[mommyof2]

I can't offer any advice on actually getting them housebroke. I'm ready to pull my hair out with my two!!! But it's not all their fault, I've been terribly sick with this pregnancy and have been on bed rest, so I haven't been able to be very diligent with the housebreaking.

I do however, have advice about putting them in the same crate. I have two puppies, one is 8 months old and the other is 6 months old. I would not put them both in the same crate at the same time. I tried that with mine as my youngest one didn't like to be alone. It lasted all of about 5 seconds before my other was like "uh, no way!! Let me out!"

I think they both need their own space. The main idea behind crate training is that the dogs won't go potty in there, because it becomes their "den". I think it would be a lot more successful if each had their own "den". Mine actually enjoy their crates very much now. I leave the crates open and during the day or at night when I'm up too late, I'll try to find them and there they are, in their crates just looking at me, like, "aren't you going to go to bed, lady?"

I've heard that crate training is a very good way to housebreak. The only thing is that it takes some major commitement and consistency. My problem is the consistency. They say to take the dog out in the morning, if the dog does both pee and poop, the dog can stay out of the crate, feed and water and then it's back in the crate, then you take the dog out every 15 to 20 minutes until they pee and poop (they need to pee and POOP, after each meal), if they pee and poop, then they get supervised freedom for a half hour, at which time, take them out to try to go, if they don't pee (they shouldn't have to poop), they go back in the crate and you repeat taking them out every 15 or 20 minutes, until they pee. Then start all over with the supervised play time.
Like I said, I think the key to crate training is consitency and commitment. I, myself, need to get better at it. I'm too soft and feel so terribly guilty for putting them back in their crates. but talking with my vet about the guilty feeling, his response was "if you are consistent with the crate training, they will only be in their crates constantly for two weeks. That's all it takes if you are consistent with the crate and schedule. It's better they are secluded for two weeks during the training then for the rest of their lives, because they never get fully housebroke". He has a point.
Good luck and so sorry about the huge post. I get long winded laying here in bed, twiddling my thumbs!