[ellykay72]

I am probably doing this all wrong, so I need some advice.

Pottying is going great. After meals and after naps, I take her outside. She goes immediately almost every time.

The problem I am having is when to crate. I know that most people crate at night. But, I work part-time, just a few hours a few days per week. And, I really want to crate her during those hours, so I feel like crating her at night and the few hours during the day is too much.

She has been sleeping in her bed we bought her in a box right by the bed. It went great the first few nights. I only had to get up once each night to take her potty. Last night, on the other hand, she wimpered at 12:30, 4:00 and then 6:30. She did not go potty the 6:30 time, but she did the others.

She doesn't seem to have her days/nights mixed up and seems tired around 10:00 or 10:30. And, she has taken a few naps during the day, but not for hours and hours.

I want to set some sort of routine. I am not rigid at all but do want to have a general guideline. And, also regarding feedings, what are the good times to feed her? At 4:00 this morning, she seemed hungry and was trying to jump out of my arms when she saw her dog bowls. But, I don't want her to think she can have a meal every night at 4:00. But, maybe I fed her dinner too early?

Thanks!