Crate Training a Litter of Puppies Update

[NicoleLJ]

As you all may recall I posted a little while ago about how I am crate training a litter of 6 puppies. Here is the link to the thread to remind you:

http://www.petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=132495

Well this training of mine has gone very well, even with the interuption of me being in the hospital when we first started it. Now we are at the point where all the puppies sleep in their own crate 3 times a day and through most of the night. They wake up on average of 2-3 times a night for a potty break and a quick bit of exercise and then right back to sleep. So for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the morning, 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the afternoon and 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the evening then most of the night they are sound asleep in their crates. Always after a long run outside as a group. Usually about 45min- 1 1/2 hours of play depending on the time of day. I will post some pictures of their outside play sessions, plus a video a little later. Here are some pictures of them crashed out in their crates side by side.





We are at teh point now that when they are not sleeping in their crates the crate doors are left open so that while they are out they can run in and out of their crates at will. None of them have yet to have an accident in their crates so that is going well also. They no longer are in teh whelping box. We haven't used it in days.

This is going to make things so much easier on the adopters. I know it does for me. They will have no problem putting them on a schedule for potty training and so on now.

So that is the update. Just wanted to let you all know how the training was going.
Nicole & Sheena & Puppies

[Romance]

wow. my pups sleep right through the night in their crates. no mess in the morning and no waking up in the middle of the night. must be because mine spend so much time outside playing that they get tuckered out.

[Lady's Human]

Glad to hear everything is going well. Don't forget.....take care of YOU too!

[NicoleLJ]

Thanks LH. I am trying my best to. I am lucky to have a very helpful daughter who is old enough to help a great deal and a 2yr old son who is on what we call Potty Patrol. lol He lets us know when their is a potty problem to clean up so I am not having to constantly be getting up and down to check. PLus with my family helping out so much I am getting to relax more. Two of the pups will be leaving in a few more days for their new homes so that will lighten the load a bit. Agian thanks.
Nicole & Sheena & Puppies

[mike001]

wow. my pups sleep right through the night in their crates. no mess in the morning and no waking up in the middle of the night. must be because mine spend so much time outside playing that they get tuckered out.

By six weeks they do sleep throught the night. I remember one pup I had to pick up at six weeks because of health issues with the breeder, too young, I know, but that pup cried for the first 2 nights, we ignored, third night I wrapped a clock in a towel and never heard a peep. After that it settled down and slept through the night....never had a mess in the mornings....most pups won't dirty their dens.

[Romance]

what are you doing for socialization nichole? The pups right now are at their ideal time for it.

[Danegirl2208]

Glad to here everythings going well Nicole!

[NicoleLJ]

Glad to here everythings going well Nicole!

Thanks Danegirl. It is a lot of work but I am happy with how it has all turned out. The hard part is this coming week when the pups go to their new homes. I will miss them all so much.
Nicole & Sheena & Puppies

[NicoleLJ]

Thanks. Since we did it progressively instead of suddenly the crate training was much easier and not nearly as stressful for me or the pups. The stressful time is coming soon when they go to their new homes.
Nicole & Sheena & Puppies