We got a gorgeous CKC's Ruby bitch on Sunday 10th Oct, she is of a timid'ish nature we have allowed her to just explore and become accustomed to her new surroundings, her confidence is becoming apparent but, although for the first few days she was toileting outside, the toileting habits have gone the other way, I'm fully aware she is still a baby (18 weeks) but I could do with some advice regarding this and feeding habits too plus training for the lead, commands everything really, cheeky aint I........I have had a puppy when I was a teenager but of course my Parents did the work then, plus don't want to give my age away but that's a long time ago.  Our new addition was kept in a kinda pen thingy outside with two other CKC's bitches whom were mum's to a litter each, she has just had her first injection (thursday)......and I do work I'm out from 8.30-12 then 12.30-3 I'm home at dinner time also family come in both morning and afternoon too, to put her outside and play with her, so at the moment she is surrounded by people coming in and out.....when she does do her toileting outside she gets tons of praise and a treat, so I'm baffled for what to do next she is in a crate and night is no probs as she is in there on a night in the kitchen (last nite I shut the crate door) and no surprises this morning, but would it be Ok to shut her in the crate in a day too whilst family come in n out and I do, my hubbie isn' very happy about this......but I can't think of anything else, example is tonight I saw her sniffing so off we went to the garden, she ran back in and did her number two on my rug, she is just starting to respond to her new name' ANNIE' but everytime you tell her to come or clap your hands she runs away.  I have been reading books and leaflets but this site is great and I have been reading posts for a while I'm sure somebody's experience would certainly will me or advise me, please guys n gals-  HELLPPPPPP!!!!!!!

Shaz
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Hi Shaz,

You're doing the right thing by giving a treat when she goes outside.

There are a couple of other things which might help...

First, try to prevent any accidents happening by taking her out BEFORE she needs to go.  For example - pups need to go first thing in the morning, every time they wake up, after eating, after a play time and every hour or two!  So try to anticipate when she might want to go, rather than watchong for her to squat.  Take her outside and wait for her to go and then give her a treat.  Always try to think of how 'full' or 'empty' she is and when the last time she went was.

If you know she is empty then you might allow her a bit more freedom than you would if she is full.

If you have family coming in during the morning when you are at work, then I think it's fine for you to leave her in her crate.  I mean - that's what a crate is for (amongst other things) - toilet training!!  With mine, every minute I can't supervise them like a hawk, they go in their crate.  And it's surprising how much sleep a little puppy needs anyway, so don't worry about it.  I wouldn't leave her in there for longer than 1-2 hrs without someone coming round to visit her, take her out to toilet, and have a playtime with her before putting her back.  So if you can arrange for someone to come round at 10.30am, and then you come home at 12pm, that should be fine to leave her in the crate.

Possibly your hubbie is still a bit caught up with thinking of the crate as a prison or as a bad thing.  Well, it's not a bad thing to the dog.  It's like the dog's bedroom.

Thanks everyone for your replies

I'm on with your recommendations although she is 'off' it today I'm assuming this is from the first lot of injections she had on Thursday??

Greatly appreciate all your advice............she is timid and she's trying to get used to all the different sounds etc, etc! She hardly never went in the breeder's house so all this is new too.........

Thanks again

Shaz
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Just one thing to add. I find that puppies often seem to be good about toileting at first, then they seem to get worse for a while making the owner think that things are going backwards. They aren't really and with time and training they become clean for good.

I found it very easy to toliet train my doberman puppies ( thank god) i simply brought them outside in the yard every three hours or so, and said "toliet" ( thats the word i choose lol) and they quickly got the idea and went to the toliet, if she/he does go to the toliet always give a great and alot of praise, always make a big fuss out of them whenever they do go to the toliet outside :D