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Too much space / Not enough space?

1K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  Sweet Girl 
#1 ·
So, we’re still a few weeks off from our puppy coming home, but I’m trying to get everything set up and ready in preparation (the reality is I’m just too excited and don’t know what else to do with myself!) :D

I set up the crate last night, using a divider so that she doesn’t have access to the whole crate space (and therefore can’t use it as a toilet as well). I’m hoping this will eventually (in part) prompt her to let me know when she needs to go outside.

I’ve put her bed, blanket and a couple of snuggle toys in the end which I want her to use, but becasue the space is divided off, there’s no extra room for a water bowl as well.

So I’m wondering – should I move the divider and give more crate space so that a bowl can be put in there as well (but risk her using some of that extra space as a toilet). Or should I just have the bowl outside of the crate so that she comes out for a drink?

I know I’m probably worrying about this far too early, but I just want to be as ready as possible :)
 
#2 ·
No - you won't want a water bowl in there in the beginning (or maybe ever). When you are first house training, you sort of need to monitor their water intake (ie, be aware of when they are drinking) so you can take them out about 30 seconds later. And at night, you will probably want to lift the water bowl a couple of hours before bed.

You may also find that your pup doesn't want anything in the crate. No blanket, no bed. Mine would try to fold her bed out of the way. One time, she wound up under it. I learned really quickly that she was too warm. It also makes it much easier when there is the inevitable accident if there is no bedding. Some pups also try to chew and eat bedding.

Spacewise, a good measure is, can your dog walk in, turn around, and lie down. That's all the space they need when housetraining.
 
#3 ·
I used a small water bowl that screws into the crate, up off the floor and allowed my last 2 Goldens the whole crate. I used beds inside as well. I, personally, never had a problem, with accidents or chewing of bedding etc. Neither one were excessive drinkers, but I could hear Bodie drinking during the night. Just giving you a different perspective. It's a personal choice and you will know fairly quickly, what works best for you. I know many people that do what Sweet Girl advises as well and it works for them. I did have the crate next to my bed, so I could keep an ear out for any whining or chewing, though.
 
#4 ·
I, like Sweet Girl, do not recommend putting a water bowl in the crate. You'll learn that what goes in to a puppy comes out fairly quickly. So you really do not want your puppy to have access to that water bowl at 2 AM. In fact if you want any hope of sleeping thru the night with a puppy you will not feed it or offer water right before bed (we have fed our puppies 3 times a day, at 6AM, noon and 6PM) and cut off acess to water at 8PM. It makes it much easier housebreaking them on a schedule such as that. I also am not a huge fan of leaving a lot of stuff in a crate for a puppy. Puppies chew on everything and what looks like a cute little stuffed animal or fluffy bed can be deadly for a puppy if they chew on it and ingest parts of it. Also, and I offer this recommendation from personal experience, it is best to remove your pup's collar when in the crate. Collars have a way of getting hung up on the metal side and can cause a puppy to strangle. Fortunately we discovered the situation before anything horrible happened. Also you may want to place the crate in your bedroom so you can see/hear the puppy at night. Since dogs are pack animals I have learned (the hard way) that they much prefer to be able to see and hear their pack members at night. It also makes it much easier to housebreak them as generally a puppy will not soil an area where he or she sleeps and will usually whine or bark to let you know it is time to get out of bed and take the little one outside. Good luck! Get lots of sleep now. Those first days are going to be exhausting. But so very worth it:)
 
#5 ·
Both Sweet Girl and G-Bear have excellent comments.

"I’m hoping this will eventually (in part) prompt her to let me know when she needs to go outside."

Pups do not like to soil where they sleep. When pups come home they don't have much control of the sphincter muscle. Putting them a small confined space helps them learn to control that muscle. I believe their bladders are the size of a small acorn. It really can't hold much. A puppy's body will slow down during sleep time which in turn means they can hold it a little longer during that time.

