Originally Posted by Candacekimble (Post 1827331)

I have a 6 month old yorkie female, who is potty trained. I got her about 14 weeks and started crate training immediately. Never used the potty pads and she never had full run unless I was watching her like a hawk. If I couldn’t watch her she was in her crate. I have an X-Small crate but it was still too much room and she would pee/poo on one end and lay on the other. Needless to say that didn’t work. This is what worked: I got a doggy bed and placed this in the crate. She could stand up, move around a bit, play with her toys but she couldn’t pee and run. It worked like a charm, the day I put the bed in she stopped peeing in the crate. I believe the trick is not to give too much room in the crate, but that was hard for me to measure. This site really helped.

I used to come home and take her out during lunch and then immediately after work. At about 4.5 months (I think) I noticed she could hold it for the day (when I had an emergency). Even now at 6 months she sometimes in her crate from 8-5 and when I let her out she stops and plays with me for about 5 minutes before she is ready to go out. At this point, she runs around the house without any accidents, when we are home. She will come get our attention when she needs to go outside 

Not home=Crate. No food or water, just few of her favorite toys.
Also, I took the bed out of her crate after about 3 weeks and now she has the entire crate with no problems. It was so frustrating the first few months but now she is potty outside trained.

Most important, do what works in your lifestyle. There is a lot of great advice on this website and every dog is different. Be patient, stick with a routine, and this will be over before you know it.

Originally Posted by Ladylavender (Post 1827168)

I don't wish to be controversial, but this is wrong. A puppy can hold it for 5 hours and they will. And a dog does NOT need access to water 24/7. And to take it a way from them while confined is not cruel, just practical.

Originally Posted by Ellie May (Post 1827455)

Puppies have very little bladder control until 3 or 4 months old. Their muscles aren't strong enough and their bladders are small.

This is why I recommend access to water all the time:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1&SourceID=47
I wouldn't want to be thirsty and not be able to drink for five hours.

Originally Posted by Ellie May (Post 1827455)

Puppies have very little bladder control until 3 or 4 months old. Their muscles aren't strong enough and their bladders are small.

This is why I recommend access to water all the time:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1&SourceID=47
I wouldn't want to be thirsty and not be able to drink for five hours.

Originally Posted by Ladylavender (Post 1827168)

I don't wish to be controversial, but this is wrong. A puppy can hold it for 5 hours and they will. And a dog does NOT need access to water 24/7. And to take it a way from them while confined is not cruel, just practical.





It is hard and you may not think it will work, but it does. It is an extremely effective method, without being cruel. It eliminates a lot of the stress in the homecoming, because there is no potty to pick up or clean up and there is a sense of accomplishment everyday that they get it right. The homecoming is a happy occasion for both you and the puppy.

You might want to practice on the week-end and keep her in her crate for a couple hours at a time and work your way up to 5 hours, so that on Monday, she will be used to it and it will not be anything new to her.

Originally Posted by Ellie May (Post 1827455)

Puppies have very little bladder control until 3 or 4 months old. Their muscles aren't strong enough and their bladders are small.

This is why I recommend access to water all the time:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1&SourceID=47
I wouldn't want to be thirsty and not be able to drink for five hours.

Originally Posted by Potter (Post 1829425)

A puppy or even dog does need water 24/7 and especially when sometimes they are sick they tend to drink a little more. What happens when you do not know yet and puppy does not have water access? I am not trying to be mean just bringing out the what ifs. And I do agree about the fact that puppy's bladders are small and do not have enough control yet until they are older.

Originally Posted by Candacekimble (Post 1827331)

I have a 6 month old yorkie female, who is potty trained. I got her about 14 weeks and started crate training immediately. Never used the potty pads and she never had full run unless I was watching her like a hawk. If I couldn’t watch her she was in her crate. I have an X-Small crate but it was still too much room and she would pee/poo on one end and lay on the other. Needless to say that didn’t work. This is what worked: I got a doggy bed and placed this in the crate. She could stand up, move around a bit, play with her toys but she couldn’t pee and run. It worked like a charm, the day I put the bed in she stopped peeing in the crate. I believe the trick is not to give too much room in the crate, but that was hard for me to measure. This site really helped.

I used to come home and take her out during lunch and then immediately after work. At about 4.5 months (I think) I noticed she could hold it for the day (when I had an emergency). Even now at 6 months she sometimes in her crate from 8-5 and when I let her out she stops and plays with me for about 5 minutes before she is ready to go out. At this point, she runs around the house without any accidents, when we are home. She will come get our attention when she needs to go outside 

Not home=Crate. No food or water, just few of her favorite toys.
Also, I took the bed out of her crate after about 3 weeks and now she has the entire crate with no problems. It was so frustrating the first few months but now she is potty outside trained.

Most important, do what works in your lifestyle. There is a lot of great advice on this website and every dog is different. Be patient, stick with a routine, and this will be over before you know it.