Folks:
We have a 10 1/2 week old Shelty male puppy; we got him 9 days ago. The first night of coming home we began his crate training. He put up a fuss, but took to it rather quickly and now sleeps each night in his crate, ext to my bed. In fact, last night he slept 6 without a noise in his crate. No complaints there.
I follow the rules that when he comes out of his crate, he eliminates in the same location in the yard and is praised (not food treat but a "good boy" and brief neck scrub).
We have a fenced yard that is good sized with lots to do; he keeps himself entertained when outside. Lasts for about 1 hour then wants to come in.
To my question. Is using his crate with a small pen area going to delay his potty training via a crate? (see photo link at bottom of post).
When he is inside during the day, we put him in this play pen area with his crate (see photo). This gives him access to water, food and chew toys. When he gets tired he goes into his crate but I'll often find him curled up on a blanket or all stretched out on one. He does NOT eliminate in his pen area; he's had only 1 accident in the 10 days we've had him here. He has, however, had a few poop accidents in my kitchen area, when my younger kids took him out to eliminate and brought him in after a few min. After I questioned them they would say he urinated quickly but didn't poop. Well, he clearly saved that for the house.
When we wakes up from naps in his pen area, he will often wine and I immediate take him out to his place and he eliminates.
So again, is using this pen area delaying his ability to potty train? I know we can't let him roam in the kitchen on his own as he's already soiled a rug without going poop outside.
He has already learned to sit on command and has mastered his feeding puzzles. So he posses more than adequate smarts, for what I'd expect out of a Shetland Sheepdog.
Thoughts?
TkH
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trevorrobynphotosharing/11050069185/
We have a 10 1/2 week old Shelty male puppy; we got him 9 days ago. The first night of coming home we began his crate training. He put up a fuss, but took to it rather quickly and now sleeps each night in his crate, ext to my bed. In fact, last night he slept 6 without a noise in his crate. No complaints there.
I follow the rules that when he comes out of his crate, he eliminates in the same location in the yard and is praised (not food treat but a "good boy" and brief neck scrub).
We have a fenced yard that is good sized with lots to do; he keeps himself entertained when outside. Lasts for about 1 hour then wants to come in.
To my question. Is using his crate with a small pen area going to delay his potty training via a crate? (see photo link at bottom of post).
When he is inside during the day, we put him in this play pen area with his crate (see photo). This gives him access to water, food and chew toys. When he gets tired he goes into his crate but I'll often find him curled up on a blanket or all stretched out on one. He does NOT eliminate in his pen area; he's had only 1 accident in the 10 days we've had him here. He has, however, had a few poop accidents in my kitchen area, when my younger kids took him out to eliminate and brought him in after a few min. After I questioned them they would say he urinated quickly but didn't poop. Well, he clearly saved that for the house.
When we wakes up from naps in his pen area, he will often wine and I immediate take him out to his place and he eliminates.
So again, is using this pen area delaying his ability to potty train? I know we can't let him roam in the kitchen on his own as he's already soiled a rug without going poop outside.
He has already learned to sit on command and has mastered his feeding puzzles. So he posses more than adequate smarts, for what I'd expect out of a Shetland Sheepdog.
Thoughts?
TkH
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trevorrobynphotosharing/11050069185/
