Still have ???s about crate training

We did have a dish attached inside of Sophie's crate. Until....She figured out how to unhook the bowl, and started clanging around the crate bars when it was empty ( or she emptied it ). She also tried to eat the metal bowl which I figured she would try to do which is why I bought metal in the first place. So, hooking it on the side will probably be fine, but if the little guy is anything like Sophie, he'll will try to find ways to spill it, eat it, and just plain drive you nuts with it.

Bluemoon

 

Generally, it is my understanding that puppies don't need water at night, and reduced fliuid intke at night helps prevent accidents. During waking hours, however, water is , of course, part of the set-up.

 

When Hercules was a puppy....we would leave him in the crate for a couple hours a day...for a while we wouldn't allow water in the kennel...then one day...he got up on the couch with us..was standing up then all of a sudden passes out...We rushed him to the vet...vet did testing...suggest that we not leave him in the kennel without water until he was a little older...Also to prevent spillage...you could use a drip bottle...they make them for dogs now....you just have to show them how...and they will get the hang of it...Good luck and the pics of the new pup are great!

 

I never give my puppies water in their crate at night. When I take them out at night we might stop by the water bowl and have a short drink, but probably not. Control intake so you control output.

 

Feed the pup at least an hour before bed. Have a potty break then if he wants a drink let him have one. Go potty one more time then put the pup to bed asap. One maybe two potty breaks first month. Should be able to hold all night after that. Do not let him out if he is barking though. Yes, he needs to go out but what till hes quiet before you let him out or they think that barking will get you to do what they want. Offer a small drink if he needs one, but dont put water in the crate. He's sleeping not playing. If you know they don't need to go out and he won't stop barking. Say quiet in a firm voice. If he stops praise him. If he doesn't say quiet and hit the top of the crate. That gets the message through very quick. When you get up take the pup straight outside.

 

Isn't the (very general) rule with crate/potty training: Don't expect them to go longer than 1 hour for each month of age without having to pee? (2 month old puppy=2 hours, 6 month old puppy=6 hours). Take them out, go potty, bring back in, play, feed and water, then back in the crate.

They can go longer at night but babies may not sleep thru the whole night. The other rule of thumb is, just like people, a cold puppy is a puppy that will have to pee. Warmer is drier.

Do not reward whining or crying (for a puppy that's bored, not a puppy that is hungry or has to pee) by letting them out to play. You will regret it.

Crate through the destructive teething and teenaged months (for some dogs, this is the first 2 years!) when you're not keeping an eagle eye on them. A crated dog is (generally) a dog that you don't have to yell at for being bad

Rommie is still crated when we're gone during the day and she's 5. The cats need the break

This is, quite honestly, why baby puppies don't appeal to me for longer than a short cuddle. I have always bonded strongest with the dogs I got when they were about 6 months old. Young enough to still be a puppy but old enough to have bladder control and a definite personality. Babies just aren't fun for me. Fortunately, there is no shortage of 6 month old dogs from people who "had no idea they were this much trouble" and are tired of them

 

I agree with Bluemoon and ninny. Crates at night are for sleeping and pups will drive you crazy with anything that will make noise in their crate at night.

Once the pup in asleep at night, which will sometimes mean laying there and ignoring puppy wailing for a 1/2 hour or more (AmStaffs can be very persistent), and then wakes up during the night, I always get up and take him outside. I stand with him outside watching to see if he pees or poops. If he does either I praise him. If we have been outside for 5-10 min and the pup hasn't produced anything, we just trundle back inside and go back to bed. Sometimes listening to the puppy wail for a 1/2 hour or more before it goes to sleep. No playing, no petting. Praise and a pet if they pee. Nighttime excursions are for peeing and pooping and maybe a drink on the way back to the crate.

This can mean getting up several times during the night. I want the puppy clean in its crate and would rather get up and take it outside than possibly let it soil its crate and think that it is OK to do so.

It is really hard listening to the pup wail at night, but you have to ignore it until it goes to sleep.

Early puppyhood with AmStaffs is a very tiring time. Hopefully Shepherd pups will be more considerate and cooperative.

I have never heard the hour for each month theory. Sounds interesting, though.