What is your schedule?

[Fkennedy]

We picked up Lincoln last Saturday. It has only been three days with him but that saying Tired puppy is not really apply to him, it applies to me. I need some good, successful schedule that I can somehow go off of. We don't really have a schedule yet given it has only been three days and everything I read from the book and from here is kinda overwhelming when it comes to practice.

If you can post your schedule when your pup were this young, I would appreciate it. Also, if you don't mind reviewing our days below and give suggestion, I would do anything that would help. I want to make sure I'm on the right track. Or you can skip all the way down to where my questions are.

In the day time, he is in the kennel (see picture). All day yesterday (which was Sunday with clear sky so we were home with him), he didn't have single accident inside his kennel. We took him out every two hours or so and he manage to take care of his business when we get him out. HOWEVER, when we let him out of his kennel and walk around the house, he pees. Its like he wants to keep his area clean, but not ours. The reason for this kennel is because we are both working 8 hours a day so we figure between 8 to 12 am and 1 to 5 pm, until he learn to hold it, he can "go" in the kennel instead of our carpet. So I thought it works, but no. Today he pee AND poop in the kennel. So that method is failed. I took him our first thing this morning but he only pee outside. Then he came in and poop inside almost right away. We have blizzard coming through our town so it is very nasty outside so I try to think that maybe he just doesn't poop out there because of the weather?

At night time, we put him in a puppy's size crate in our bedroom. He hasn't have any accident in it yet. He whines every 1.5-2 hours or so and we let him out. Then I thought.. this is not right. If we let him out when he whine, soon enough he will catch on that whining get him out regardless of what he wants to do outside the crate. We plan on setting alarm at every 3 hours, but when we hear him whine, we just can't help but get him out. Not that i'm disturbed by his noise but I just feel really bad for him if he really need to go. What do I need to do? be strong and stick with the alarm?

At this point I see that my day and night methods are conflicting with each other. At night we force him to hold it. At day we let him go in the kennel. but I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO!?


1. Is he capable of understanding "no!" at this age? He bites me and my pants and my shoe and my shirt and everything when he plays with me. I know that he doesn't want to hurt me, he just treats me like I'm one of his toys. But those teeth are sharp! I've been telling him "no!" when he does it but he doesn't seem to get it. Or is this a work in progress?

2. Am I expecting too much out of him? Given he's only been home for three days?

3. When can I start the process of switching his food? My husband wants to wait another couple of days for him to settle (or at least for this blizzard to go away) first.

4. Is it important to leash him while he go potty? My husband don't use the leash. I guess Lincoln just listen to him more than me. If I don't leash him, he won't come when I call, he will run around try to play with me. He will try to eat his poop when he pop them out. With the leash I can control him better and make him stay in his potty area.

5. When can I start training him on command like come when calls, sit, leave it? Which is the priority? Personally I want him to learn to leave it. My pants are not strong enough to be his tug toys.

[Mog]

I'm not an expert by far, but have been doing my research for our pup coming home next home... Here's my opinions.

1. You will have to train him to understand no, just like any command. He doesn't understand people language. When he bites, he wants to play! You have to play with him, try redirecting him to a toy, tug, etc. Look into making or buying a flirt pole, they seem like an excellent tool to wear him out. If he's biting, he's not tired Or... if he's not napping well, could be overtired.

2. Yes, you are... try and bond with him and let him be a puppy right now. They are called landsharks for a reason

3. Switch his brand of food or switch to raw?

4. From the method I'm gong to use, use a leash for now.

5. You can start training him now, but it will be slow going. His name, sit, stay, down and leave it seem to be the order. Or at least the order I'm going to use.

[MichaelE]

That's a nice large play area for him with his crate inside.

Lisl's schedule is close to this most days:

Rise at 0445 or 0630 depending upon the morning.

Outside to pee, maybe poop as soon as I have clothes on.

We come in, I grab coffee and meds, she eats and drinks.

20 minutes later it's back outside to poop again. You could set your watch by her.

Then we play tug, or I train her, or we just spend a little time together until I have to get ready for work. After I get ready for work, it's a short 20 minute walk around the neighborhood.

0645 or 1030 she's in her crate for 4-6 hours until I come home for lunch or to stay if it's a short shift. We go outside to potty first, and only to potty. We stay until she's finished. It doesn't usually take too long. If I'm there on lunch, then it's back inside the crate for another 4-5 hours.

After her business we walk. Sometimes up to an hour which I figure is around a mile and a half to two miles depending upon how many interesting things we see, or if we stop to see her friends if they're outside.

