When training, do you prefer a playpen, exercise pen or gate? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

princesmommy · 10-09-2005, 09:39 PM

I'm having a hard time training my baby Prince. After talking to many people, I am now confused about all the different training methods. lol. He is temporarily on a feeding schedule. He gets the recommended amount of 1/2 a cup in the morning, afternoon, and at 8 P.M. just to help me monitor when he'll be eliminating. Prince has O.C.D. and I believe that this is one of the reasons why he is stressed out. I'm currently working on getting him to sleep in his crate all night so that in the morning I could immediately place him in the confined area. The crate is next to my bed but the confined area is across the room. Do I still need to put the crate in the confined area? Could someone please clarify these methods for me?

1- I understand that I could place Prince in a playpen, like the ones babies are kept in, and cover the floor with newspapers and include his crate, food, and toys. However, I need help with the procedure. How can I tell if he's progressing? Do I cover the entire floor with newspapers or give him an option? I want him to eliminate on the newspapers which I'm going to place on a tray so do I put that in the playpen too? How will he know that when he's out of the playpen that he has to go on the tray? How long do I leave him in the playpen?

2- I also understand that after I've chosen the area where I want him to eliminate, I could close off that area with an exercise pen or gate and cover the entire floor with newspapers and include his crate, food, toys, and tray where he should eliminate. Then everyday I could restrict the area little by little. How long does he have to stay there? I believe that he has to stay confined until he is trained and am afraid that he might get even more stressed out. I think that the gate confinement might work better for me because I live in a small apartment, but I just need some guidance in how to properly train him, like a step by step procedure. I feel like I'm everywhere. I can't seem to understand the methods enough to implement them. Please help, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ladylavender · 10-10-2005, 06:43 AM

Whether you use an x-pen or a playpen, the process is the same. You are creating a "confined" area that you will keep your baby so that you have better control over the potty issue.

The crate really has nothing to do with it other than that you can keep the crate in the penned area if you are leaving the puppy alone during the day and will leave the crate door open to let puppy go in for sleeping.

You have to decide what the "confined area" is for. Is it simply the designated potty area, or is the "safe" area that you keep your puppy in when you can't keep an eye on your puppy?

If the confined area is just the potty area, then you really need to lay paper all over it, and there should be no toys, or anything in there. You would bring the puppy to this area when you want her/him to go to potty. (Just like you would do if you were taking them outside, only it's in the house). You place them in the confined area and tell them to go potty or other word you are using and only take them out when they have gone. You should repeat this process over and over and over again every 45 mins to an hour until they learn where to go. (if they won't go, then you place them in the crate, and take them out in about 10 minutes and put them back in the confined area and wait until they go potty). I think the area should be no bigger than a couple of peepads because you are establishing this as the "potty area" and you want them to get used to pottying in a confined area.

In the above method you will use the crate as the place you put your puppy when you cannot watch her/him or when you have to leave the house for errands or in between potty times.

If you are using the confined area as the place where your puppy is placed while you are away or to keep them in control while you cannot watch them, then you will have to place paper all over the area, place their bed and toys in there too and as they begin to pee is a specific area over and over again, you will start removing the papers furthest away and remove in small increments, until your puppy is left with only one small area of paper in the confined area to go potty in. After they are very good at going potty only in this small area, you can start moving the paper (little by litte, in very minute measures) to the area of the house you want them to go potty in.

Does that make sense? Basically the method you use depends on the your intent and what you want to accomplish, if you work or not, etc.

princesmommy · 10-10-2005, 08:18 AM

Thanks, that was very helpful. You clarified many things for me and gave me good tips. He will sleep in his crate and as soon as he wakes up I will place him in his designated "potty area." I will cover the entire floor with newspapers and place his crate, toys, and food in there just for 20 mins. Then after he pees, poops and eats, I will remove the food. Afterwards, I will just watch him during the day and attach his leash to my belt buckle until his next feeding in the afternoon. At that time, I'll place him in the "potty area" for another 20 mins, wait until he eliminates, then attach his leash to me again. At around 8 P.M., I will repeat that same step. At night, I'll place him in his crate and start all over again the next day. Do you think this will work? Any advice on my method? While he is attached to me I will play with him and take him out to the dog run so he won't be bored and could get some exercise. I will try to implement this method and keep you posted. Thanks again.

Ladylavender · 10-10-2005, 08:35 AM

I am not really sure what you are saying. If you are using the area, just for potty, then I would not put the toys or crate or even food in there. I would have him in another penned area just for sleep, play and eating. But if you are using it for confinement while you cannot watch him, then I would make sure there is an exposed area in the pen for him to potty in that is away from his sleeping area and food area.

