Crate training question
 

Hi all,

I am about to get a new GSD pup, in about 3 weeks time. Very exciting.

I have had dogs before but not for about the past 15 years. I'm planning on using crate training but had never heard of such a thing back then and besides I don't think crate training is that big here is Aus. Maybe it is now who knows!

I'm planning on getting quite a large crate and a divider to close it off so that the pup wont soil the crate. Unfortunately on about 2 days per week there will be nobody home for around 7 hours straight.

I'm sure such a young pup wouldn't be able to 'hold it in' for so long so is it wise to remove the divider and place a puppy pad on the far end of the crate on these days? Replacing the divider and removing the puppy pad when we are home again?

Thanks for your advice.

Crate training question
 

Me and my husband just got our new gsd puppy two weeks ago this is our second dog together but I have been a dog owner since I was a child. We successfully trained our first dog (lab) in the crate you are mentioning and now Luna our new gsd is training in it. Please be prepared for accidents because even if restraining the area the puppy will have accidents it took our lab a few tries until he finally got it, with Luna is taking time as well we took a few days off but even with that when we went back to work she still having accidents and she really is only left alone four hours. The pads are awesome, but be ready because gsd will be trying to see if you are alpha or if he/she is lol. Good luck ;)


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Crate training is the fastest and most humane method of housebreaking puppies. Have you ever seen a dog under a table, chair or bed? Believe it or not dogs naturally want to seek shelter, even in a house. If you don't provide it, they will create it themselves in an effort to feel safe and secure. A crate serves as a den for your dog...

the dog i have now is the first dog i crate trained.
everything worked out fine. maybe you can find
someone to come in and give your pup a few breaks.

Before we got ours, we were gonna have to leave him 8 hours a day M to F. Our plan was to use a kennel (see pic). I figure if we leave him in the crate he would soil his crate and it might ruin the crate training. And kennel is a easier to clean since you can choose the floor like mine which won't leak to the carpet and just wipe it off. I would rather clean up the mess in the kennel and deal with potty training on the weekend than cleaning the crate. I don't want the crate to smell like his pee or poo because he might go back and do it again. Though, we didn't get to execute this plan since my boss let me work from home (talk about best timing).

So if you have to be gone 7 hours, this maybe an alternative. It will slow down the potty training but you gotta do what you gotta do. Best thing is to have someone comes over to let him out but I know that is not always an option. Only thing I would worry is he goes 7 hours without water :(