I am about to get an 8 weeks old GSD and I was wondering if I should crate him while I am at work. I usually work 6-7 hrs day. Will he be okay for this long as no one will be able to let him out.

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I am about to get an 8 weeks old GSD and I was wondering if I should crate him while I am at work. I usually work 6-7 hrs day. Will he be okay for this long as no one will be able to let him out.

A rule of thumb for how long a puppy can hold it is supposed to be 1 hour per month of age, which suggests a 2 month old pup needs to be let out every 2 hours. However, there are people who work full time jobs that have 2 month old pups, so I'd be interested in hearing how they deal with it if they can't let the pup out every 2 hours.

As for crating -- if you don't crate, you come home to a destroyed house, so yes, definately crate the dog while you're gone. A dog crate is your best friend when it comes to pups.

When I first got my GSD at 8 weeks, I had to turn my garage into a puppy proof kennel. He had his crate and a portable pen that I sit up for him. It wasn't the perfect situation, but probably the safest for him and my house. He loves his crate now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

When our pup was 10wks. we had to be gone for a couple of days. I had to pay a neighbor to come over and let out our baby every two hours! and then my daughter stayed over at night! But we never had an accident.I would still crate your pup when you're gone.

Maybe crate him in mud room or bathroom, but make sure he can't get into anything. Put papers on floor, but not those "wee wee pads, as they tear those up. (really layer the papers, cause he might/probably chew those too). Best to get someone to let him out of crate every couple hours (as previously mentioned). Another idea is put crate in x-pen.

I pop Siris and his crate into the car and take him to work with me--with the windows rolled down, and it still cool, he's all right, and we get a training/drive building session when I get my break.

Matthew - Where do you live? The car in crate idea is good, except if it gets even a little warm where you live.

While I would recommend leaving your dog in the crate while at work, I think that 6-7 hours is pushing it for an 8 week old pup. That might force the pup to relieve itself in the crate, which would jeopardize your housebreaking and crate training efforts. Can you do a wire crate set up with an ex-pen? Set that up in the garage or on a kitchen floor - something easy to clean up.

When I brought my Ridgeback home at 8 weeks I left her in the crate while I went to work, but I was able to come home at lunch everyday, so she was in there 4 hours at a time. I think this was pushing it initially, but she was able to hold it and the housebreaking went very smoothly.

Good luck and congrats on your new pup!

The more I think about it, dog in crate in car = bad idea, even if windows are down, its very cool outside, & you can go outside every couple hours because someone could pull the crate out of the car & steal your dog!

i'll be getting a pup in 2-3 wks., and this is what i have planned as far as housebreaking goes--i'd appreciate any feedback as far as tweaking the program goes.

first, i'll be introducing him into a house w/2 older dogs (an 8 & a 10 yr old). second, i'm gone for 11-12 hrs/day.

with that in mind, i have 2 options. if the weather's crappy, he'll be in an x-pen in the kitchen with the other 2 securely shut in another room. if the weather's nice, he'll be outside in a an east-facing kennel protected on the other 3 sides by solid deck-fence, with his crate to snuggle in if he chooses.

then, he'll come in as soon as i get home, and spend the night in the house (with appropriate supervision and a midnight potty break), then out (or in) in the a.m. when i have to leave. once he's old enough to be crated for 12 hrs he'll be inside, in the crate.

my question is, when's an appropriate age for him to be able to contain himself for 11-12 hours? 12 weeks? or 16 weeks? it's been 20 yrs since i've had a pup, so "help!!!" once he's able to be crated while i'm gone, there'll be no problem; i realize his housebreaking will be a little prolonged (maybe), but i really hope this sounds reasonable to you all, as it's the best i can do at this point.

feedback is appreciated. and, i absolutely am gone from 6:15 a.m. til 5:30 p.m. thanks in advance!