You said it exactly like I was thinking. The smallest travel crate is what I have always used for all of my dogs as puppies Then as they get bigger I move up to a bigger size. Although I think Lily will be in the small one forever. I think they feel more secure in them because it has the plastic surrounding them and no room for messing. I even put a little blanket over the sides and back so they don't feel a draft. Definately WEAR YOUR PUPPY OUT while he is awake. The more exhausted he is when you put him in the crate the better the success in crate training. I don't put anything but a warm pad(made for crates) and maybe one safe toy. Lily does fine for 3-4 hours in her crate if I have to leave her during the day, and she sleep from 10:30-8:30am through the night without waking up. I guess I have been lucky, she has slept through the night since I got her and never had an accident in her crate. She is such a good little girl! Just be consistent and stick with the same routine as much as possible until he is trained. I would keep him out as much as possible while you are home and tire him out. Good Luck.
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Originally Posted by JeanieK You didn't say how big the crate is, or if you are crating him while you are home, other than sleeping, and you didn't mention walks or exercise.
To crate train successfully, they need to be walked or played with in the morning before you leave for work. Vigorous play that will tire them out and make them ready to nap. The same thing at noon, and before bed
I also would not feed him at noon, but wait till 3:30 and then again about an hour before bed. Is 9:30 your bed time. I would hold off putting him down for the night until I went to bed.
The crate should be small enough so that there is no room for him to potty other than his bed. Since he has started pottying in this crate, he might continue. I would suggest a small travel crate, the smallest you can buy. There should be just enough room for them to turn around. You might have to put a box in it to block off the back of it till he gets bigger.
If you want to use the wire crate, and it is big enough, you can put a bed in it, or a travel crate, and a pee pad. so there is only room for his bed and the pee pad. |