I don't think that 3, 20-min potty breaks during the day is enough potty breaks. Especially if he is a puppy! If you have him on the leash and he needs to go potty at other times during the day, where will you take him to go potty?

chachi · 10-10-2005, 09:20 AM

I had an exercise pen that I could fold up and make smaller or larger.

princesmommy · 10-10-2005, 09:48 AM

I understand what you are saying. I think I'll just keep him in the "potty area" with nothing in it but newspapers. As soon as he wakes up, he will eliminate in the "potty area" and then he'll eat breakfast outside the potty area and then go back into it to eliminate again. Prince is a year and a half old so he eliminates within 20-30 minutes after eating and drinking. The reason why I'm attaching the leash to me is so that I can take him to the "potty area" if it looks like he's going to go. What do you think?

Ladylavender · 10-10-2005, 10:11 AM

Yes that's the way! After a while (when you trust him) you will leave the potty gate open, so that he will go in there by himself (or at least that's the idea!)

princesmommy · 10-10-2005, 10:11 AM

Sometimes when Prince wakes up, he won't use the bathroom right away. So should I leave him in the "potty area" until he goes or put him in the crate for 10 minutes and out again to the "potty area"?

princesmommy · 10-10-2005, 10:28 AM

Also could I give him treats to reward him for going in the "potty area"?

Ladylavender · 10-10-2005, 10:29 AM

Well, I would put him in the potty area, if he does not go after about 10-15 minutes, go ahead and put him back in his crate and take him back out after 10 minutes to try again and keep doing it until he goes potty. This really is the best way for him to catch on to the concept that he is in there to do business and he only gets out of "jail" when he does business. Eventually, he will hurry up and go, because he understands what is expected of him and he will want to go and play (or eat).

Ladylavender · 10-10-2005, 10:30 AM

The whole time he is in there, you need to be with him, repeating the words, "go potty" or whatever it is you are using. That way he will come to associate the words with the activity, too.

Ladylavender · 10-10-2005, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesmommy

Also could I give him treats to reward him for going in the "potty area"?

Absolutely, goes with out saying!

princesmommy · 10-10-2005, 10:59 AM

Yes I think I got it down packed. You were such big help.

Thanks Ladylavender from Prince and Dilayla

10-09-2005, 09:39 PM	#1
princesmommy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 88	When training, do you prefer a playpen, exercise pen or gate? I'm having a hard time training my baby Prince. After talking to many people, I am now confused about all the different training methods. lol. He is temporarily on a feeding schedule. He gets the recommended amount of 1/2 a cup in the morning, afternoon, and at 8 P.M. just to help me monitor when he'll be eliminating. Prince has O.C.D. and I believe that this is one of the reasons why he is stressed out. I'm currently working on getting him to sleep in his crate all night so that in the morning I could immediately place him in the confined area. The crate is next to my bed but the confined area is across the room. Do I still need to put the crate in the confined area? Could someone please clarify these methods for me? 1- I understand that I could place Prince in a playpen, like the ones babies are kept in, and cover the floor with newspapers and include his crate, food, and toys. However, I need help with the procedure. How can I tell if he's progressing? Do I cover the entire floor with newspapers or give him an option? I want him to eliminate on the newspapers which I'm going to place on a tray so do I put that in the playpen too? How will he know that when he's out of the playpen that he has to go on the tray? How long do I leave him in the playpen? 2- I also understand that after I've chosen the area where I want him to eliminate, I could close off that area with an exercise pen or gate and cover the entire floor with newspapers and include his crate, food, toys, and tray where he should eliminate. Then everyday I could restrict the area little by little. How long does he have to stay there? I believe that he has to stay confined until he is trained and am afraid that he might get even more stressed out. I think that the gate confinement might work better for me because I live in a small apartment, but I just need some guidance in how to properly train him, like a step by step procedure. I feel like I'm everywhere. I can't seem to understand the methods enough to implement them. Please help, any advice would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Prince has a nose for trouble and a super cute look that always gets him off the hook.

10-10-2005, 08:18 AM	#3
princesmommy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 88	Thanks, that was very helpful. You clarified many things for me and gave me good tips. He will sleep in his crate and as soon as he wakes up I will place him in his designated "potty area." I will cover the entire floor with newspapers and place his crate, toys, and food in there just for 20 mins. Then after he pees, poops and eats, I will remove the food. Afterwards, I will just watch him during the day and attach his leash to my belt buckle until his next feeding in the afternoon. At that time, I'll place him in the "potty area" for another 20 mins, wait until he eliminates, then attach his leash to me again. At around 8 P.M., I will repeat that same step. At night, I'll place him in his crate and start all over again the next day. Do you think this will work? Any advice on my method? While he is attached to me I will play with him and take him out to the dog run so he won't be bored and could get some exercise. I will try to implement this method and keep you posted. Thanks again. __________________ Prince has a nose for trouble and a super cute look that always gets him off the hook.

