Our 1st puppy, advice needed!!?

Question

We live in an apartment and both of us work during the day, i've heard that it's important to crate-train a puppy, but some website says the puppy can't be in there for more than 2-3 hours. We are wondering if it's ok to just get a gate to fence off the kitchen, that way he has more room (in the kitchen) and that way we don't have to go home every 2-3 hours to let him out. This is our first puupy, please help and give us some sugguestions!!

Answer 1

When we first brought our bundle of canine joy home he was 3 months old and not potty trained at all! We bought a gate and fenced him in the kitchen and dining room areas and we got him some potty pads that are scented so that your puppy knows to "go" only there. Took some doing let me tell you but when we tried to crate train him he developed an attitude and he started pooping and peeing all over the house on the rugs, omg! Well, we tried that for like 3 months then we stopped and let him go outside only to pee and poop. And whenever he would start to do circles in the house or sniff the ground we would get him and take him outside. We would "ignore the bad and reward the good" if he went on the potty pads, we'd make a big deal out of it. "Good boy!!!! What a good boy!" or "Good Potty!" While we were at work it started to look like he was getting it just going on the pads, so we'd pick up the poop with some bounty and he would see us and we would also say "Good Potty!" After a while, he started to hold it until one of us got home and would go directly to the back door to be let out! Man that took about 4 months until he was 7 months old. Now he's a good boy and he only goes outside. glgl!

Answer 2

The only reason it is not fair to leave a puppy in a crate longer then that is because of the capability the pup has to hold his bladder. If the crate is big enough for the pup to sleep in one end a go in the other. This is going to make house training harder though. How old is your pup? This makes a difference on how long. I totally recommending a crate. It would be wise if the pup is under 5 months, to have someone (paid or not) to let pup out half way through the day. Also a long walk in the morning will help your pup last the day. Also people that complain about being home are silly, the next they complain why you get a dog you can not afford. "meaning everyone needs to work in the day" Saying that you could also look into doggy daycare until the pup is older

Answer 3

Using a gate is an awsome idea, also use newspaper for it to pee on. Crate training you can work on on ure day's off or something. For example, when ure off and have free time, put the puppy in the crate and just step outta the house for an hour. As the days go by maximize the hours you're away.
With this your puppy will also know that everytime u leave home, you come back, reducing its risks of getting anxiety probs :P.

But the kitchen gate idea is great if it works out for u and ure family.

Answer 4

WHAT!? You SHOULD NOT have a puppy in an apartment, I love dogs and its creul to keep it locked up in a enclosed space all day. My sister had a dog in an apartment and kept in a crate. We have the puppy now. Give the puppy away to a home with a back yard so it can be happy. Its best for the puppy. Or you can move into a house. Do whats best for the puppy please. Giving it away or moving into a house will not only make the puppy happy but you'll feel good that the puppy is in a good place where it can run around. Good-Luck

Answer 5

My pet expert says there is a calculation --- a puppy should be able to stay in a crate for 1 hour per month that he is old ---- plus add one hour to the total. For instance ... a 3 month old puppy should be able to stay in a crate for 3 + 1 hr or 4 hrs total. So, until the dog is about 8 months old ---- then he'll be able to stay in a crate about 9 hrs.

Crate training is really a superior way to train a pet for homes such as yours. There are sometimes pet-sitters available in your area ( ask your local Vet ) who, for a fee could come over to your house and let the dog out maybe once or twice a day.

Good luck ....

Answer 6

The rule for puppies is they shouldn't go longer (hour wise) than the amount of months they are. i.e. 2 months old, then no longer than 2-3 hours without a potty break. Crate training is good. Get out the phone book and look for a good pet sitter. They will come in during the day to walk and potty the puppy. To find a good sitter in your area go to this website and type in your zip code; www.petsit.com This way you will find a qualified pet sitter with insurance/bond etc.

Answer 7

You can block off the kitchen, that's what we did with our 1st puppy. We used to use a crate for our last dog because it couldn't be left alone in the house because it would chew everything. She was fine inside her crate for more than two to three hours.

Dogs learn to go to their crates because it's supposed to be a safe place for them to be in. Some dogs will just go lay there. It's not as bad as some people say it is.

Answer 8

Why do you want a puppy if you are not home much at all????
Puppies need attention!!!!! Sure the puppy will have more room, but that does not solve the problem of the lack of human interaction the puppy will be lacking!!!!!!!
People should not get a part time puppy!!!! They often have behavior problems down the road!!!!!!

As a breeder, I will not adopt a puppy out to a home with that situation!! It is not fair to the puppy!!!

Answer 9

That is what I did with mine. I just put up a baby gate. You may want to put down some Wee-Wee pads that are a flat diaper type sheet that they can go potty on in case he has an accident. I left her crate in the room so she could go in there to feel safer if she wanted to.

Apparently they are not supposed to potty in the crate since they sleep there but if the puppy can not hold it that long and is locked in the crate it has not choice but to do it in there.

Answer 10

OK, it is not a good idea for the puppy to be left alone for more than a few hours regardless of where he is kept. Puppies need constant compaionship and care. Kind of like young children. If both of you are unable to come home to care for the puppy, consider finding someone you trust to come and check on him. Like a puppy baby sitter.