have taken to vets and they said nothing wrong with dog medically. I could put him out 100 times a night and he will still go in the house rather than outside.

Just used a whole roll of kitchen roll cleaning up this mornings mess and there was wee on kids toys! Do you think putting in a crate might help?a

Another problem that’s on the increase is coprophagy – stool-eating. Many a dog confined to a cage would rather eat his or her stool, than have to lie with it in a cage
thepetshow.com/the-case-against-crate-training/

Restricting a dogs access to move around and confining them to one space is NOT toilet training in my opinion. It is toilet management.
The dog has two options 1) Soil my bed and lie in it or 2) Hold on until my owner decides it is an appropriate time for me to go. This gives the animal minimal choice, and one choice is hardly pleasant and in my opinion, totally unfair on the dog
themuttyprofessor.co.uk/2017/07/20/crate-debate-crate-not-crate/

Thanks. I don't think it's toilet training he needs at this age as he used to go outside but lately he is going in the house

I was pointing out that Locking him in a crate, so he is forced shit where he sleeps, would be cruel.

If it started when your youngest child arrived, it sounds as if it's behavioural rather than a medical issue to me.

If the dog is crate-trained, then crating him could help with the toileting, but it won't address the underlying problem which is likely to be stress.

If your going to confine him to a crate he will use it as a toilet and sleep in it. You need to address the issue rather than punish him.

What would you suggest? I feel it's a stress reaction to being left alone as doesn't do it during the day, we work from home so he is in a room with us all day until bed time and then he stays downstairs

Also I'm not punishing him, I was only asking if a crate would help

@ForChristsSake

What would you suggest? I feel it's a stress reaction to being left alone as doesn't do it during the day, we work from home so he is in a room with us all day until bed time and then he stays downstairs

If it's anxiety can you not put his bed in your room - at least on a temporary basis? I know a lot of people don't like dogs upstairs but isn't it much better than cleaning up poo and pee every morning?

Then you can work on the anxiety by slowly moving his bed further and further away until he's settled back downstairs again - it may take a good few weeks but it should help to prevent all the accidents.

A crate will only work if the dog is crate trained - you don't say whether he's ever used a crate before? But it's also no guarantee of fixing the problem - it sounds behavioural as he's had a full health check and it only started when your 6yo arrived on the scene.

Have you tried adaptil plug-ins?