Midori1999 .... question for you

[Millie1]

I've just read your brilliant post about crate training. We crate-trained our lab 12 years ago but she was 5 months old when we got her. She also spent her first 2 weeks with us howling in the hall before we approached a dog trainer who came to our house, gave loads of advice, told us to get a crate and signed us up for puppy training classes. All well and good.

However, now we're starting again with an 8 week old lab in a month's time. How do you suggest I start her in the crate - obviously, your advice re making it a positive place stands but I'm thinking about where she will be best sleeping for the first few days. I don't want to shove her in the crate on her first night with us and scare her silly when I close the door. Any advice for the first few nights - should I leave the door open and just be prepared for a wet floor in the morning?

Thanks

Following with interest too.

I'm flattered you'd ask me, thankyou.

It's up to you really. I have found with most puppies they are quite tired out the first night, so don't mind being shut in the crate at bedtime. You might need to get up a few times in the night with a new pup though, as he/she might not be able to hold on all night and obviously it's cruel to make them toilet in their crate. If you do decide to shut the door, it might be easiest to to have the crate in your bedroom, so you can easily hear if puppy needs the toilet. If pup does need the toilet, quietly take him/her out without talking to them at all or making any eye contact, other than a 'good boy/girl' if they do go to toilet outside. That way pup will be less inclined to wake you up for attention if they fancy some during the night!

If you want to leave the crate open at night then I would leave pup in the kitchen or smewhere that is easy to clean up and yes, be prepared to accidents to start with. It does mean you need to clean the floor really well with biological cleaner (washing powder will do) so the smell is gone and it will also make housetraining a little harder as once pup has been to toilet inside once they are more inclined to go inside.

Personally, I have the crate in the kitchen (where my dogs all sleep anyway) and close the door. I sleep quite light and always wake up if I need to. I suspect it does help that I have other dogs in the kitchen.

Other things that can help pup settle the first night are taking a blanket to the breeder and leaving it with the litter. Bring the blanket hme and put it with pup the first night, it will help them settle as it smells of the litter. I also always get people to leave a soft hot water bottle cover for the same reason if possible and they can then give pup a hot water bottle the first night, as pup will be used to sleeping next to warm bodies. Leaving the radio on quietly for a bit of background noise can help too.

Not sure how open the breeder is to you visiting regularly, but I always encourage people to visit as much as possible once pup iis over 4 weeks old. It really helps when taking pup home if they recognise you, IMO.

Hope this helps, you must be excited!

Thanks for such a quick and detailed response Midori! I take it you breed - what breed?

We haven't actually seen the pup ... she has similar pedigree to our current lab. They share a grand or great-granddam and I have spoken to the lady who bred both parents of this pup - she also bred one of the grandparents of our current lab and I spoke to her then also. She's safe as houses - well respected judge on the lab circuit, dogs score well for hips, elbows eyes etc.

Anyway, I digress. Because the pup was bred a 4 hour drive away, it's virtually impossible to leave something with the breeder. Our old lab and she will be sleeping in the utility room - hopefully our own dog will be some comfort and company.

I'll see how she settles on day one and how tired she is and play it by ear. Shall def set alarm a couple of times during night at first to let her out. Don't want her soiling her bedding and don't want to encourage her to go inside either. Up and down to kids anyway so what's one more !

Thanks again for such great advice.

She sounds lovely. I breed Golden Retrievers.

Why not ask the breeder if you can send a blanket etc in the post? Although if you have your other dog still, then that will help.