Do you free feed, have mealtimes, or something else?
IMO, puppies should be fed about 3 times a day. Free feeding can lead to a fat puppy/dog. You should measure his/her intake and adjust it if needed.

For training purposes do you use a clicker, vocal praises, treats, or a combination??
I use whatever works for my dog/puppy. I have a dog who will work soley for praise, a dog that will work for a tennis ball, and two dogs who mainly work for food.

Does your pup spend a lot of time outside, or does she just go out to potty and play for a while?
My dogs are NEVER left alone outside. They asked to be let out and someone goes out with them at all times. A puppy should be let out about every 15-30 minutes. After sleep, after play, after eating, after drinking, etc. Until your puppy is potty trained he/she will need to be let out often to reduce the amount of accidents.


Do you agree with attaching your puppy to a cable on one of those yard stakes when she is outside? Once we have a fence (a couple weeks at most) will a stake be necessary?
If that is your only way of containing him/her, that's fine. I would NEVER leave a puppy unattended, though. The cable will only be necessary if there is any way your puppy can get out.

What kind of treats do you use?
I prefer to stick with the high end dog treats - an often bought one is Old Mother Hubbard.

We always have several different brands of treats in our house. Be sure to pay attention to ingredients. The fewer, the better. Wheat free, grain free, corn free treats are the best. Some that I've seen at big chain pet stores are Newman's Own, Old Mother Hubbard, and Buddy Biscuits.

During the process of crate training, how often should we put her in the crate and close the door when we are home?
I would put puppy in crate for big treats that require chewing, nap time, etc. Always make it a happy place, not a time out place.

How do you keep your pups out of the cat's food bowl?
Put it somewhere they cannot reach.


**These are just my own person opinions and what I would do/have done with my four.