We've ordered a 24" one to start off with and I'm aware this will only last a few weeks but it was only £22 but we've decided to use this method for potty training. And we are going to order a 42" one for when he has grown out of the little one. Do you think this will be okay? I'm getting so excited now, I couldn't sleep the other night thinking about the puppy haha
Sorry, another question regarding this. Do we need a water bowl to attach to the inside of the crate? Or as each time I pop out it won't be for long anyway does it not matter?
We have a 42" crate and there is still lots of room for Quinn at 8mts/52lbs. If you are using the crate to potty train and only leaving for short periods of time, puppy is probably fine without water. When Quinn was younger, if we had to leave her for more than her bladder could handle, we left her in a pen with access to her water bowl.
I'm also wondering, I'll be back doing school/pre-school runs from beginning September, and although this will give me time to train the puppy, I will be out usually about 50 mins each time. The pup will only be about 9 weeks when this starts so will this be too long to leave him in a crate, will I be better off with getting a pen to bring out during those times? His first week at home we will there all the time so won't have to leave him it's just as he's into his second week with us.
50 minutes? That's nothing.. Stryker is 10 weeks and already stays in his pin (I don't use crates) for 5 hours a day. However, the key I found that works is right before I head out, I let him outside to do his business and as soon as I get home I let him out. He's learned already to hold his potty until I get home. He hasn't went poo but he has pee'd a few times. If he does, I don't scold him or anything I just let him out and clean his pin before letting him back in the house.
At ten weeks he may be able to hold his bladder, Stryker. But, socially five hours is far, far too long. A ten week old pup needs to learn, he needs human interaction and training for most of his day. Toys, for a pup are to be played with others, a social occasion. They will not keep them occupied for hours at a time. Imagine being alone for five hours yourself with no TV, no books, nothing to do at all. ... ...
This will be fine. Even better if you try to time him sleepy time for when you go out. You may be able to carry him with you. A great opportunity for socialising at the school gates. ..
Would love to do this but my son is only going into year 1 so I have to go in with him at the moment still, not sure they will let me take a dog in even if I'm carrying him. Would be great for him to meet all those children though!
50 mins sounds reasonable to me - there is a guide on the main site that gives age and crate time recommendations. I hated leaving her at all when she was tiny, so she came on many car rides with us - result is that she loves the car now and has no problem with long rides!
Y You would be surprised how lenient people are with small puppies - we broke tons of rules and carried her everywhere with us. No harm in trying!
I have this vision of taking him in the car with us, leaving him 10 mins while I take my son into school and someone smashing my car window for leaving a dog in it thinking I've left it there for ages
I totally understand what you're saying but that time is not something I can control. It's not everyday that it happens, only three times a week and the the rest of the time it's no more than an hour alone. I have given the neighbor full permission to enter my home to check on him and I've just never really had another conversation other than, "He's really well behaved when you're not home." Now if he comes over everyday I'm not sure. I know there have been a few times where the timing for everybody was off and nobody had any choice but to leave him in there for those 5 hours. Once he gets his remaining shots he'll be able to play in the yard with the neighbors dogs but until then he has to stay in my yard or his pin.
I always found people really understanding when I used to carry Stanley out and socialise him. He went in the supermarket, I took him to work, other people's houses. They're just cute little balls of love that people can't resist so I'm sure the school wouldn't mind and the kids would be in heaven!
What if he decides to nip a child though, would that be likely when they're going through the bitey stage?
It depends on the puppy. Charlie - no. He was bitey but not all that bitey and he was also concentrating on meeting a new person. Betsy - she would definitely nip a child. She is super bold (Charlie is bold, but she is something else) and VERY bitey.
Carrying a puppy around is all well and good...if the puppy doesn't weigh much. The idea of carrying Xena on a school run was lovely, but the reality was that she was heavy and I couldn't carry her further than the letterbox without my arms getting sore. At 9 weeks she also couldn't hold her bladder for longer than 20 mins, 30 if I was exceptionally lucky. If she was in the crate and she needed to wee then there would be a tiny dribble from her trying (and failing) to hold it in. Will you be following the crate training guide on the main site? Because if you are, 50 minutes is too long at 9 weeks, esp if you're doing it twice a day. I know plenty of people do, but I followed the guide pretty much to a T and now have a 4 month old with no crate anxiety. A pen is maybe a better option for you, at least until he's a bit older.