The next step in potty training is teaching the dog to go potty outside. To really instill good habits you as the adult want to be in charge of when the pup goes potty, not wait for the pup to tell you. In the beginning puppies should go out after each nap, after eating, water intake, and after a short period of active play along with about every 30 minutes during the day. As they build up that muscle control and their bladder slowly develops you can extend the time between potty breaks. So in the very beginning to set our pups up to succeed it is really that we follow a good routine and don't mess up. As you start building up that time between breaks you will be looking for tell signs the pup will start giving you that they need to go. Some pups may just start sniffing the area, some will just come and stare at you and others will actually go sit by the door. Usually by the time they are 5 or 6 months old they have found their own routine. They are still very young and sometimes may have an accident but usually by then it may be never or really far between those times.
 
#6 ·
Wow thanks so much for all the advice guys! :) I think I'll follow suit and not leave the water accessible all night. Likewise with the stuff in the crate, think I'll go a bit minimalist and clear most of it out - perhaps just some Vet Bed for her to sleep on?

Interesting point about the collar catching on the crate - something crucial which I hadn't considered at all!

Although we have a wire crate set up in the living room I was planning on having a soft travel crate next to my side of the bed for night times. However, because it'll take a good 30 seconds or more to pick her up and get outside from there, I'm foreseeing accidents occurring as I try to take her downstairs when she needs to pee in the night.

I'm thinking instead that I might put the travel crate downstairs for the first week or 2 and sleep down there next to her (in the kitchen), just so that I can get her outside quickly when needed. Then once she can hold her bladder a little better, move the travel crate up to our bedroom.

Does that sound like a good idea?
 
#7 ·
Wow thanks so much for all the advice guys! :) I think I'll follow suit and not leave the water accessible all night. Likewise with the stuff in the crate, think I'll go a bit minimalist and clear most of it out - perhaps just some Vet Bed for her to sleep on?

Interesting point about the collar catching on the crate - something crucial which I hadn't considered at all!

Although we have a wire crate set up in the living room I was planning on having a soft travel crate next to my side of the bed for night times. However, because it'll take a good 30 seconds or more to pick her up and get outside from there, I'm foreseeing accidents occurring as I try to take her downstairs when she needs to pee in the night.

I'm thinking instead that I might put the travel crate downstairs for the first week or 2 and sleep down there next to her (in the kitchen), just so that I can get her outside quickly when needed. Then once she can hold her bladder a little better, move the travel crate up to our bedroom.

Does that sound like a good idea?
Actually, pups are really good about not peeing when you are carrying them. You can actually interrupt a female peeing and they usually stop when you lift them up (not sure about the boys - I've only had girl pups). So, keep the crate in your room, and just pick her up out of the crate and carry her downstairs and outside. Grab the collar and leash on the way - you can always put it on once you put her down outside. But always have her on leash when you take her out when you are housetraining. You need to be there when she pees to throw a HUGE party and give lots of praise. And especially in the middle of the night, you want it to be all business - still praise the outside pee - but then just carry her right back in to the crate and go back to bed. No playing, no eating.
 
#8 ·
Ah I'm with ya! Thanks Sweetgirl, that's a relief to hear (I was having visions of her peeing all over me and the carpets whilst carrying her downstairs in the dead of night!). I know there will no doubt be a few accidents but I just want to try mitigate the damage/cleanup :D

I will keep the crate upstairs in that case (I wasn't relishing the thought of sleeping on the kitchen floor to be honest lol) :)
 
#9 ·
Ah I'm with ya! Thanks Sweetgirl, that's a relief to hear (I was having visions of her peeing all over me and the carpets whilst carrying her downstairs in the dead of night!). I know there will no doubt be a few accidents but I just want to try mitigate the damage/cleanup :D

I will keep the crate upstairs in that case (I wasn't relishing the thought of sleeping on the kitchen floor to be honest lol) :)
I hope she doesn't prove me wrong - but truly, neither of my female pups ever peed on me when I was carrying them outside. And I interrupted pees on a few occasions inside my house with my current dog, and as soon as I lifted her up, she'd stop, and continue only after I brought her out and put her on the grass. You do have to move fast for sure, but that's just all part of the housetraining fun.

Oh, and a tip - clean up any accidents in our house with a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water. You need to get the scent out. Much easier if you keep your puppy in an area with no carpets or rugs for the first couple of months when she is out of the crate and you are supervising.
 
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