10-10-2005, 09:20 AM	#5
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	I had an exercise pen that I could fold up and make smaller or larger. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

10-10-2005, 09:48 AM	#6
princesmommy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 88	I understand what you are saying. I think I'll just keep him in the "potty area" with nothing in it but newspapers. As soon as he wakes up, he will eliminate in the "potty area" and then he'll eat breakfast outside the potty area and then go back into it to eliminate again. Prince is a year and a half old so he eliminates within 20-30 minutes after eating and drinking. The reason why I'm attaching the leash to me is so that I can take him to the "potty area" if it looks like he's going to go. What do you think? __________________ Prince has a nose for trouble and a super cute look that always gets him off the hook.

10-10-2005, 10:11 AM	#8
princesmommy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 88	Sometimes when Prince wakes up, he won't use the bathroom right away. So should I leave him in the "potty area" until he goes or put him in the crate for 10 minutes and out again to the "potty area"? __________________ Prince has a nose for trouble and a super cute look that always gets him off the hook.

10-10-2005, 06:43 AM	#2
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 733	Whether you use an x-pen or a playpen, the process is the same. You are creating a "confined" area that you will keep your baby so that you have better control over the potty issue. The crate really has nothing to do with it other than that you can keep the crate in the penned area if you are leaving the puppy alone during the day and will leave the crate door open to let puppy go in for sleeping. You have to decide what the "confined area" is for. Is it simply the designated potty area, or is the "safe" area that you keep your puppy in when you can't keep an eye on your puppy? If the confined area is just the potty area, then you really need to lay paper all over it, and there should be no toys, or anything in there. You would bring the puppy to this area when you want her/him to go to potty. (Just like you would do if you were taking them outside, only it's in the house). You place them in the confined area and tell them to go potty or other word you are using and only take them out when they have gone. You should repeat this process over and over and over again every 45 mins to an hour until they learn where to go. (if they won't go, then you place them in the crate, and take them out in about 10 minutes and put them back in the confined area and wait until they go potty). I think the area should be no bigger than a couple of peepads because you are establishing this as the "potty area" and you want them to get used to pottying in a confined area. In the above method you will use the crate as the place you put your puppy when you cannot watch her/him or when you have to leave the house for errands or in between potty times. If you are using the confined area as the place where your puppy is placed while you are away or to keep them in control while you cannot watch them, then you will have to place paper all over the area, place their bed and toys in there too and as they begin to pee is a specific area over and over again, you will start removing the papers furthest away and remove in small increments, until your puppy is left with only one small area of paper in the confined area to go potty in. After they are very good at going potty only in this small area, you can start moving the paper (little by litte, in very minute measures) to the area of the house you want them to go potty in. Does that make sense? Basically the method you use depends on the your intent and what you want to accomplish, if you work or not, etc.

10-10-2005, 08:35 AM	#4
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 733	I am not really sure what you are saying. If you are using the area, just for potty, then I would not put the toys or crate or even food in there. I would have him in another penned area just for sleep, play and eating. But if you are using it for confinement while you cannot watch him, then I would make sure there is an exposed area in the pen for him to potty in that is away from his sleeping area and food area. I don't think that 3, 20-min potty breaks during the day is enough potty breaks. Especially if he is a puppy! If you have him on the leash and he needs to go potty at other times during the day, where will you take him to go potty?

10-10-2005, 10:28 AM	#9
princesmommy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 88	Also could I give him treats to reward him for going in the "potty area"? __________________ Prince has a nose for trouble and a super cute look that always gets him off the hook.

10-10-2005, 10:29 AM	#10
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 733	Well, I would put him in the potty area, if he does not go after about 10-15 minutes, go ahead and put him back in his crate and take him back out after 10 minutes to try again and keep doing it until he goes potty. This really is the best way for him to catch on to the concept that he is in there to do business and he only gets out of "jail" when he does business. Eventually, he will hurry up and go, because he understands what is expected of him and he will want to go and play (or eat).

10-10-2005, 10:30 AM	#11
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 733	The whole time he is in there, you need to be with him, repeating the words, "go potty" or whatever it is you are using. That way he will come to associate the words with the activity, too.

10-10-2005, 10:59 AM	#13
princesmommy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 88	Yes I think I got it down packed. You were such big help. Thanks Ladylavender from Prince and Dilayla __________________ Prince has a nose for trouble and a super cute look that always gets him off the hook.