New Puppy - Crating

[Ree Luvs BORDERS!]

Hi all,

I've just bought this gorgeous lil Border Pup and just wanting peoples help before he comes home. I've grown up in an Outside only policy when it comes to dogs, so have never had any experience with Toilet Training or crating whatsoever! The only toilet training I've done is teach my dog where I want him to poop so I dont have to go searching for it Any pups my family has ever had have just lived outside with the other dogs and have kennels to go into if they so wish.

Hubby wont have a bar of pup being in the bedroom but said that if I want him inside at night, I can keep him in the laundry over night. Too me that would be worse if he was by himself, rather than being outside with my other dog. So I want to bring them both inside over night.

Q. Do they go to the toilet alot during the night and should I get up every few hours to let them outside for a toilet stop?

Q. Should they both have their own crate or would they prefer one big one to sleep together?

Q. How should I start toilet training a 2 yr old and a pup?

Thanks.

Ree

Edited February 9, 2009 by Ree Luvs BORDERS!

[gsdog2]

I've had my 3mth old GSD puppy home for 3 wks now and fingers crossed, with the help of her crate, we have not had one toilet mistake. I also have a 7yrs old GSD and a 3yr old Goldie. She is an outside dog, however at night I crate her. I have a smaller crate (no room for her to toilet) which I keep next to my side of the bed and I put an old shirt of mine inside for her to sleep on, as well as a chew toy to help keep her busy when she wakes up. I toilet her and then give her a drink of water immediately before I put her in the crate for the night (no water in the crate as she'll only knock it over). She has not had one "toilet" mistake and in 3 weeks I got up once on the first two nights. If she became restless through the night I put my fingers through the crate and she lay her head up against them and went back to sleep . She is awake by 6.00 and I carry her outside as I know there's no way she'd make it if she had to walk. Last night I put her in a large crate with the same bedding she had in the previous crate, and put her crate next to my Goldies crate (in the garage) and she slept all night again without a mistake and without crying. I have been attending two different puppy classes and I don't want to pat my own back but the method I have used certainly had the most success.

I can't recommend a crate enough - to me it gave my pup a feeling of security (like a den in the wild), and with me sleeping beside her gave her comfort when she woke up through the night.

Edited February 10, 2009 by gsdog2

[gsdog2]

Forgot to mention - now she's in the larger crate she has a large water container which I clip to the crate to prevent her knocking it over.

[Ree Luvs BORDERS!]

Thanks for your reply gsdog2, I was beginning to wonder whether I was really off track that nobody wanted to talk to me :D Have you done this with all of your pups? I'm trying to twist my hubbies arm into letting him stay with us during the night for at least a few weeks. Did keeping the pup in the bedroom with you and leaving the others in the garrage put your other dogs nose out of joint? I'm worried that if I start bringing the pup in at night then Bailey (my existing dog) is going to really get jealous that he isn't inside beside our bed too.

[gsdog2]

I can't believe you haven't had any other replies either - although, I'm pretty sure there's already heaps on crate training here.

"Have you done this with all of your pups?" I did the same with my Goldie and had the same success. I put my other pups in the garage at night when they first came home and they always cried for the first few nights, which I found very hard to deal with.

"Did keeping the pup in the bedroom with you and leaving the others in the garrage put your other dogs nose out of joint?" No. I always put them to bed in the crate/garage first and then brought her into the house, and in the morning I always let her out first (I didn't want them to see her coming into the house).

"I'm trying to twist my hubbies arm into letting him stay with us during the night for at least a few weeks". I would definately recommend this. I only had mine in the bedroom for 3 weeks and now she's sleeping in a large crate in the garage without any barking/crying (or toilet mistakes )

Good luck with your new pup and hopefully the crate training

[luvsdogs]

My 2 previous pups have slept inside in the entry room at the back door. This is what I call the dog room. They slept on an old blanket, with April having a cardboard box. I would take them outside after eating/drinking, waking up, playing & every hour in between. Don't give him access to more than one room until he shows he can be reliable or you can keep an eye on him.

Sooty was toilet trained at 10 weeks old & April a little older. They always asked/ask to go out. Tilba will sometimes.................................

Tilba is the 1st pup I've used a crate with. She was good for the 1st couple of weeks, then decided she would throw a tantrem every night. I tried playing the radio, didn't work. I tried putting Sooty in the room with her, worked for a couple of nights. She was very loud, barking, scratching at the crate. It was borrowed from my cousin so I didn't want her damaging it. I tried ignoring her, which I would have done but oh & sons would get annoyed with her & go out to her & tell her to be quiet or let her out. I thin decided to let her sleep on April's old bed & she finally settled.

I still use the crate for car travel & while I'm instructing at the dog club & she's fine.

She still has the odd accident even at a year old. She'll be fine for 2 or 3 weeks & then have an accident or 2. It's my fault for not watching the time. The last time was on the weekend when it was extremely hot & we stayed inside with the aircon.

[Ree Luvs BORDERS!]

Lol.. thanks GSDog & LuvsDogs.

