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!!!

We bought a much bigger crate than recommended for our dog size so it would be roomy but it came with a divider so we could make it half size whilst a puppy - made it easier so they didn't use one area to pee/poop but we got up 1 or 2 times a night for the first month at least - after that no more accidents at night - day time took a little longer I set my phone alarm to take her out regularly and as she got better/less accidents inside we increased the time to stretch her - we also had a dog door installed as fully fenced in back garden so we were teaching her with treats to go through the door - it took longer to use the dog door than the potty training but she is great now - crate only used at night - we forgot to close the door once and she slept there all night which surprised me as I felt sure she would prefer the sofa ( her usually day time sleeping place) so she likes her crate/bed

Regarding your carpet question I think if you take the dog out regularly the accidents shouldn't happen but keep the dog with you in the kitchen during the day maybe until they can stretch longer as hard floors are def easier!

Just to check is this going to be a working dog/are you retired and planning to spend the majority of your days 'working' him. Having grown up with BC, I wouldn't recommend for someone that isn't planning to dedicate their days to occupying them. They are not a first time owner dog and need an awful lot of stimulation to prevent them becoming destructive/aggressive.

Are you getting a Border terrier or Collie? I've had 2 Terriers. Both have slept downstairs from day one with no noise from the boy and only a little noise on the first day from the girl. They've both had a crate with a cover to make it like a den for them. Plus a blanket from the breeder that smells of the litter mates/mum.
I used a metal fireguard attached to the sides of the crate to make a small playpen and left the door open. I've removed half of the guard now and she just goes into her crate at bedtime by choice.

What an irresistible pup @Seagullproofoldbag

Good question - he won't be working dog but as explained up thread, I only work seasonal casual hours that I can pick and choose and be out of for a year of if I need to so although DH is permanent WFH then it will pretty much be my "job " for at least the first six months or longer (then adolescence by all account!) to be with him, train him, entertaining, the lot. As a family we aren't particularly busy or have a busy social life so weekends and evenings will be geared around him. Then when he's bigger still around him but hopefully lots of lovely walks too

I'm under no illusion this is going to be possibly one of the toughest, tiring, stressful yet lovely times since DD was a baby.

Good lord what a beautiful pooch!!! See, pictures like this make me forget all the horrible practicalities

This is helpful thanks - and yes, a border terrier boy.

Can I ask those crate pics - it looks very cosy, almost nest like - how old was yours when using it? I know opinion is divided on how big it should be.

And where did you get that gorgeous bandana?

Sorry, question already answered.

Ah sorry, I presumed Collie! Enjoy your pup OP!

Both of my Borders have used a crate from day 1. In the boy's case at 12 weeks, and tbe girl ( in the photos) at 8 weeks. She's 11 months old now and has always slept well downstairs. Photos of previous boy Border.
If they hadn't have settled quickly, I would have done something else.

The bandana came from eBay. So many different designs to choose from.

We've recently gotten a Springer. He's just over 4 months and has been great at night since we got him. He is in a crate, a large one which we divided that is covered with a blanket to make it cosy. We were told they need enough space to stand and turn comfortably. He's definitely gotten better with toilet training but our issue is the still very frequent "panic pee's". When he gets any way excited greeting someone or when we try take him out of the crate for his morning pee, he is guaranteed to leak a little. I've taken up our living room rug and we are going through kitchen roll and anti bac spray like there's no tomorrow!

Just be careful with puppy pads - don't leave pup unwatched with them as some will eat them!

I think they grow out of it eventually. My MIL has a springer and he stopped doing it as he got older. My cocker is still an excited pee-er and it's embarrassing when anyone greets him but I do always warn them it's going to happen! Not sure what age they usually stop doing it but I hope it's soon...

IME, it’s a very common springer thing - they grow out of it…. eventually

Thanks Seagull , that's good to hear. And also for the lovely photos ❤️

Ahhh he's beautiful.

I have a shopping list on the go and shall add more anti bac than I think I'll need ...

A few people have said this! Thanks x

We have industrial quantities of 'Safe4' kennel cleaner for the kitchen floor. It comes in 5-litre bottles.

Plus Dr Beckmann pet stain remover (enzymatic cleaner -- be warned it does seem to have a slight bleaching effect on our carpets, or maybe it's just that those are now the only clean patches).

Congratulations on the imminent arrival! We tried to avoid accidents in the crate by taking our pup out regularly, but if she did wee in it the bottom tray protects the carpet. We just made sure we had plenty of cheap fleecy blankets we could rotate.

We started crate training straight away. We fed her in the crate and tossed treats into it - with the door open - so she’d have positive associations. Also, we bought a Snuggle Pup - a heated soft with a heartbeat sound.

I’m ashamed to admit I took the wrong advice initially - a friend told me they left their puppy to cry and in a few nights they were sleeping through. I tried this and my pup cried more and more each night! After that I slept next to the crate, which I wish I’d done from the start!

First, I settled her to sleep but left the door open and lay next to it. Through the night she crept into my sleeping bag and slept all night. The second night I placed the puppy in the crate and shut the door but slept next to it. The next night I moved a little bit further away, and so on and so on, until eventually I was on the sofa. When the puppy woke I took it out to the toilet. Then settled it back in the crate with lots of cuddles, much like you would a baby. Took it in turns with other family members to sleep on the sofa and take her out to the toilet as and when.

Then I progressed to sleeping in my room with a baby monitor, and going downstairs when she woke to take her out and then settle her back down again. If she whimpered, sometimes me speaking to her through the baby monitor was enough for her to go back to sleep.

During the day time, from day 1 we left her in the crate (door closed) and left the house, just 10 mins at a time. We set up a puppy cam to keep an eye on her. We built it up gradually every day.

She’s now 3 and sleeps in the crate (door closed) every night. If we leave the house for any length of time she also goes in it. It’s really handy as we can take her anywhere or put her to stay with anyone - we just pack her crate.

I read that if the crate is too big the puppy is more likely to pee and tear up their bed. If it’s small, they’ll feel more secure. Ours is the size of her dog bed, with blankets over it to keep it dark. She has room to stand and stretch, but not to walk around.

Good luck!

Thanks Velma, that's a useful timeline that I may need to use to help us if it doesn't work within a few nights.

I wouldn't get a bell because you want to gradually teach him bladder control as well as where to pee, so eventually he will pee when he gets the chance, not just whenever he feels like it. Also then he can't use it to say 'I want to go outside and bark at pigeons'.

I second this: admittedly it was cute and worked for years, but he never learned bladder control, which was fine in my house because I went running to let him out whenever I heard the bell, but was much less fine when we were visiting friends without a bell or garden or he was being looked after by friends (ditto) while I was away. And as he got older, he started using it for everything, like demanding his dinner (incessantly) hours before it was due. I had to take it away in the end because he was ringing it constantly, and then that was a problem because it was also the only way I had taught him to tell me he needed a wee/poo…