How to Clean Dog Pee in a Crate or Kennel

Your dog peed in the crate. This guide covers the cleanup: bedding out, tray or pan out, the crate itself, drying, and the floor underneath. It also covers why a dog may pee in its crate and how long a dog should stay crated, quoted from the AKC, Humane World for Animals, the ASPCA, MidWest Homes for Pets and Petmate. For accidents around the rest of the house, see our guide to puppy accident cleanup.

Why a thorough clean matters

The AKC says: "Odors left behind can encourage repeat accidents, so proper cleaning is essential." Our guide on why dogs and cats keep peeing in the same spot explains the scent side.

Speed helps too. The AKC says: "Regardless of what your dog has peed on, your best course of action is to act fast."

Sources: AKC, Puppy Going Potty in Crate; AKC, How to Get Dog Pee Out of Carpet.

Step 1: Empty the crate and take out the bedding

Crate maker Petmate says: "Before you start routine cleaning, empty your dog's crate of all its contents." For the bedding itself, the AKC's crate accident advice includes: "Wash any bedding to remove lingering smells".

We cover bedding in its own guides, so we won't repeat it here: see how to clean a pet bed after an accident and how to get pet pee smell out of clothes, bedding and towels.

Think before you put the bedding back. The AKC says, about beds and blankets in the crate: "Many puppies prefer to go potty on soft, porous surfaces like these."

Sources: Petmate, How to Clean a Dog Crate; AKC, Puppy Going Potty in Crate; AKC, How to Crate Train Your Dog.

Step 2: Pull out the tray or pan

On a wire crate, start with the pan. Petmate says: "If you have a metal dog crate, it probably has a pull-out tray, which is excellent for deep cleaning."

Check how your crate's pan comes out. MidWest's iCrate instructions say: "To remove the plastic pan for cleaning, disengage the pan stop and slide out the plastic pan." For other crates and plastic kennels, use the instructions for your model.

Sources: Petmate, How to Clean a Dog Crate; MidWest Homes for Pets, iCrate assembly instructions (PDF).

Step 3: Wash the pan and the crate

Start with what your crate maker says. MidWest's iCrate instructions say:

"To protect the finish of your crate and plastic pan, use only mild, non-abrasive cleaners and water. Any coarse scrubbing or abrasive materials could damage the finish."

Petmate suggests: "Start with a bucket filled with warm water and mild dish soap, a key component of your cleaning arsenal." Wash the pan, then wipe down the bars or walls and the door.

Before you use anything new on a pan or a plastic kennel, Petmate's advice is short: "Always do a spot test first."

Sources: MidWest Homes for Pets, iCrate assembly instructions (PDF); Petmate, How to Clean a Dog Crate.

Step 4: Rinse

Petmate says: "Begin by rinsing the crate to remove any dirt, using a hose outdoors or a bucket indoors, depending on where you're cleaning." If you used a disinfectant, it adds: "Once the crate is clean, apply a disinfectant according to the instructions on the bottle, and rinse again to remove any leftover chemicals."

Source: Petmate, How to Clean a Dog Crate.

Step 5: Dry it fully

Petmate says: "Use paper towels to absorb moisture initially." and then:

"Check the crate carefully to ensure it's completely dry before letting your pet use it again. This prevents mold and rust in metal crates."

If you dry the pan outside, mind the sun. MidWest's instructions say: "DO NOT expose the Plastic Pan to direct sunlight for extended periods of time as this may lead to warping or damage to the pan."

Sources: Petmate, How to Clean a Dog Crate; MidWest Homes for Pets, iCrate assembly instructions (PDF).

Step 6: Check the floor under the crate

Move the crate and check the floor underneath. Humane World for Animals suggests: "Use your nose to sniff out soiled areas."

How you clean it depends on the floor:

Rug or carpet: see how to get dog pee out of an area rug.
Laminate or vinyl: see how to clean pet urine from laminate and vinyl plank floors.
Tile: see how to clean dog pee from tile and grout.
Concrete: see how to get dog pee smell out of concrete, a patio or garage.

Source: Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors.

Why a dog may pee in its crate

The crate is too big

The AKC says: "The crate should be just large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. If it's too large, your puppy can eliminate in one end and sleep in the other."

MidWest says: "Puppies tend to sleep in one end of the home and eliminate in the other end, their natural instinct being to keep themselves and their homes clean." For a crate with a divider, it says: "Just insert a divider panel into the home allowing only enough room for your puppy to lie down."

Too long between breaks

Answering an owner whose 4 month old puppy wet the crate at night, the AKC says: "If you sleep for 8 hours and she gets up before you, then she will most likely have to pee and will do so in her crate."

The crate feels stressful, or the bedding invites it

The AKC says: "If they find their crate stressful, they likely won't relax enough to hold their bladder." On bedding, it adds: "Removing the bedding for a short time can teach your dog that it's in their best interest not to soil the crate, since they won't want to lie in their pee or poop."

Sources: AKC, How to Crate Train Your Dog; MidWest Homes for Pets, Frequently Asked Questions; AKC, My Dog Pees In Her Crate; AKC, Puppy Going Potty in Crate.

How long should a dog stay in a crate?

Humane World for Animals says:

"Puppies under 6 months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders or bowels for that long, even during potty training."

For adult dogs, it says: "As a general guideline, adult dogs shouldn't be left in a crate for more than 4-5 hours during the day." and "Puppies need more frequent breaks and shouldn't be crated for longer than their age in months plus one hour." It also warns: "A dog who's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious."

The ASPCA says: "Do not leave your dog in a crate for lengthy periods of time (more than six hours) to prevent chewing."

Sources: Humane World for Animals, How to Crate Train Your Dog or Puppy; ASPCA, Destructive Chewing.

When to talk to your vet

The AKC says: "Many puppies may have an occasional accident in the crate for a number of reasons, but if the behavior becomes frequent, talk to your veterinarian."

For an older dog, see our guide to senior dog accidents.

Source: AKC, Puppy Going Potty in Crate.

Using P-Cleaner

P-Cleaner is the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Foaming Liquid from Pet Cleanup Kit. The product listing says: "Our rinse-free, water-based formula tackles the toughest stains and odors from urine, feces, vomit, and other organic messes on carpets, rugs, upholstery, and hard surfaces." It also says: "Works on carpets, upholstery, tile, and more.", "No scrubbing necessary" and "Odor-Free & Residue-Free". For the crate itself, follow the crate maker's cleaning instructions: as MidWest says above, "use only mild, non-abrasive cleaners and water." Test a hidden spot first: as Petmate says above, "Always do a spot test first." Follow the directions on the product label.

Still hunting for spots around the crate? The full kit includes a black light.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing, MidWest Homes for Pets, iCrate assembly instructions (PDF) and Petmate, How to Clean a Dog Crate.