Hi there- Congrats on your new puppy! I am NO expert by any means. However, I am a new puppy owner too (I have an 8 year old dog who is well trained), and when we first got our new puppy I was very curious about schedules and the crate. So, I joined this forum for answers.
Here's what i know:
1. Puppies like their crates and feel like it's their den (once they get used to it). They typically keep it clean and won't soil it, so it helps them learn to hold their bladders.
2. Puppies can be in their crates during the day: number of months they are plus one. So, if he's 2 months old, he can stay up to 3 hours, but never more than 5 or so (once they are older).
3. We crate trained both our dogs and my now 18 week old puppy is completely housebroken and doing great. He likes his crate and never whines.
4. Always potty immediately after the puppy gets out of the crate and before they go in again.
Here's the schedule that worked for us (everyone is different):
7 am up, up and outside to potty
Eat and play
8- 10 in crate for nap
10 up to potty and play
11- back in crate
1 up - potty, eat lunch and play
3-5 in crate
5-7 up and playing while making dinner
in crate while we eat dinner
up and playing until bedtime.
Now, Buster, our puppy can stay in the crate up to 4 hours at a time. He sleeps from 10-7 without needing to potty or get up in the night. (he's never needed to get up in the night) He is 8 pounds.
Hope this helps some!
Best of luck!
Here's what i know:
1. Puppies like their crates and feel like it's their den (once they get used to it). They typically keep it clean and won't soil it, so it helps them learn to hold their bladders.
2. Puppies can be in their crates during the day: number of months they are plus one. So, if he's 2 months old, he can stay up to 3 hours, but never more than 5 or so (once they are older).
3. We crate trained both our dogs and my now 18 week old puppy is completely housebroken and doing great. He likes his crate and never whines.
4. Always potty immediately after the puppy gets out of the crate and before they go in again.
Here's the schedule that worked for us (everyone is different):
7 am up, up and outside to potty
Eat and play
8- 10 in crate for nap
10 up to potty and play
11- back in crate
1 up - potty, eat lunch and play
3-5 in crate
5-7 up and playing while making dinner
in crate while we eat dinner
up and playing until bedtime.
Now, Buster, our puppy can stay in the crate up to 4 hours at a time. He sleeps from 10-7 without needing to potty or get up in the night. (he's never needed to get up in the night) He is 8 pounds.
Hope this helps some!
Best of luck!
