I have a 12 week old puppy. She is potty trained, we still kennel her at nite, when can she sleep on the floor

Question

without fear of an accident? How do you know when it's the right time to start taking the chance? Will she wake me up to go potty, or just go on my floor? She NEVER went in her kennel.

Answer 1

You really don't. It's just a matter of taking a chance. Get a few baby gates and confine her to an area w/ her crate but w/ the door open. She has an option of going in and out as she wishes. Start expanding the area and if she has not accidents (which she might every once in a while - all puppies do - make the area smaller.

Train the dog onto a bed so she won't go potty on her bed. But you can't really determine these things w/o taking a chance.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I wouldn't start until at least 6 months old, but start with a small area of the house that can be blocked off, and if there's any accidents back to the crate. She probably won't wake you up either. Most dogs aren't ever fully trained until they are 1 year old, so you may still have problems. If you are still in doubt and don't want to chance any accidents, just wait till she's a year old.

Answer 3

Some of that is personal preference because there is still a chance your dog could go potty in the room and never tell you-- but that is a chance you take. We started around 8 months, with a small pillow next to our bed. That is now HIS bed and he knows to go there at night. I know people that still crate at night but leave the door open too. Unless you are having problems with her sleeping all the way through the night and/or waking you up in the night, I would continue to crate her until she is a bit older.

Answer 4

I had to answer this.I have a 7 week border collie. I have had her a week now. She has a crate but does not use it. She has never had an accident and even asks to go out. During the night we take her out at 2ish and she is good until 6-6:30 in the morning.She hold her pee and poop for around 3-4 hours. The vet said we got very lucky!

Answer 5

Nothing is wrong with keeping the kennel. It's like a den and she feels secure in there. I have an almost 2 year old that sleeps in her crate at night. She goes in there by herself to sleep. It's "her" place.

Answer 6

I agree not to try until at least 6 months. My dog was 1 before I tried it. I would be shocked if your pup didn't have accidents if allowed out of her crate without supervision.