[amp9364]

We are crate training for the first time and I just want to make sure we are doing it right. We got the puppy yesterday and put him in the crate for short 30 min periods to get him used to it, then he slept in the crate over night and we let him out about every 2 hrs to potty. He is 11 weeks old, at what point should he be able to hold it all night? And i believe using the general age rule, he should be able to hold it about 3 hrs right now during the day is that correct? He sure does go a lot more frequently than that! Thanks in advance for any advice.

[terryjeanne]

I can only tell you what we did. My sheltie was 16 wks when we got her. I think we took her out once during the night for the first couple of weeks. My husband is a very early riser so we slowly just moved the nightime pee break back 30 min every couple of nights. She usually went out around 11:00pm and she still goes out around 5:30 when hubby goes to work.

[briteday]

Most pups tend to go more frequently when awake because they are being stimulated, fed, playing and then drinking water to cool off,.

Gnerally they can hold it the number of hours that is equal to there age in months. So 11 weeks is not quite 3 months. I would expect to take him out no less than every 2-3 hours 24/7. Yes, set the alarm clock. It's better to praise the dog that has eliminated in the dark at 2AM than to wake up to a sopping wet miserable dog (dogs prefer not to eliminate where they sleep if they can help it) and crate clean up duty.

Be sure you are keeping a regular 3x/day feeding schedule. I give pups plenty of water with meals and try to keep just a little in the bowl between meals. Pick up the water 2 hours before bedtime.

Your dog will need to go out as soon as it wakes in the morning, 15-45 minutes after the AM meal, mid-morning, after the noon meal, mid-afternoon, after the dinner meal, maybe twice in the evening, before bed, and then probably every 3 hours during the night.

To avoid too much crate time when you are home you can leash the dog to yourself so that it cannot wander out of your sight. Watch for circling, sniffing, squatting. Take the dog outside if that occurs. Remember to keep special treats just for potty successes ready at all times. It's important to time the treat and praise since dogs have such short memories. You must treat and praise IMMEDIATELY when the dog finishes the elimination process. Immediately, or they have forgotten why they are being praised. They like the treat but may not associate it with peeing outside if you're too slow.

Keep night time outings minimal...no talking (except a little praise and treat), no lights, no playing...just scoop up, outside, pee/treat/praise, right back to the crate.

Good luck!

[Pelican Pants]

Our Border Terrier just turned 11 weeks today. I tried NOT taking him out during the night for the first time Friday or Saturday night. Since then I have not taken him out in the middle of the night and he has done fine (no messes in the crate). I usually give him his last water between 8pm and 9pm. I take him out between 9pm and 10pm and then for the last time around midnight. My wife takes him out first thing when she gets up in the morning around six.