Never leave pee pads in the crate with your puppy. Not only is it a chewing hazard, but it will also start to teach your puppy that it is ok to pee in their crate. Pee pads can be used in long-term confinement areas for your puppy.
Puppy toilet training at night – Don't change the routine
Many owners put newspaper or puppy pads down for their puppy at night, but this can cause a lot of confusion. You spend the day trying to teach your dog they mustn't relieve themselves indoors but then allow him to do just that throughout the night.
Your puppy will have an easier time potty training if you provide them a regular spot to do their business. Once you select the best Wee-Wee Pad for your dog, place it somewhere they can easily access and away from heavy foot traffic. A corner of the room where your pet spends most of their time is often ideal.
While the essentials like bedding, food, and water are important, that's not all you should consider including in your dog's crate. In fact, you might consider adding some toys and puzzles to their crate, particularly when they are puppies and need a lot of mental stimulation.
If he does whine or cry in the crate, it's imperative that you not let him out until he stops. Otherwise, he'll learn that the way to get out of the crate is to whine, so he'll keep doing it.
In short, there isn't a set time when you should stop using puppy pads. If your pup waits for one to be put down before they go, they could equally have held their bladder until you let them outside.
Most puppies need the bathroom when they wake up in the morning, after eating, after playing, and after napping. So, take your puppy to the potty pad every time one of these events occurs. Take your puppy to the potty pad anytime they haven't been for an hour or two.
Puppies usually potty after sleeping, eating, drinking, and after playing. After your puppy does one of these things, you'll want to pick it up about 15 minutes later and place it onto the potty pad in anticipation of it having to urinate or defecate.
Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without needing a bathroom break. If your puppy does wake you up in the night, don't make a big deal of it; otherwise, they will think it is time to play and won't want to go back to sleep.
A lot of accidents in crates happen overnight. If this is the case, you should take your puppy outside right before bed and as soon as possible in the morning. Remember, young puppies won't be able to hold their urine all night, so expect to wake up in the middle of the night to avoid accidents.
By the time your puppy is about 4 months old, they should be able to start sleeping through the night without needing the toilet. (Although small breeds take longer as their bladders are smaller.) If your puppy wakes up in the night needing the toilet, keep calm and don't give them too much attention.
This is where the leash and harness come in handy! Alternatively, you can also enclose the potty pad area with a pen to help your pup stay in the area and teach them to target the pads! If after 5 minutes your puppy still hasn't gone yet, bring them back to their crate for another 15-20 minutes, then try again!
Remember, dogs and especially puppies need to urinate often. As a guideline, new puppies up to 10 weeks old typically can't hold their bladder for more than an hour. Dogs between 10 to 12 weeks old can usually hold it for around two hours.
The short answer is: yes, they can! If there are potty pads all over the house then it is easy to confuse potty pads with other soft surfaces like carpet.
Depending on their age, most puppies poop between four and five times per day, typically shortly after eating. There is a significant difference in bowel movements between dog breeds, and their bowel habits will change as your dog ages.
When your dog goes to the pad to eliminate, quickly pick him up and bring him outside. For some dogs, it is helpful if you bring the pad outside as well so that they can better understand what you are trying to communicate. While your dog is eliminating, pick a phrase like “potty time” or “do your thing” and repeat it.
Start in increments of 10 minutes and work up to longer periods. Every single time you take your puppy out of the crate, take him for a walk so he can potty. He'll begin to realize that potty time comes after crate time. Remember to praise him after he potties in the correct place.
Having a dirty or smelly puppy pad can lead to infection, so you must change your dog's pads as often as necessary. It's a good idea to change the diaper every time he has an accident, and you should also change him at least once a day.
One of the easiest ways to train a dog to go only in one spot is to train it to go on command. Take your dog on a leash to the spot you want it to use, and say the cue word. Keep the dog in that spot until it goes, then offer a reward. Only reward the dog when it goes in that particular spot.
They could be bored, or they may not be getting enough social interaction, physical activity or mental stimulation, which may make them act out. These problems are often lumped in with puppy separation anxiety but can be addressed with more exercise.
“Ignoring the whining is your best option,” says Dr. Coates. “Any type of attention will just reinforce the behavior.” Campbell says that pet parents should avoid giving attention or taking a puppy out of the crate until he is quiet.
Dogs will whine in their crate for a number of reasons including boredom, loneliness, fear, anxiety, or they need to be let outside. All of these reactions are perfectly normal, and it is your job as an owner to make your pup feel comfortable and get used to their new crate.
Young puppies under six months shouldn't really be left alone for more than two hours. And it's a good idea to build up the time they spend alone gradually to prevent separation anxiety from setting in. When you do leave your puppy alone, it's a good idea to crate train them, or leave them in a puppy-proofed room.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).