I am no expert and so my basis for giving advise is based on experience from only one puppy (my Tiger) and from books I have read.
First of all, determining the number of hours he is able to hold his bladder has nothing to do with age (2 hours for 2 months, 3 hours for 3 months etc.). I say this because Tiger is only a little over 4 months old and he is able to hold his bladder for up to 6 1/2 hours. He has not soiled his crate since I got him at 8 weeks old. So, I think that to properly crate a puppy, determine how long he can hold it and use that as a starting point. I have mentioned this in another thread but what the heck . . .I can retype it again to help out a YT member. If your puppy can only hold it for 2 hours, then do that for a week and then increase it by 1/2 hour increments every week. You are actually training his bladder but it has to be gradually.
Also, I have read that dogs will not wet the area where they sleep in, unless in your case his bladder could no longer hold it so he did not have any choice. Since he has already done it many, many times, spraying it with petenzyme or any type of pet odor remover will not take it out the smell. No matter how much clean-up you do, the smell (one that only dogs can smell) is retained forever so he will continue to do so again, and again, and again. No amount of cleaning, whether you bleach it or use strong cleanser will eliminate that smell. I hate to say this but I suggest you get a new crate and start all over.
Hope this helps. |