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Originally Posted by Tammyh  We've crate trained all of our puppies with great success. This is the rule we use when crate training. Once you take them out of the crate and they go potty they get lot's of praise and get to stay out (supervised or in the x-pen) and play for about 45 minutes then it's back in the crate (This is the hard part but very important). Keep them in the crate for about an hour to hour & 1/2 then they can come back out. If they do not go "potty" they must go back in their crate. They can only stay out (either in the x-pen or with you) if they've done their thing. If you're consistant, with repetition they'll figure it out. I think you're having such a hard time because they've been in the x-pen and not the crate, it's too big and that's why they'll mess in it. Make sure the crate is just big enough for them to lay in and turn around in and they shouldn't mess in it. It's really hard because you don't want to put them back in the crate after 45 minutes but believe me it will pay off. I got kind of lax with Bella and my husband reminded me that I had to put her back in after the 45 minutes and once I started doing that I saw the results fairly quickly. I'm also constantly watching her, I can tell when she has to "go" just in her actions. If they start going to the door to let you know they have to "go" and it's close to the time to put them back in the crate, let them stay out longer if they "go" but then put them back in the crate within 20 minutes or so. The key is to not give them an opportunity to "go" in the house. It's definitely taken longer with Bella then with any of our labs (about twice as long) but it's worked and now she's 6 month old and goes to the door when she needs to do her thing. Also, you must go out with them every single time to make sure they really "went". I live in Washington state and that's not so much fun in the rain but I stand there with my umbrella in the back yard saying "go potty" until she goes. That's the other thing, I always say "go potty" and both she and Lucee know what that means so when I say that now, they know what I want them to do. It takes a lot of patience and consistancy (just like kids! LOL!). I hope my rambling helps! Good luck! |
Since I am home all day, when should I put them in the crate? I let them sleep with me and there's no problem and then in the morning I take them out first thing..and then it's breakfast.. when should I put them in the crate for the first time, right after they eat or wait till they potty again.not sure where to start with it..