If your puppy poops in his crate at night, then you’re obviously going to be looking for solutions to address this messy issue — and the first step to fixing it is to understand what’s causing the problem.

Today, we’ll explain why your puppy poops in their crate overnight, covering possible factors related to their age, anxiety, or digestion. Once that’s covered, we’ll then teach you how to stop your puppy from pooping in the crate at night, including tips for managing their feeding and bathroom schedule.

Whether you’re working with a 12-week-old puppy or a 6-month-old adolescent, this article will give you the tools you need to help your puppy achieve overnight crate training success. Let’s dive in!

Puppy Poops in Crate at Night

If your puppy poops in their crate at night, the behavior often stems from a combination of factors including the puppy’s age, anxiety from being left alone, their ability to control their bowel movements, and the environment within the crate. Understanding why this happens is the first step towards addressing the issue and helping your puppy learn appropriate bathroom habits.

Why Is My Puppy Pooping in Crate Overnight?

Your puppy is pooping in the crate overnight likely because they haven’t yet developed full control over their bladder and bowels. Puppies typically need to relieve themselves frequently, and their ability to hold it through the night grows as they age.

Ensuring your puppy has plenty of opportunities to go potty before bedtime and managing their meal times can help minimize accidents.

Puppy Poops in Crate When Left Alone

A puppy pooping in their crate when left alone may indicate anxiety, a too-large crate space, or simply the need for more frequent bathroom breaks. Puppies often feel vulnerable when isolated, which can lead to stress-related accidents.

Ensuring the crate is a safe, comfortable space and gradually acclimating your puppy to being alone can help reduce these incidents.

How to Stop Puppy From Pooping in Crate at Night

Stopping a puppy from pooping in their crate at night involves a combination of crate training, schedule adjustments, and patience. First, ensure the crate is the right size: large enough for the puppy to stand, turn around, and lie down, but not so large that they can use one end as a bathroom.

Next, establish a consistent nighttime routine that includes a potty break right before bedtime. Praise them when they go successfully. Finally, gradually extend the time your puppy spends in the crate at night as they learn to hold their bladder and bowels longer.

It’s important to remember, however, that any underlying behavioral issues (separation anxiety, poor house training, etc.) that were causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address those, any positive changes you see will only be temporary.

“Well, how do I make these changes last?”

By getting your puppy to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like your puppy pooping in their crate at night and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about why your puppy poops in his crate at night ever again!

Puppy Pooping in Crate at Night: Age It Should Stop?

It’s a common concern for many puppy owners: when will my puppy stop pooping in their crate at night? Generally, puppies gain better control of their bladder and bowel movements as they grow older, with significant improvements often seen by the time they reach certain age milestones. Understanding these developmental stages can help set realistic expectations and guide your approach to nighttime crate training.

12 Week Puppy Pooping in Crate at Night

At 12 weeks, it’s normal for a puppy to still have accidents in their crate at night. Their bodies are still developing, and they may not yet have the capacity to hold it throughout the entire night. It’s important during this stage to continue with consistent crate training, nighttime bathroom breaks, and a proper feeding schedule to help minimize accidents.

Learn more about working with your puppy through this issue by going back to the first section now.

5 Month Old Puppy Pooping in Crate Overnight

By the time a puppy is 5 months old, they typically can hold their bladder and bowels for longer periods, but overnight accidents might still happen. This is a critical time to reinforce crate training and ensure your puppy has ample opportunities to relieve themselves before bedtime.

If accidents are frequent, this may also be a good time to talk with your veterinarian to rule out any potential health issues.

6 Month Old Puppy Pooping in Crate at Night

By 6 months, most puppies should start to reliably hold their bladder and bowels throughout the night. If they keep having accidents or you notice other related issues like your puppy barking in the crate, it may be necessary to revisit your crate training strategy, consider potential stress factors, or again, contact a veterinarian for a health assessment.

Ensuring your puppy has a consistent routine and reducing their water intake before bed can also help. It’s important to remember that each puppy is unique, and some may take longer to develop nighttime bladder and bowel control than others. Patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement are key to successfully navigating this stage of your puppy’s development.

I’m sure you’re ready to get started now that you have all of your questions about your puppy pooping in his kennel at night answered, so I’ll let you get going on things. Best wishes, and thank you for checking out our article “My Puppy Keeps Pooping in His Crate at Night, What Do I Do?”.