May 18, 2011
How long should our 10 week old puppy spend in the dog crate? We get up at 2 AM and let her outside when she cry's, should we stop doing this?
Full Question:
Ed,I just rec'd your puppy video and watched it today. What a super video to watch!! We got a GS puppy (10 weeks) 2 days ago. I only have a couple questions after watching (I know I'm not supposed to have any) :)
On crating the pup, how long/often during the day should he be crated so he's used to it and it works effectively? I don't want to be using it too much. Does that time wind down as he gets older? The video states that with food up at about 6:00 and water by 7:00, he should make it through the night. I've been taking him out when he whimpers, (at about 2), he of course goes. Should I ignore this whimper so as not to create a habit? (As long as I take him out at 11pm and 6am?)
Also, we have a 7 year old Lab and is it ok to walk them together (with her in a heel command), and let him just run as shown in your video until we move onto the next training stage? I also purchased the basic obedience video which will help further I'm sure. But I am mainly just wondering about the crate issue.
Thanks for the great videos and also for the fantastic response on e-mails and mailing the videos!!
Jan
Ed's Answer:
Normally small puppies can not hold it all night until they are 12 to 14 weeks old. So some have to get up in the middle of the night - do not ignore her plea.
The pup should spend a lot of time in the crate. Certainly until it does not scream and cry it must be in the crate. The more it cries the more it stays in the crate. Puppies naturally sleep a lot so she will sleep in the crate when she is comfortable. Just take her outside every 3 to 4 hours and then play with her and then back into the crate. She must learn that the crate is her home. I don't think you will want to be leaving her out on her own (without you there) until she is over a year. She can be out for an hour or so (after going outside) when she shows that she is stable and not crazy all the time. I think that it is OK to have the pup around the other dog when you are with them to supervise. You may need a puppy prong to control the pup if it gets too wild with the older dog. It must learn what NO means. Read my article. Puppies can be like wild untrained children - otherwise known as BRATS. They need to learn manners but this also needs to be done with compassion - most people have too much compassion and it gets in the way of a firm correction. I go into corrections in detail in my Basic Dog Obedience video that you have.
Good luck with your adventure.
The pup should spend a lot of time in the crate. Certainly until it does not scream and cry it must be in the crate. The more it cries the more it stays in the crate. Puppies naturally sleep a lot so she will sleep in the crate when she is comfortable. Just take her outside every 3 to 4 hours and then play with her and then back into the crate. She must learn that the crate is her home. I don't think you will want to be leaving her out on her own (without you there) until she is over a year. She can be out for an hour or so (after going outside) when she shows that she is stable and not crazy all the time. I think that it is OK to have the pup around the other dog when you are with them to supervise. You may need a puppy prong to control the pup if it gets too wild with the older dog. It must learn what NO means. Read my article. Puppies can be like wild untrained children - otherwise known as BRATS. They need to learn manners but this also needs to be done with compassion - most people have too much compassion and it gets in the way of a firm correction. I go into corrections in detail in my Basic Dog Obedience video that you have.
Good luck with your adventure.
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