My Pup is 5 weeks on Wednesday, She slept in a crate on her own for the first time last night, Mum was in a basket beside the crate. I put newspaper at one end, and her bed at the other. I got the best feed down her that I could manage, which isn't easy as she's not a great eater. (Mum lets her still suckle occasionally). Anyway I put her to bed about 11:30pm, the next time I heard her was 5am. :) I went down to her, they was no mess or wee on the newspaper, I took her in the garden, and she did a wee straight away. (I was well chuffed :D ) don't know if it's a lucky one off, or if she just didn't want to mess her bed.
I fed her, and tried to put her back for a couple of hours, but she wasn't having any of that. So I ended up grabbing the odd few minutes on the couch with her curled up on the rug. I can't grumble though.
During the day I have started putting her out when I think she needs a wee, she usually does go straight away, sometimes for both.
What I want to know is, is she old enough to understand, or am I wasting my time, she seems so young to take it in. I just thought I would try and make it easier for when she goes to her new home, for her and the new owner. It will be better if she's used to sleeping all night on her own before she leaves, and if she's already weeing outside.
Does anyone else start early with this training.

Michelle.

Hi Michelle.
My staff pup is 4 months old.
He has slept in a crate since we brought him home. Apart from those 1st few nights he slept with us.
He is fine in the crate. As yours does he only sleeps in there.
He has his dinner and his water outside of the crate.

He is at that age now where he will go down stairs by himself and let us know when he needs the garden.

The only thing different is that yours is 5 weeks old and ours was 8 weeks.

What kind of dog is she?

At first we lined the crate with newspaper and put newspaper around the entrance.

I think it's great that she is learning at such a young age, much easier in the long run.

Ashleigh

Hi Ashleigh
My breed is SBT also.
Yes she only goes in the crate to sleep on a night, or if I have to pop out. Up until yesterday she was always with mum.
I think she is doing really well.
Just a minute ago I noticed she was circling, so I took her out and she did both, what a good pup, just before bedtime. :)

Michelle.

Hi Michelle.
I think that this breed is very intelligent anyway. You shouldn't have any problem with the house training.
Max has 2 beds. His crate for when he goes to bed to sleep and when we are out. And also one in the living room whenwe are in the house.

If we are going out and we tell him to get into his bed (the crate), he will go to his other one in the living room.
He is not stupid! lol

I am glad to hear she is getting house trained that early.

Ashleigh

My 2 yougest sleep in crates when we are out or in bed, Ruby who is 3yrs sleeps in the kitchen also, but in her basket. She slept in a crate when she was younger.
We also have another bed in the living room, a big cushion which they can all fit on, but they all like to sleep in the centre as it sinks in, so as soon as one dares to moves, one of the others jumps in, so funny to watch. :D

Michelle.

Hello Mitch,

I don't know if she's too young but the thing is your trying with her, and if I were her new owner I'd be well impressed :)

Karen

Must be hard work having 3 in the house.?
Tonight, we had been in about 15 mins and Max was standing at the top of the stairs crying to be out. We didn't go to him 1st time as we were tidying in the kitchen, so he barked at us to let us know he wanted the toilet!

I agree with the last reply to your message. I would be very impressed if I was the new owner!

Ashleigh

Infact i think the new owner will be over the moon! I certainly would be!

Hi everyone, and thanks for you replies.
She got me up at 4am this morning, it's getting earlier.
The crate was still dry, :)  as soon as I let her out, she runs dead fast to her favourite spot, and pees for England. I'm really really pleased with her acheivement, but I just wish I could put her back in the crate for the remainder of the night. As soon as I put her back she goes mad, really crying, and it's dead loud. I don't want to wake the rest of the house, but I also don't want to give in and put her with mum. So I end up sleeping on the sofa, with her still quite unsettle and moaning on.
I don't understand how she goes in the crate no problem whatsoever on a night but won't return to it after her wee. Maybe because by then it is starting to get light, and she thinks it's playtime.
If she's still like it at the weekend, I'll perserve a bit more as no one needs to be up for work/school.
Do you think she still needs to be fed through the night. I have been giving her some after she's had her wee, But I don't want her to rely on it, or she might just start waking up to be fed.

Michelle.

Ive recently had similar problems with my pup zorro...which I have successfully sorted out.

I have found that if a pup is left until it is bursting to wee, then it wakes in a highly stimulated state (you can imagine this yourself if you were desperate). That means that the pup is less likely to go back to sleep. I found that if i set my alarm to go off BEFORE the pup got desperate, then I could wake the pup and take the pup down for a wee on a lead. Pup would happily wee, but would be sleepy enough to go back to bed without protest. I personally found that i could do this in less than 5 minutes, and both of us were tired enough to go back to sleep easily.
I certainly think it is worth a try.:)

I did that too, even I thought I was mad getting up at 3am without being asked but it prevented any accidents!