I am so glad tethering came up!

Tethering a new dog to me (including adult shelter dogs, including seniors ... ) has been one of the best things I learned here.

What a great jump-start that is for bonding, for potty-training, for security for the dog, for managing the dog's environment ....

I wish I had known about it forever.


P.S. Kudos to the O.P. for asking good questions, even though they are a tad late in the game, and kudos for asking them in the right place!

I think the OP is asking some very good questions, and asking the right people

Though I do agree that I just wouldn't leave a dog outside alone. I know a lot of people do, but I just have one of those brains that thinks: theft, predators, poisoning, escape, collar strangulation, freak accident where a limb or jaw gets caught in fencing, etc...

Best case scenario is a scared, crying puppy

 Quote: Kristel Smart

I think the OP is asking some very good questions, and asking the right people

LOL!

We were typing the same thing together ... almost word for word.

Well, you know what they say about great minds.....

Big secret for quieting a puppy down at night AND helping in the bonding process...........throw the t-shirt (or socks) you wore that day into the crate or down where the dog can cuddle/lay on it.
I've done it for decades though dogs of all kinds of drives and temperaments, I've never lost a tee for it. If I ever do (shrug) they're cheap.
All I know is that it works.

Randy

As the owner of a sock eating dog I can't suggest the socks but the dirty shirt thing works. I also find that playing the radio softly helps as well for crate training.

I know alot of you guys don't recommend the outside thing but in the right safe neighborhood I don't see why not. It would be unfair to any dog to make them try to hold it when they cant go for that length of time.

If you can't do the outdoor thing even an X pen in the house with a wee pad is better than forcing the poor puppy to wait 5 hrs in a crate at this age. Normally at 8 weeks they just can't do it. I agree ideally someone would come home every couple hours at this point but the OP was looking for a 5 hr option. Not knowing the flexibility of the Op's life we can't assume people can just change their schedule or run home anytime during these shifts.

Usually when I start house breaking puppies I never set them up in a situation where I can't hear if they *need* out to potty. If I leave for work or to school I set them up so if they need to go they can either in a run or a X pen with a litter box. The main thing I'm trying to avoid is crate soiling becoming a learned behavior.

 Quote: randy allen

Big secret for quieting a puppy down at night AND helping in the bonding process...........throw the t-shirt (or socks) you wore that day into the crate or down where the dog can cuddle/lay on it.

Strongly agree! I also find allowing all new toys a couple days in the hamper absorbing the family's odors before introducing to the pup makes them instantly interesting and also makes the chew toy as attractive as one of my shoes

And to the original question. I would stick with the crate vs. the kennel.

Me too, BUT (as Melissa says) with plenty of breaks .... perhaps a relative or a neighbor or a teenager ... because all that's required is a trip to the yard for potty. I absolutely agree that you don't want a habit to start out of the poor pup's needs not being met.

It's late in the day to be searching for someone to relieve the puppy during the 5-hour stretch ....

Melissa, you mentioned an x-pen and litter box. Like a kitty litter box?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Me too, BUT (as Melissa says) with plenty of breaks .... perhaps a relative or a neighbor or a teenager ... because all that's required is a trip to the yard for potty. I absolutely agree that you don't want a habit to start out of the poor pup's needs not being met.

True. I've always had the opportunity to work a flexible schedule so I was able to avoid the extended stay in the crate.

I still don't like outside because I think it is important to get familiar with the sounds and smell of the house and have a place of security such as the crate to retreat to along with Randy's smelly tshirt . I'm thinking maybe an open crate confined in an exercise pen or in a small gated room with a designated potty spot????? I don't like the idea of the pup not learning he needs to hold it sometimes, but if it is only 5 hours and a strict potty regiment with SUPER REWARDS for going outside is followed the other 19 hours in the day; then this shouldn't slow the process down too much.

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

... a strict potty regiment with SUPER REWARDS for going outside is followed the other 19 hours in the day; then this shouldn't slow the process down too much.

I don't like the indoor-potty thing either, but I would arrange it that way over kenneling an 8-week puppy outdoors.

Best would be someone to let him out a couple of times during the 5 hours (and of course potty right before and immediately after)....