Week off - time to crate train

[Eva and Fenway]

To preface this, I've seen a lot of postings about crate training/housebreaking, etc but it seems like there are many different methods though with some similarities. When Fenway is 13-14 weeks old (2 weeks from now), I'll be taking a full week off of work. Between the two weekends at either end of that, I will have about 10 days home with the pup. I am using this time to fully housebreak/crate train her. I would appreciate any and ALL advice, criticisms, etc of my plan. It's based on things I've read here on DK, and on a housebreaking book. I know it's long, but I also suspect others may find it useful if it works.

 

Current:

• Our current state has been working well - because I work such long hours, I kept her on the same schedule that she had when she came to me. 
• She has a penned area with pads during the day and night. 
• She has a crate that she can access at any time, and her food and water are both delivered here. Because of this, she doesn't seem to mind the crate at all (any more than she ever minds me leaving her whether it's the pen or crate). She goes into the crate when I can't supervise her but am home, and is fine with it, in other words, except that she's velcro and wants me there. 
• When she is out with me in the house she is usually good about waiting until our outdoor potty breaks. I would say 80% of the time she holds her pee, unless VERY excited from play sessions. Even then it's only because I can't get to her. She never poops indoors, even in the pen. 
• When she uses the pads, I ignore the behavior entirely. When she potties outside, I treat/praise her. 

 

Plan:

• For my housebreaking vacation I plan to keep her on the current schedule for the first few days, but during this time I will start putting her into the crate (after potty) and leaving the house/spying on her for barking.
• At first, I only will do this for 10 minutes, while gradually increasing that time alone, taking her out to potty immediately afterward each time. 
• She's already on a strict feeding schedule, but I've also read that water should only be given during food times (with unlimited amounts during feeding obviously) with all water gone 2 hours prior to bedtime. I've read mixed reviews on this, but obviously once she's fully housebroken she'll have water all the time.
• After the first few days, I'm going to take up all pads and stop using the pen. If I'm not there, she'll be crated but never more than 2-3 hours. At night, she'll be crated in my room and I'm going to set an alarm to take her out once, but set it longer each time. 
• I figure that a full 7 days of this should get her into good habits. She's very love/praise/food motivated, and has easily picked up on my expectations of her in other areas (sit-stay when I'm putting down food, etc). 
• I work a full day but I come home once for an hour of lunch/play. This means that she's going to need to go 4 hours.. is this feasible? I also have a dog-sitter who will be helping me out on this. At 16 weeks she'll also start going to day care a couple of days per week. 

 

 

PS - I know this was probably not the most ideal original setup to get her housebroken, but I felt it was the best possible method available to me. I've actually seen her already able to go about 3 hours holding her pee, but is 'trained' that this isn't needed because of the stupid pee pads. Though, the pads saved my sanity for the past month as she grew into her bladder. Once she even made it through the entire night without using her pads in her pen. I've been taking this as a sign that she already 'prefers' outside potty but I could be crazy. 

[shelly]

Eva ~ it sounds like you really have a detailed plan there....  I am no expert on the physiology of the puppy bladder, so I only speak from experience.  I am sure others will post soon... but I'm pretty sure, Tori was able to hold it for the whole night by 14 weeks.  I'm not too sure if I would 'set an alarm' to take her out during the night... you may be training her to "wake up" during her sleep more than training her to hold it.... it's like waking a sleeping baby.  I think by 12-14 weeks they are able tol awake from their sleep when they feel the need to go and whine to go out during the night if they really have to.  I think I would NOT set the alarm and wait and see.  If Fenway is in your bedroom, you WILL hear her start moving around and whining.  THEN I would take her out... how far is the outside door to where she will be sleeping?  you may want to pick her up and carry her outside if she does wait quite a few hours as the excitement of 'being free' may make her pee before you get her out. Don't speak to her in a welcoming voice -or this may excite her as well.  Just say, something like potty or out and take her right out.  Even if she does pee on the way to outside continue and praise her .  Then depending on the time either keep her out and play for a bit if it's morning, or put her right back in and say sleep.    I m 99% sure that Tori held it for a whole night 10PM through 7AM by 14 weeks.  Good luck!

[Eva and Fenway]

Shelly, your words are like a balm to my sleep deprivation! I wasn't too sure about the at night part either, and this really helps. I think you're right that she would let me know, and hopefully being in the room with me will mean she won't cry much unless it's a 'potty' cry (right now, with the pen, she's not in the room with me). During week nights I never sleep more than 6-7 hours. Of course, I don't sleep longer than that anymore during the weekends since I have to keep her schedule the same - 5am, even on sat/sun. 