Back home it's time to eat again and then back outside to poop, and then inside for more play or training or nap time.

At this time it's either around 1800 or 2200 depending upon my shift. The routine is basically the same all of the time, just the hours get shifted forward or back.

At 2200 to 2400 it's bed time and she sleeps in my bedroom on the floor. Seven or so hours later we start all over again.

On my days off like today, we play alot inside and out and walk several times. Right now, she's napping behind me on the floor having eaten lunch and out for a poop. We'll play ball when she wakes up.

[llombardo]

I think that his area is to big for now, but will be really nice when he's older and trained. For the purpose of training I would use a crate that is small, enough room for him to turn around. If your at 2 hours right now, stay like that, then slowly raise that time to 2 hours 15 minutes, then every 2 hours 30 minutes, etc. ALWAYS keep him on a leash to potty..its potty time, not play time. Praise and give treats when he potties outside. He will learn the word no, but you have to teach it. Give him some time, everything is new to all of you. Enjoy your new puppy

[stealthq]

Originally Posted by Fkennedy

Its like he wants to keep his area clean, but not ours.

Yes. He wants to keep his 'den' clean. No where else will matter to him. We have to teach puppies not only to go when we take them for a potty trip, but also that they are not to go indoors.

Originally Posted by Fkennedy

The reason for this kennel is because we are both working 8 hours a day so we figure between 8 to 12 am and 1 to 5 pm, until he learn to hold it, he can "go" in the kennel instead of our carpet.

If he's getting you up every two hours at night, he may not be capable of holding it for 4hrs. yet. You'll find that the puppy will find it easier to hold it at night while he's sleeping than during the day. Any chance you can get someone to come and let him out more often? Generally, every time the puppy makes a mistake inside, it sets you back on potty training. It's worse if they do it in a crate because they can become desensitized to being in their own mess and then the crate becomes useless as an aid in potty training.

Originally Posted by Fkennedy

We have blizzard coming through our town so it is very nasty outside so I try to think that maybe he just doesn't poop out there because of the weather?

Probably true. You'll need to make him stay out as long as it takes for him to go. Make sure you're praising him like mad every time he does it right

Originally Posted by Fkennedy

Then I thought.. this is not right. If we let him out when he whine, soon enough he will catch on that whining get him out regardless of what he wants to do outside the crate. We plan on setting alarm at every 3 hours, but when we hear him whine, we just can't help but get him out. Not that i'm disturbed by his noise but I just feel really bad for him if he really need to go. What do I need to do? be strong and stick with the alarm?

Don't think that way. First priority is getting him through the day with no accidents. At this age, every time he whines in the crate, day or night, I'd assume he needs to go and take him. Stay all business. Out for potty, no play, back in the crate. He'll figure out that it's no fun to get out that way.

If you want to make sure he doesn't associate whining with getting out, set your alarm for just BEFORE he usually starts to whine and take him out. Slowly increase the time between alarms just as llombardo says.


1. As everyone says, you have to teach them every command, including 'no'.

2. Yes, you are. Think of him like a 5-6mo human infant with better motor skills. Just remember that he really has no idea about living with people. Even if he was raised in someone's house, he's only dealt with his mother and littermates up until now. The humans just cleaned up after them all, played with them, and made adoring noises

3. I'd wait until he has adjusted to your schedule. My usual rule is to have them a week first before changing anything.

4. Yes. Potty trips are potty only, no playing, no exploration.

5. You can start immediately. Just keep the training really short and fun and don't expect too much. Puppies have the attention span of a gnat, but they can still learn. Clicker/marker training works really well on young puppies. I usually start teaching 'sit', 'come', 'leave it', 'drop it' immediately. These are the commands that I want rock-solid in later life. I teach the version of sit where they are not to get up until released, so it works for 'stay' as well.

[Fkennedy]

@MichaelE - Thank you for posting your schedule! That is exactly what I need. Lincoln is definitely not trained enough to be sleeping on the floor outside the crate and hold it for 7 hours yet though but I'm sure as heck looking forward to that. He let me sleep for 4 hours straight last night I was already very proud. I actually had to get up and sneak around his crate make sure he's still alive lol

@llombardo - I agree that the kennel is too big for him thats why he pees inside it. But with us being gone 4 hours at a time during the day I didn't want to leave him in the crate for that long.

@stealthq - Thank you! I love how you answer the questions. Very straight to the point and that is just what I need! Now if you would do me a favor and go tell my husband to leash him when he takes Linc out I would appreciate it! lol