If you have crate trained a pup and did so on a carpeted surface ...

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

... how did you protect (as much as you realistically can, that is) them?

We are getting a border boy end of January and want to try to crate train. We've decided a corner of the lounge (old old carpets which we intend to replace in 18 months anyway) close to kitchen door may work as it's not far to get him out for the loo. Kitchen is extremely cold at night even with heating on and garden security lights may flicker on an off).

So while we know it's going to happen we would like to protect the carpet from the majority of mess while he trains.

Any suggestions? TIA and I promise to post pics when we have him!!!

Can you clarify what you think crate training means? What will you be using the crate for and where will he be toileting?
Genuine questions to make sure I am answering the right question!

Sorry yes and good question.

I intend to use it as his day chill place when he wants to escape (door open), where he day naps and then of course sleeps at night. All while a pup.

We have an open plan downstairs so this feels worth trying.

Learning as we go though

Going to try garden toilet training from Day 1.

I'm aware of how Obviously Never Had A Puppy I sound

Sounds good, crates are fab when used sensibly. Just think of it like a child's playpen and cot, not like putting a toy in its box when you are bored of it like some people do and you'll be great!
I think if it were me I would look for a few big off cuts of vinyl and lay them on top the carpet, toilet training a puppy on carpet sounds way too stressful 😅. Or lots of mats you can easily wash, but mopping vinyl would be way easier.

It might be a steep learning curve if you've never had a dog before but the more you learn to read the signs then the easier toilet training will be.
Remember they have small ability to hold it, the best you can expect to start is visual clues that they need to go, they wont wait long.
Immediately after waking up is top, shortly after food and any energetic playtime. Circling and looking at the ground, moving away to a corner away from their bed etc are all clues. In time they will hopefully move towards the door which is helpful, mine don't generally bark or do anything obvious, just look at it and me in a meaningful way 🤣.

Oh, and puppies, especially Terriers like to chew and generally explore everything with their mouths. Try and move anything you particularly love out of reach and be super aware of any cables/electrics etc.

Please update with pictures 😍

The perfect puppy by gwen Bailey is a book I've seen highly recommended.

Run really really fast from anyone who mentions being the alpha, dominance or ceaser Milan.

If you are expecting him to be in the crate longer than he's able to wait between toileting you are effectively training him that his crate is a toilet and it'll be harder to break that habit once it has started.

If you aren't able to watch him like a hawk when he's awake and let him out every time he looks like he might need the loo, you might want to consider an older dog who is already house trained.

Get a crate with a tray base, but as others have said you need to avoid mess in the crate at all costs, up through the night etc or they will use it as a toilet once the habit it formed. I once read. After every play, snack And sleep it’s straight outside, lots of praise for the garden and ignore if accidents in the house

I forgot that part- crates usually have a tray base so easy to clean, but your goal is for him to never mess in his crate, puppies will naturally move away from their sleeping area, just not always very far as a tiny puppy. So don't have too big a crate or he will be more likely to use one end of it as a toilet and it is a hard habit to break.

Thank you Only that's helpful and reassuring. Oh and you will be so sick of pictures

Sorry I probably wasn't clear ... the protecting the carpet thing is more of say in the morning when we keg it down to take him out he's maybe had an accident.

Definitely won't be leaving him in it. Except to relax when he chooses to goes in, then for naps and bed.

Yup - totally will be taking regular loo trips in garden as you all say

I'm just looking to protect carpet a bit if he has an accident on the occasion he's in there

That's a good point re not too big.

Washable puppy pads.
I've never crated, my pups have all been free-range and house trained quickly, but washable puppy pads are brilliant as a just in case.

When my pup was younger I was desperate to avoid my carpet getting ruined so I covered the floor with a sheet of plastic and then covered that with puppy pads like a puppy pad carpet. It worked like a dream. Note, I was not teaching him to go on puppy pads!! They were basically acting as a carpet when he was really little and I couldn't get him outside soon enough!

I’ve never used a crate. What’s the plan for night time? Do you crate him then go upstairs or does one of you sleep downstairs with him for a while? My last few dogs have been older rescue dogs but when I last had a puppy he slept in my room. There was a fair bit of crying throughout the night and I used to wake up at intervals to take him outside for a wee.

I personally wouldn't use anything, just get into the habit of taking him out regularly during the night.

This could work, thanks!

So I know crates are divisive but we've done our research and spoke to many dog owners and the breeder and decided that for us, in an open plan downstairs home (so there will be times we can't supervise him but he needs to be kept safe) a crate is worth trying as a place for him to sleep (day and night ) and also as his own space to use when he chooses to relax away from us.

We don't intend to leave him in it for extended periods when he's awake or use it to babysit. I know it works for some but not all dogs but you don't know till you try right? We shall see how it goes but we're very aware we may need to change strategies.

Thanks folks for taking time to reply and share your experience x

I was ambivalent about crates but our current pup loves hers. We have one in our bedroom (where she is only allowed at night) and she races upstairs to get into it in the evening. She also came back from her first crate-free overnight in kennels and rushed straight to her downstairs crate for a nap -- so I guess we're taking the crate to kennels again next time.

Sorry, can't be much help on the carpets. We just did a lot of cleaning up, as grippy surfaces are meant to be better for their developing hips than smooth slippery floors.

If you get a crate with a solid tray as a base and a piece of vetbed, the carpet underneath the crate shouldn't be an issue. It's loads easier to toilet train if they don't have free access to carpet though! If your house is open plan, I'm not sure why you wouldn't keep the crate off the carpet though?

I think crates could be really useful. Not anti them at all despite not using them. I just hope that he’s not shut downstairs alone for hours on end from day one. It’ll set him up to fail, he will be distressed, cry and he will have accidents and the humans will find it stressful.

I’d have the crate in my room, next to my bed, for as long as it takes for the puppy to settle at night.

Puppy pads outside could be goer.

To answer some questions -

I get we are in for some seriously broken nights but we want to have the crate downstairs. We don't have much room in our bedroom to safely navigate around it (going to the loo at night etc).

Room options are either the lounge which is warmer and although carpeted, as I said in my OP we are intending to replace anyway so some inevitable staining isn't a complete disaster. Yup kitchen is only other room, not suitable as again explained in my OP

I'll look into option's suggested, thanks. And once again I want to stress that when I say crate training I guess that's misleading ... I'm meaning as a sleeping place so tips to keep it and immediately surrounding carpet as clean as I can.

I only work very seasonal casual hours which I can pick and choose, DH works from home so our days and routine are going to work around puppies early months. He absolutely will not be left in his crate unless he is napping, it's his bedtime or if he chooses to take himself in there.

And yup we will be taking him out to try garden all the times suggested above.

Thanks again

Might want to consider taking turns sleeping downstairs for a while then, so he’s not alone.

Will do