First off congrats and I hope everything goes well with your new pup! I just brought my 6 month old girl home about 4 days ago, so we're in the same boat, and she is doing great! I do crate her at night so that she doesn't have any accidents, and I'm also pee pad training her. I just put my baby gate up in my kitchen/living room area (it's all one big space) and let her run and play in there, and I'm able to watch her at all times. She has only had maybe one accident a day, but only pee thankfully! I bought Nature's Miracle to remove any odors so that she won't be drawn back to that spot and go again. I feed her three times a day (she needs to gain about 1/2lb more, she's at 3 lbs right now) but if your pup is a healthy weight, she is OK just to eat twice a day. Her schedule is as follows:
7AM- go out to potty
7:20AM- feed and water
10AM- go out to potty
10AM to 2PM- playtime and/or naptime
2PM- go out to potty
2:20PM- feed and water
5PM- go out to potty
7PM- feed and water
9PM- go out to potty
9PM or 10PM- bedtime in crate
The key is timing, it's everything! You have to make sure you make a schedule and keep to it! The more rigid you are with it, the faster she will potty train. She's rarely left alone as my hubby and I work opposite schedules, I take her with me when I go to pick up my son from school as well! You have to feel your pet out, but she might be like my Sasha and love going for rides in the car. Be aware though, that some pets get sick in the car, so take it slow at first, maybe just a couple of minutes at a time to see if your baby likes it. I bought Sasha bully sticks to chew on, but she wants nothing to do with them, so I'm gonna try some himalayan chews on her. She does like to play with her toys though, I bought her one of those long skinny plush dogs that are on all of the commercials and she loves it! Good luck! |