Hi, I had a question. We are getting an 8 week old german shepherd this week. I am confused on the crate training. Is it ok to let the dog be in the outside kennel when my wife works for 5 hours a day? I guess what I am asking is in order to potty train the dog we should do the crate training but we dont want to keep the dog in this when we are gone. Atleast the kennel is big so he have some room to move. If we put him in the kennel will this screw things up for him as far as training? If anyone has any feedback it would be greatly appreciated.

No it won't hurt anything. Just make sure your puppy will be safe in this outside kennel and that you won't be disturbing a neighbor.

You can also potty train your puppy to use your outside kennel run as it's potty spot if you wish. It does help keep the lawn a little nicer. What about crate training is confusing?

Congrats on the new puppy and welcome to the boards.

ok, thanks. So what about at night? Should we just keep him in the kennel as well? Or can we have him in the crate in the house? Also, if we keep him in the crate at night should he be in the same room with me and my wife or by himself say in the basement? Man, sooo much to learn.

Oooh, little baby puppy who needs to bond with you and your home .... even though I am not one of the puppy experts, I betcha the puppy needs to be in your house most of the time.

And you want him house-trained, right?

Also, I have read here that baby puppies sometimes do better at night when they are near their new people.

But the puppy folks will help.

I would use the crate indoors and look for someone to let puppy out to pee halfway through the wife's workday. I think I tend to baby puppies somewhat (well, they ARE babies:-) but I would feel really uncomfortable about leaving a puppy that young in an outdoor kennel alone for five hours.

Connie, I think you are right. It has been my experience that puppies do very well when their crates are near their people at night. Maybe I've been lucky, but I've only ever had one "screamer".

 Quote: Kristel Smart

... I would feel really uncomfortable about leaving a puppy in an outdoor kennel alone for five hours.

I feel the same way about any age dog, but I thought I might sound silly saying so ....

I don't trust people. I don't trust them enough to have my dogs in the fenced yard without me, and I wouldn't trust them enough to leave my dogs in an outdoor kennel with me not home, either.

I guess it kind of depends on where the property is, etc.

We have had enough threads on this very forum about poisonings and thefts and even teasing for me to be completely paranoid about dogs left outside.

Of course, I live a couple of blocks from a high school, and not trusting teenage boys is just a matter of common sense.

 Quote: David Schaefer

ok, thanks. So what about at night? Should we just keep him in the kennel as well? Or can we have him in the crate in the house? Also, if we keep him in the crate at night should he be in the same room with me and my wife or by himself say in the basement? Man, sooo much to learn.

You should crate your puppy at night. A crate is a great tool to help you with house breaking your puppy. I was only talking about the 5 hours until your puppy is either old enough to be able to hold it for five hours OR is housebroken.

As others have pointed out there are problems in some areas leaving a puppy out 5 hours. Personally I live at 101 Middle of Nowhere Road in the great state of Washington where the average temperature is 55 degrees year round so if it weren't for the raccoons and eagles all of my dogs would be outside in covered runs while I'm not home.

 Quote: Melissa Thom

... As others have pointed out there are problems in some areas leaving a puppy out 5 hours. Personally I live at 101 Middle of Nowhere Road in the great state of Washington ...

That sounds wonderful to me.

I would NEVER leave a puppy outside unattended, even for 2 minutes, let alone 5 hours! Hell, I don't even leave my adult dogs out side in the 10 X 20 kennel in my 6' high totally fenced back yard when I am not home. I live in a nice suburban neighborhood & still won't do it. Too many things can happen, even to adult dogs. A bug bite that they adversy react to, a snake (yes, even garter snakes can hurt a pup, never mind a venumous one) plus some of the things that Connie mentioned. I have had young pups out in the field & back yard & had hawks flying overhead keeping a close watch waiting for an opportunity.

I would never expect a puppy to be able to hold it for 5 hours until they are at least 5 months old. They might occasionally be able to do it, but I would not expect it to be all the reliable until then.

My puppies sleep in a crate next to my bed at night. My adult dogs sleep in my bedroom at night with me.

Also, if you seem to need to ask about so many BASIC things, maybe you should do some more research & put off getting a puppy for now or until you have a better understanding of what a puppy needs & what your role as an owner is.

Aside from what you do with the puppy at night, crate in the house or tethered to the crate (or bed). I consule you figure on taking as much time as possible off from work and spend it with the pup. The more time you can do so, the better.
If it's not too late in the season I'd reschedule my vacation around getting the dog. And call in sick to extend it to more time......That time you can spend with him at his age is that important and pays off in the long run.

Randy