Crate training, for housebreaking?
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| When we got Izzie last summer we crate trained her. She was in her crate at night and for reasonable periods during the day. Our night schedule went like this...
about four hours after going to bed I got up and took her out (I set my alarm) after the first week I pushed back the alarm time by and hour or half hour the same thing the next week...so therefore about a month after we got her she was making it through the night and of course I rushed her outside when I got up in the morning 
Amanda |
| Thanks Amanda! So basically you would wake her up?
And during the day, she will not be in the crate when I am home and with her, I figure I will take her out every 1/2hr and of course about 15 minutes after eating or drinking! And when I run errands, I will take her out before leaving the house, then crate her, take her out right when I get home! This is all new to me, my mom always trained our pups when I was growing up! I never paid attention, just played with and loved them! |
We have a 10 wk old pup. For the first few days we kept a crate in our bedroom at night. Hubby would take Fozzie out when he heard him stir in the crate. Our thinking was that if we woke him up, he'd get in the habit and wake up EVERY night. This is Fozzie 3rd week home and he's sleeping through the night until the alarm goes off without accidents!  You'll need to see what works for you guys as it might be different. |
| It would be a good idea, especially at first, to put her in and out of the crate even when you are home during the day just to get her comfortable with it. As she spends more time in it, the idea is for it to feel like her little space that she feels at home and secure in (and a place not to pee!). There will be times when you'll need a break and won't be able to watch her and it'll be a lot easier to put her in there if she's bonded with it a bit. It's not too bad when she's about 15 pounds but when she triples in size, the fight becomes a lot harder if she doesn't want to go! |
Stacy wrote: Our thinking was that if we woke him up, he'd get in the habit and wake up EVERY night.
I can see how this could be a problem. Using the alarm was an easy way for me to consciously push back the time she was getting up. Occasionally she would make noise before "the time" but I would wait until the alarm went off. Thinking back I hardly remember any accidents...of course my memory could be sugar coating it. She also had chronic bladder infections...so most of her accidents, regardless of time of day, were because of that. Amanda |
Our nine week old BOYS(2) ate waking every 1and 1/2 to two hours, and eventually by 4:30 want to be up for good. Is this abnormal? I feel like I will never get a full nights sleep again.  |
| They are still very, very young. I have a training book that said that for every month a puppy is in age, that is the equivalent to the hours they can hold it.
I got Asterisk at 8 weeks of age and for the first several months I was up routinely at 3:30am and throughout the night. She didn't become full-proof on her training till she was 4 months old. I just kept an eye on the clock and every 2 hours, out we would go. Your puppies are still babies, as they age it will improve. There is nothing abnormal about their schedules. Trust me, it will get better. |
ButtersStotch wrote: It would be a good idea, especially at first, to put her in and out of the crate even when you are home during the day just to get her comfortable with it. As she spends more time in it, the idea is for it to feel like her little space that she feels at home and secure in (and a place not to pee!). There will be times when you'll need a break and won't be able to watch her and it'll be a lot easier to put her in there if she's bonded with it a bit. It's not too bad when she's about 15 pounds but when she triples in size, the fight becomes a lot harder if she doesn't want to go!
I agree completely. I put Henry in the crate when I am home so he is used to it and enjoys it in there. I give a stuffed kong and some toys so he likes being in there. I would not wake a sleeping puppy to go out to pee. I take him out when I hear him wake up and start rustling around. The crate is right next to my bed and I sleep lightly so it works. |
| Having just gone through this stage about 6 to 7 months ago, I totally agree with Valerie and ButterStotch. It is important to put her in her crate for short periods of time (10 to 15 minutes worked for us) every day for a month or 2 at least so she will get to know that you will be returning and does not begin to display "separation anxiety" issues. The treat thing will eventually pay off as she grows older and associates happy thoughts with her going into the crate. You will find that these guys really do not want to soil their own "turf" and that will aid in the housebreaking process. Remember PLENTY OF PRAISE EVERY TIME she does anything outside. Praise all desired behavior at every chance you have. If you do not catch her "in the act" when having an accident it will do you no good to reprimand her when you do become aware of it. She will no realize what she is being then corrected for. They have a rather short term memory. As far as night time, I got up every 2 to 3 hours and took Bailee out, usually after hearing him stir or whine. Be happy it is July and not November or December when the temps go way down. Bailee was 99% housebroken within 2 or 3 weeks. His loan accident was really my own fault for not paying heed to his warning. Good luck. |
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