How exactly do I crate train my pup?

Question

I know he needs to spend the night in there and while we're away. I also know he needs to spend time in there while we're with him, just so he learns to hold it. How often and for how long?

Also, if I leave him in the crate all day while I'm at work, how can I expect him to hold it that long?

Answer 1

I have a 9 week old mini poodle that is going thru the crate training..

How I do it is..

7am - take out of crate got potty
7:15 - have a light breakfast/water
7:30 - potty time again
8:00 - Back in the crate for the day. (a puppy safe teddy bear, kong ball and one small treat)
3pm - Kids are home from school (take her from the crate, straight outside)
3:15 - snack and playtime
3:30 - more potty time
5:00 - supper
5:15 - Potty break
7/8 ish grooming time (brushing and face washing - getting her use to it)
Free reigns till bedtime 11pm
11pm - last potty break for the day then in the crate for the night
3-4am usually cries for a potty break (drags butt out of bed to stand outside in my pj's and freeze my **** off till she is done - then back in her crate)

I do have the luxury of a older dog that is trained so I take the puppy out when he wants out.. typically she has to go then too

I don't crate the puppy in the evening only because she is in it all day, but if she has a accident in the house then I take her outside for about 3 minutes anyways.

Answer 2

You can't expect a young puppy to hold it while you are away 8-10 hours, crating a puppy or even most adults for that long is really not a good idea because the dog is in the crate past the time it can possibly "hold it" and thus learns to soil its crate. What you should do is put your pups favorite toys in the crate and throw its favorite treats in there and let it see you do that and say "crate" or "kennel" as you throw the treats in . Puppy should run in after the treat if it doesn't you should put it in there with the treat. Leave the pup in for short periods at first , if it starts making noise keep it in there until it is quiet and then let it out once it is quiet so that you don't reward noisemaking by letting it out of the crate. Gradually increase the amount of time you crate the dog until you are able to crate it overnight when you are asleep. If you make sure that you have regular feeding times and don't feed or water past a certain time at night and let your pup outside or walk it to potty not too long before you retire for bed, then your dog should adjust to crate training fine.

Answer 3

We're crate training a puppy right now. 10 weeks old. During the night and when we're out we leave the crate in one spot which is a little more secluded than some other rooms with toys and one of my shoes which makes him happy for some odd reason. (he doesn't chew it...) But when we're home, usually he's playing with us but we do leave the crate in a more open area so he can hang out in there. With having him 'hold it', u really just need to settle into a schedule, take him out first thing in the morning, feed him and then take him out again. But he definitely can't hold it all day, you need to walk him at least at lunchtime. My puppy has a super bladder because he really only gets out of the house at lunch time and sometimes doesn't even go potty then, but hasn't had an accident yet.

So far the longest the puppy has been in his crate is at night for 8 hours.

Answer 4

Crate training is not to teach them to "hold it" it is to teach them that they have a space of their own and to give them an area for quiet time.

Put him in the crate all night (make sure you give potty breaks though), when you are gone, when you need a break from him! He will learn to associate the crate with being quiet and resting. Make sure there are toys and blankets and rawhide chewies. After a few nights of whining, he'll get the hang of it.

Answer 5

A brand new puppy can only hold it for a few hours. Try to arrange it so he can be walked at lunchtime. You can help by not giving him water within 45 minutes of 'bed time' or food within an hour and a half.

Keep him there whenever you can't keep an eye on him. Even if you're just going to be gone for a minute. That's all it takes for him to ave an accident. If you're home lounging around let him loose so he can be with you. But if you're going to be working at your computer and not paying attention to him then put him to bed.

Hope this helps

Answer 6

I have the same problem.I have put my puppy in a playpen in the day time with a wee wee pad(his vet approved) when I'm at home I let him play but I still put him back in the playpen with half of it blocked off so he can't move around and let him out to pee and I give him rewards when he does (frosted flakes are his favorite,also approved by my Vet.)I hope this helps It is working so far for me.