Crate Training/Housebreaking My Puppy

[Len1782]

Hi.. I have a 13 week old puppy. We have started crate training/housebreaking her. We all work during the day, so we leave her in her crate with water and she' done well. We take her outside so she can relieve herself in the morning when we wakeup, before we leave for work, when we get home from work, after she eats and before we turn in for the night. At nighttime, my husband doesnt like to crate her, so she sleeps in the room with us, on the floor next to our bed. She's actually been really good, but in the middle of the night or early in the morning before we wake up, she relieves herself on the pee pads we leave out. It's great in the fact that she uses the pee pads, but I dont want her to get used to relieving herself all the time on the pee pads in our bedroom. Is there anything we can do without crating her at night?

[corgimom]

I can see why y ou don't want to crate her at night if you are doing it during
the day - however, what if her crate was alongside your bed - would that
be okay? - or maybe if she slept in your bed she would not urinate. It's great
tht she uses the pee pads, but she has too much freedom at night time
when you guys are sleeping and she is quite young.

I think the crate is going to be the best thing at night time, but if it is next
to you, she will still feel your presence and be comforted - others here will
have some suggestions for you, I am sure.

Linda

[Michael Romanos]

If you have had KC since she was six weeks old or so and have been following the pattern you mentioned, she should not have to wee in the early hours of the morning. I usually take my fellow for a toilet walk last thing at night - and it could be around 11pm-12 midnight and he has always been fine. So take KC out to toilet as late as possible, no liquids up to an hour before her toilet walk and certainly nothing after - and beat her to the punch in the morning. Maybe she wees in the morning just before you or your husband awake. So set your alarm radio/clock up to an hour earlier. Maybe it is her liquid intake eg water, so refer back to what I said. At 13 weeks old, there is still likely to be the odd mistake for maybe another few weeks but stay with it.
I am looking after a hyper Corgi pup at present and his owner said the pup had a constant time for weeing - 11pm on a specific tray. Well, I cast the tray aside and got the pup quickly into my routine and he has only made one small mistake in my house despite not being house trained previously. Taffy, the pup goes out for toileting or walks/runs five times a day.

[Chip's Mom]

Chip has been sleeping on my bed since he was about that age and my husband generally would take him out about 4 - 5 in the morning. He has never had an accident on the bed. Although he will kiss you awake if he has to go out in the night. I would say to put him on your bed at night if you want to avoid the crate and he should wake you up if the need arises. He is almost 5 months old now and sleeps through the night. We have never withheld his access to water so that may be the difference in the early morning outings.

[Len1782]

Thanks for the insight. I've only actually had her for about a week. Last night I did end up taking her out around 1030p right before we turned in for the night. She did well and didn't pee. I usually take her out around 545a-6a but I was a little slow this morning getting myself ready, she couldn't wait any longer and ended up peeing, at the bottom of the stairs. But at least this time she held it through the night.