Crate Training a puppy - some questions...

[Jericho]

We are due to pick up our 7 week old JRT this weekend and I have obsessively been reading up on what we need to do. I have owned dogs when younger, looked after parents etc but this is first time of having a pup -- eeek!

I am very keen on crate training especially as our house is largely open plan although she will be initially confined to the kitchen and hallway most of the time (especially when we are out), with the use of baby stair gates.

After doing some reading I am a little confused about what to do with her at night and where to keep her food etc and whether she should be doing her business in the crate or not...

At night, I am planning to keep her in the crate in the kitchen so I will lock her in last thing after a last wee etc - should I be letting her out a couple of times during the night to let her wee outside?? Or should I only go her to let her outside if she whines (but then wont she learn to whine to get attention / how do I tell the difference between a wee whine and an attention seeking whine?)

Or do I lock her up at night with water / food etc after a last wee and put puppy pads down for her in her crate and do not let her out or go to her at all when she whines (I might just sleep near her if she gets too upset in the early days). How do I then encourage her not to use the pads in her crate and start to hold it over night as she gets older?

If we leave her for a couple hours in the day should I lock her in cage same as at night or can I let her have the run of the kitchen with her crate door open but puppy pads inside or outside or not at all?

Also although I dont work I do obviously need to go out of the house to do jobs, run children to school / activities etc. How long in these first few weeks can she be left? Can I take her with me in the car on little trips (she wouldnt be left in the car on her own) and be carried in arms (as she wouldnt be vacc yet) just to start her getting used to life and avoid being left at home all the time?

Arrghh sorry for all the questions - i really want her to like the crate as think this will make things a little easier for us all...

 

[smiffyimp]

Hi
Have a look here.
http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/ite...g-crate-training--dog-crate-training---guides
She is a great trainer and behavourist. DO NOT let pup spoil in the crate, this is her bedroom, her safe place and she certainly wont want her poo in there - you'll find she wont want to will whine, but try not to let it get to this point, not nice. Remember she will only have a little bladder so needs regular wee times. Start by crating only for short times. If you lock in the crate for long periods when she isnt used to it, she will think of it as a BAD place. Dont use puppy pads or newspaper, all you do is train them to wee inside! Take her out regularly, and give loads of praise when she goes. General rule of thumb is when she wakes up, after play and after feed. Remember she wont last 8 hours overnight, shes a baby. With ours I used to go to bed late and do the night run, hubby used to get up very early and do the morning run. We never had many accidents with either.
My two (5 and 6 yrs) are crate trained and you cant keep them out! I have a super photo of my golden retriever in a crate that was put down for a small terrior, he squeezed himself in and looks very uncomfortable, but just fell asleep

 

[galaxy]

Harley never had an accident in his crate.

I never used pads or newspaper. I was told the only place he should go to the toilet was outside from day 1.

To begin with her was only shut in there overnight and in the car. For the first couple of night the crate was at the bottom of our bed (we were advised it teaches them nighttime is for sleeping) and after a few nights put downstairs. We never had any issues. Highly recommend a hot water bottle. He LOVED it and quietened him right down after going outside in the night. The 1st week (@8 weeks) he went out twice a night (1am, 4am), 2nd week once a night, then from 3rd week he was dry and slept through.

I took him around with me in the car. Sometimes he was left for short periods in the car (it was November, so not hot) so held in arms.

 

[Jericho]

Thank you both - really useful. So crate for lovely things like sleeping and comfort, and encourage toilets outside.

So I am assuming that for the first few weeks I should get up and take her out of crate and then outside during the night regardless of whether she is whining or not to let her wee etc and then put her straight back in crate after to sleep again, with minimal intervention as possible? Its going to be like havign a new baby again....

 

[CAYLA]

I have a long winded puppy guide (I wrote for the rescue puppies we rehome) it covers everything you mentioned and crate training, if you think it would help PM me your email and I will send u one.

 

[littlemisslauren]

Cayla's puppy guide is brilliant, it helped me out alot (She should really be asking for donations though!!)

For the first few nights B slept in a cat carrier (She was tiny!) near our bed and had a wee trip at 1 am and 4 am. She only ever had one accident in her crate and it was because she had the squits so I forgive her

I used paper as a guide as to where to go, so in the doorway, but she wasn't encouraged to go on the paper I just used it as a marker to the door (we moved about ALOT)

Car trips are brilliant when they are tiny, they learn to travel nicely from day one I carried B everywhere to attempt to make horses / sheep / humans less exciting (I failed but I believe others find it more sucessful!)

 

[galaxy]

Thank you both - really useful. So crate for lovely things like sleeping and comfort, and encourage toilets outside.

So I am assuming that for the first few weeks I should get up and take her out of crate and then outside during the night regardless of whether she is whining or not to let her wee etc and then put her straight back in crate after to sleep again, with minimal intervention as possible? Its going to be like havign a new baby again....

Yup. I tried not to really talk or fuss him. At night I Carried him out of crate straight outside, then straight back in crate and ignore. I did reheat his hot water bottle though as I did find it helped settle him.

Have fun!