 

There are times I wish I didn't work such an early shift :(

[shelly]

I know about the sleep... but ya' know what?  They DO readjust to YOUR schedule... don't be so quick to change YOUR schedule to hers!  Tori actually realizes when it is the weekend, everything is later... we stay up later, so last night potty break is later and therefore, we sleep in on the weekends, so she goes out later in the morning on the weekends.... at first the amount of hours are the same, just pushed up later.  NOW.... she will actually go 10-12 hours during the night, as sometimes she doesn't want to move after 11 and will not go out that 'one last time', and then waits till we're up at 10 the next day.  

Something you may also want to try to help train her to tell YOU when it's potty time.... hang bells on the door that you use to take her out.  Every time you go out ring the bells.  If it's during the day have HER rub against them to ring and say "out" or "potty" or w/e 'word' you'd like.  AMAZINGLY, one day she will ring them herself to go out.  Only do this to potty - NOT to play - they are smart... they will get you by tricking you by ringing the bells to go out to PLAY -  ;o)

[Eva and Fenway]

Thanks Shelly! I've been sticking with the stricter schedule for now - when I got her at 7 weeks I felt it was better since she couldn't tell me much at all then. We're working on bell-training now and it's going about like you'd expect, which is slow. I have faith though. :)

[shelly]

That's GREAT!  Wow!  A scorpion!  I'm with you... I'd be very watchful too!  I worry about ticks, but scorpions - YIKES!  Hope the weather has improved for you over there!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I'm in the middle of potty training Riley but I just went 'cold turkey' from the start so slight;y different from you.  Riley is now 12 weeks old and has his last meal at 7, water lifted at 9 and he goes to bed when we do around 11.  He now is fine until he wakes at between 6-7 in the morning.  I do leave water for him to have freely during the day.  I never used the pads so it has never been Ok to go indoors at all.  I would take the pads away completely and use the crate as you plan to.  I wouldn't wake her during the night.  If you hear her awake I would take her out, don't talk to her at all and after she has gone put her straight back in.  If she is in the house with you keep her on a long line so she is always within sight.  I'm sure you will find that being vigilant is the key to success and as you are planning the time off in order to complete the potty training I'm sure it will go really well.  Best of luck.  Ps. Riley now chooses to go outside himself during the day and comes straight back in for his treat!  Very treat/food motivated too.

[Eva and Fenway]

Nicky, I'd give anything for a yard she could go into by herself, but since I live in AZ I'm sort of glad I don't. I'm terrified she'll find a scorpion out there without me!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

jeepers creepers!!!  Now I know why I quite like living in Ireland even though I do complain about the weather all the time.  We have none of those dangerous creatures or extremes of weather and most houses have fenced/walled gardens.  I guess it's just an Irish thing!

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

I already place my 15 week puppy in her crate at around 10 pm at night and then let her out at 6:30-7am.
She does not toilet in her crate. She only came to live with us at 10 weeks old. I have also bell trained her and she will ring the bells to go outside.
Before this I would hear her whine ( arround 3am ) and would wake up and take her outside. Then place her straight back in her crate. We hardly communicate I just ask her to 'get busy', I watch her so she doesn't start to play.
I hope this helps a little, you are well planned and thought out,you will do fine.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I totally agree about NO ALARM during the night.  She should be able to hold it all night.  Bexter has done that since about 9 weeks old - from about 11:00 at night to about 6:30 in the morning.  It is amazing that they can do that, especially given how many times thy go during the day, but it's true.  I agree that the alarm may set you up for problems.

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

I would take away the puppy pads right away! She needs to learn quickly that going in the house is not acceptable! She should be able to go all night now. No alarm during the night. I refused to get up in the middle of the night and she had 2 accidents when she was 8 weeks old. When they go in the crate don't talk to them just wash them off without talking then take her out and praise as soon as she goes! They learn quickly that you don't go in the crate. Only give her enough space in the crate to turn around, that is how they learn to not go potty in there.

[Eva and Fenway]

Well everyone, thank you for all the great advice! I'm going to get rid of the puppy pads soon. She doesn't even use them anymore most of the time, just shreds them. I also suspect they may have something to do with the lovely cash of diaper rash she has that the vet just took two hours to tell me was what I suspected (bacterial, now has antibiotics). 

 

We are still a week away from my week off for her. I guess my biggest concern with starting it all early is that I want to build her up and teach her that I will come home, she CAN hold it, etc. She has to go 4 hours in her crate in the morning and 4 in the evening while I work (we have lots of lunch time and both  morning and evening romp time). I figured 12 weeks (she is that now) will be pushing it. The pads are there in her pen during these long periods.

 

I'm more confident now that I've seen her frequently go that long. I just need to teach her to get into the habit, and get our schedule down better. Maybe I'm overthinking it.