Sitemaps

Crate training a puppy while at work2007-11-25 3:00:29

Hi there, we just got a puppy that is 8 1/2 weeks old. I have been home with him for the past couple of days, but have to return to work tomorrow. We would prefer to crate train him, but are unsure what is the best approach. My boyfriend can come home at lunch for the next three weeks, but after that we will both be gone for 7 hours/day. Can a 12-16 week old pup go that long in a crate? If not, should we be leaving him in the kitchen blocked off? The books and other advice seem to say if you can take vacation time when you get a pup it will be better, but I cannot take 3 months off! so, if we start by crate training him until he is 12 - 16 weeks, then we wouldn't want to revert back to paper in the kitchen, would we?

I am not sure if my question is making any sense, but hopefully you can give your advice and experiences with this!

Answers:

Crate training is highly recommended, but young puppies should not be crated for long periods of time. Rule of thumb is puppy can be crated for hours matching age plus one (example: if puppy is 3 months he should not be crated for more than 4 hours). The best thing that you can do is block off an area for the puppy and use paper while you are not home until the puppy is a little older. If you have a large breed dog 16 weeks should fine to leave in a crate for 7 hours ( most large breeds are very easy to house or crate train at this age) if you can arrange for someone to walk your puppy somewhere in the middle it would be good but regardless of whether you can or not be ready to rush outside for a bathroom trip as soon as you get home and he will need extra exercise for the long confinement time. If it is a small breed house/crate training is going to take considerably longer because small breed dogs do not have the capacity in their bladders to hold it very long so you will need to have a potty area for the puppy for quite a while longer. Read the book Good Owners, Great dogs by Brian Kilcommons. This book addresses urban dogs. One other thing is no matter whether you start with paper or a crate your dog will adjust and with patience and diligence he will do what you want. I have 5 dogs and a couple of litters of pups a year and I can not take off of work every time we have new litters of puppies so I have had lots of experience with this particular subject. Good luck with your new puppy!!

---

If someone can come home at lunch and let the tyke out, that will be good. He may even get potty-trained in three weeks if you are consistent. Blocking off the kitchen won't crate-train him, but once he is trained, it is a good way to keep the destruction down to a minumum as he learns what is expected of him. When he does have an accident in the house, do not punish him unless you catch him in the act. Punishing afterwards will just confuse him and make him fear you.

---

Crate training is an excellent way to avoid accidents while you are away. If you are going to be away for a long time, however, you may want to allow your puppy more room so that he is not sitting in a soiled crate all day. Crate training should be done gradually. Start by putting your puppy in whenever he is sleepy, so that he will learn to sleep there. You can also put him there overnight. It should never be used as a place for punishment, since you want him to like being in there. If he cries about being put in a crate, ignore him. It might be hard, but giving in to his cries will just encourage him to cry more.