I eventually found the posts about crate Training. Just going to buy one and hopefully start Bailey so he is used to it and it wont be such a biggy with Levi.

Thanks again xoxo

[Tassie]

Hi Ree

I didn't reply before because my situation is a bit different - both my dogs have access to inside and sleep inside.

But I just have to say - crates are your friend - especially in relation to toilet training. Be careful though - they have a habit of multiplying You'll find you need an airline crate, a wire collapsible, a soft crate ........ But seriously, my experience has been that dogs love them (even if they didn't start out in them as puppies, but more so if they do. And the really good thing is that they generalise - once they 'get' the idea of crate as den, it applies to any variety of crate.

[Ree Luvs BORDERS!]

Hi Ree

I didn't reply before because my situation is a bit different - both my dogs have access to inside and sleep inside.

But I just have to say - crates are your friend - especially in relation to toilet training. Be careful though - they have a habit of multiplying You'll find you need an airline crate, a wire collapsible, a soft crate ........ But seriously, my experience has been that dogs love them (even if they didn't start out in them as puppies, but more so if they do. And the really good thing is that they generalise - once they 'get' the idea of crate as den, it applies to any variety of crate.

:D I know... I've just bought a show trolly... buying an airline crate... and well we need a crate for inside (x 2) I think Levi can just have his airline for a few weeks before I buy a big one for him.... there is so much to outlay doing show stuff! Thats four Good thing is he's off to a good start already, breeder is crate training too.

[piper]

[ I know... I've just bought a show trolly... buying an airline crate... and well we need a crate for inside (x 2) I think Levi can just have his airline for a few weeks before I buy a big one for him.... there is so much to outlay doing show stuff! Thats four Good thing is he's off to a good start already, breeder is crate training too.

LOL, I have way more crates than I do dogs.

To save on cost in the short term you could use the show trolley as a crate. The airline crate for Levi will be fine for a couple of weeks as you don't want them to have too much space to begin with anyway, then use the show trololey with him if you haven't manaed to get another crate.

It is very expensive to start with. Getting Jazz cost me a fortune - gazebo, show trolley, grooming supplies. Luckily I already had the crates.

Just be aware with Bailey as he is 2 and never been crated it may take him some time to be comfortable with the idea, having said that my boys were much older when I introduced them to crates and they loved them right away.

[Ree Luvs BORDERS!]

[ I know... I've just bought a show trolly... buying an airline crate... and well we need a crate for inside (x 2) I think Levi can just have his airline for a few weeks before I buy a big one for him.... there is so much to outlay doing show stuff! Thats four Good thing is he's off to a good start already, breeder is crate training too.

LOL, I have way more crates than I do dogs.

To save on cost in the short term you could use the show trolley as a crate. The airline crate for Levi will be fine for a couple of weeks as you don't want them to have too much space to begin with anyway, then use the show trololey with him if you haven't manaed to get another crate.

It is very expensive to start with. Getting Jazz cost me a fortune - gazebo, show trolley, grooming supplies. Luckily I already had the crates.

Just be aware with Bailey as he is 2 and never been crated it may take him some time to be comfortable with the idea, having said that my boys were much older when I introduced them to crates and they loved them right away.

Thanks Jazz... yeah I'm going to get a Crate and start getting him used to it. I think he should be ok... just put a few pillows in and I think he'll be happy just to be inside lol. Do you know with the older dogs whether they can last the whole night or should I get up through the night and take him out for a toilet stop?

[piper]

Do you know with the older dogs whether they can last the whole night or should I get up through the night and take him out for a toilet stop?

In terms of how long they can hold on, es they should be able to hold on all nigt but as he is used to being outside doing what he wants he may go during the night. You might find you want to offer him an out middle of the night and gradually move the time you ive him a wee break towards the time you would normally get up, if that makes sense?

Piper used to be a shocker when we went away for going to the toilet, she would hold on for about the first 24 hours before she would go!! So in theory holding overnight should be no problem.

Jazz probably only needed a middle of the night wee break for about the first week, then just the occasional night she would be unsettled. OUrs all slep inside and we still have nights where at 2am someone wants to go out for a few minutes (though sometimes I am sure that is cat over the fence related!)

[Ree Luvs BORDERS!]

Do you know with the older dogs whether they can last the whole night or should I get up through the night and take him out for a toilet stop?

In terms of how long they can hold on, es they should be able to hold on all nigt but as he is used to being outside doing what he wants he may go during the night. You might find you want to offer him an out middle of the night and gradually move the time you ive him a wee break towards the time you would normally get up, if that makes sense?

Piper used to be a shocker when we went away for going to the toilet, she would hold on for about the first 24 hours before she would go!! So in theory holding overnight should be no problem.

Jazz probably only needed a middle of the night wee break for about the first week, then just the occasional night she would be unsettled. OUrs all slep inside and we still have nights where at 2am someone wants to go out for a few minutes (though sometimes I am sure that is cat over the fence related!)

ohhh you have cat problems tooo... :rolleyes:

sounds good... as soon as a crate arrives we'll give it a try... just so long as he doesnt start cocking his leg to pee out the sides of the crate :rolleyes: