Potty train using crate method, how does it work?
 

Hello..
I read about many ways to potty train your dog in apartments, but the crate method i did not understand it well.

Can someone tell me how?
Do i put him in the crate with the pads only or put toys or food?
How many hours do i put him in a crate and when? after meals and when i am away?

Thank you in advance

Can anyone help me?

Wee Wee Pad Issues
 

Gidget is now 4 mos + and we're having a slight issue with her wee wee pad training. She does really well most of the time but I'm beginning to see a pattern to her habits. I change the pad usually once a day (first thing in the morning). This morning we got up, we went to the kitchen/dining area where her pad is located, I put my coffee on to perk. When I looked around she had pooped on the pad. I praised her for it and picked the poop up. Had not as yet put down a clean pad. When I looked around again, she had walked 2 feet way from the pad and peed on the floor. Is it because the pad was needing to be changed. There wasn't a whole lot of unused space on the pad. It didn't seem to bother her to poop on the used pad, but peeing seemed to be an issue. I've also noticed at other times that she will pee on the hard wood floors before going back to her pad which is less than 8 feet away from where she's standing. Any ideas or suggestions?

How old is your dog?

To effectively potty train a pup via the crate training method, you'll have to have a fixed schedule to allow him to relieve himself outside of the crate (whether on a pad or you taking him outdoors). If it's a 3 month old puppy, you'd need to keep him in the crate and take him out for potty every 3 hours. Then, gradually, extend it to every 4 hours, if there's been no accidents, at 4 months. Until he's a year old, then the max time in between potty breaks should be 8 hours.

If he has accidents inside the crate, that means you need to take him out for potty more frequently than your schedule.

Inside the crate, you can keep a blanket, toys, feed him in the crate (if you wish). By "feed him", I mean on a feeding schedule - not free feeding. The toys keep him from being bored. Food helps him associate good things with the crate. Pads are kept outside of the crate, a few steps away so it's like a 'toilet area'.

Each time the pup comes out of the crate, bring him outside or to a potty pad to relieve himself. Only if he relieves himself can you allow him to play outside the crate.

Yes, crate him while you're away. Do not crate a dog more than 8 hours. That's cruel.

Last, you need to properly introduce your puppy or adult dog to like the crate first.

Take a read here: Crate Training A Puppy - Puppy Crate Training 101