CRATE TRAINING SECRETS AND TIPS FOR WORKING PARENTS

[LORRIE PAULUS]

Hi everyone...I am loving the opportunity to read all of your posts.  We will be adopting an 8 week old F1 Doodle on Saturday.  The breeder has been crate training her, so I am hopeful that we'll be over the hump with regard to her being used to the crate by the time we get her home.  We had an 11 year old springer spaniel that passed away 4 years ago; we are now empty nesters as of earlier this year and I am ready to love another furry child (I have a 5 year old cat).  We both work full-time, as we both did when I was training our spaniel as well.  Looking for tips on how often during the day you have had to let out your puppies--my husband travels and I will be responsible at times for getting up very early with my puppy as I leave for work about 5:10 am and get home about 3:45 pm.  Your tips and stories as working parents are appreciated!  Thanks!  Lorrie

[suzanne m. denman]

Merry Christmas, Lorrie! And congratulations on your doodle puppy! My vet recommended 1 hour per month old. We leave her in the utility room with a baby gate. She was potty trained within the first month we had her, and does very well running around in the larger space of the utility room. Good luck!

[Seamus & Haidee]

Hi Lorrie- I also used baby gates and confine Seamus to a hallway area off the kitchen. It has worked great along with the crate. I bought the Carlson baby gates on Amazon and it was a good investment. Merry Christmas!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Hopefully you have a family member or friend nearby that can come and let the puppy out a couple times during the day.  That is a very long time for a puppy to have to try and wait.  If not, potty training is going to be very difficult.  The rule of thumb is a puppy can hold it for one hour for each month of age, plus one hour.  So at 8 weeks, you are talking 3 hours max.  And, if they are out and running around and playing it is suggested that they go outside everyone 20-30 mins or so until you get them understanding the potty routine.  Hopefully you will be able to get into a routine where you and feed and water in the am in time for the puppy to be able to pee and poo before you go to work.  Sounds like you are going to have an early morning.  Good luck.  Look forward to see pictures.