Crate training a new puppy

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Maybe I'm being too anal, but I'm trying to figure out how a typical day might go with our pup.
We pick him up in two weeks. We'll both be home for the first 5 days, then it will be my DH for a couple days at the beginning.
How did you guys do the crate training? Should I start the day by taking him out to pee, then play awhile, back into crate, out to pee, and repeat? Of course feeding three times a day with pee breaks just after. I've thought about tethering him to me while I'm home, but I wonder how this would help with crate training, then I hear he might not be used to leash right away, and may take time to get used to crate...

Just trying to envision our day. We haven't had a dog for a very long time and never used a crate before. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[KLN]

I started Finley off in a medium sized plastic crate and then at about four or five months upgraded him to a large size wire crate. My breeder said they feel more secure in the plastic crate (I don't know if that's true or not but I will say that I had a difficult time, well about three hard days, of transitioning Finn to the larger wire crate). For about the first three or four weeks he slept in his plastic crate at night and during the day when I was at work (I came home at lunch for an hour every day). I hated him being in his crate that much and he was obsessed with my bed so he started sleeping with me very early. But, he picked up on the potty thing really fast or else that wouldn't have been possible. I didn't do anything hard core with the potty training. This is my third dog potty training and I've had pretty good success with just making sure I take them out every 45 minutes to an hour and praise the HECK out of them when they go. It's all about consistency and routine, I can't stress that enough. Not just with potty training but every thing else...they like a routine and do so much better when they are on one. Finn was potty trained fully by four or five months...he's eight months now and it's been months since he's had an accident. But there were days/weeks that I never thought it would happen. Just be patient and be prepared (and ok) with accidents in the house...they are going to happen. I've never used the tether method but I will say that Finn used to always go in the back bedroom if he had an accident so closing off the portion of the house you are not in with him should really help with accidents. Plus, my vet told me early on that if I couldn't watch him (ie: I was cooking, cleaning, etc) that he needed to be in his crate...you think your house is puppy proofed but trust me, it isn't. He told me he saw countess cases of puppies in his office because their owners weren't watching and they got into something. I took a week off also and it was a great way to bond. They are leaving their litter and are in a brand new place, it's unfamiliar for them the first few days and being home (I think) is a huge bonus if you can do it. Good luck, have so much fun, and remember (just like kids) they all learn and "do" at their own pace...don't let "what you think he should be doing" stress you out. ;0). Just love him and enjoy him and all will go well. Oh, and know that there are days you will sit down and cry and think "I can't do this"...I promise it will only last a day and is worth every frustrated second in the end...they are awesome and so full of love. :0)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Absolutely, positively, bestest post ever!!!!!! Can't say it much better than this!

[KLN]

Hahaha! Thx Rosemary!