Bringing Home a New Puppy

lablover · 07-25-2004, 05:39 PM

My husband and I will be bringing home an 8 week old labrador retriever on August 14th. We have done a lot of research and are trying to plan ahead. Because of our jobs, the dog will be alone for around 8 hours a day during the week (family is coming over to let him out at least once a day). Here's my problem. We are aware of the importance of crate training with a lab and plan on crating him at night in our room. We have also read that he shouldn't be crated for more than a few hours, especially when he is a puppy. Since we have no kids and a big house we were going to lock him in the laundry room in the basement (it is about 10" X 8' with heating/air ducts). My husband is concerned that he will be confused with the crate being upstairs and his "room" being downstairs. What is the best thing to do for the puppy? I know that other people must have this problem because we aren't the only people that work and have a dog. Please help. Thanks.

Global Paw · 07-25-2004, 05:41 PM

Well, I don't think the dog will have any problem learning the difference...dogs adapt very quickly.

Taz · 07-25-2004, 06:19 PM

QW is right

, I know of many people who do the same thing. But if your husband is worried, maybe you can leave the crate in the laundry room with the door open while you’re at work. It will give the pup time to get used to it.

I have a 11yr old Lab, and crate training is the way to go. When Duke was a puppy(before he was crate trained) he ripped tiles off the floor, the sofa, my brother’s motorcycle helmet, and a tire off the car

They can be very destructive chewers.

doberkim · 07-25-2004, 06:19 PM

well, why are you locking him in the room? is it in lieu of the crate?
or why dont you just put his crate IN the room?

lablover · 07-25-2004, 06:35 PM

The only problem with putting the crate in the laundry room is that it is downstairs. I don't want to have to drag it to the basement every morning. We would like him to sleep in our room so that he can have more time with us. We also read that they should be crated at night because they are so mouthy. That's why we were going to put the crate in the bedroom.

Barrett · 07-25-2004, 11:58 PM

I think he will be fine. Just put a comfy pillow in the laundry room for him to sleep on.

dogx3 · 07-26-2004, 03:11 PM

Consider getting another crate. Having two will keep you from having to drag the one crate up and down the stairs. If you do not want to invest in a second crate try securing off a smaller part of the laundry room into a makeshift crate using something like plastic lattice, puppy playpens are great and they are larger than crates. Do you intend for the pup to eliminate in the laundry room while you are out? Make sure that all cleaners and chemiclas are properly stored and out of puppy's reach. Labs have a wonderful ability to seek and destroy so be careful about what is lying around in the laundry room.

lablover · 07-26-2004, 06:47 PM

Thanks for the great advice. Should I put newspaper in the laundry room during the day since accidents will probably happen? Does this help or hinder potty training?

dogx3 · 07-26-2004, 08:03 PM

Eliminating on paper is not a natural behaviour so unless you plan on paper training, which in your case may not be a bad idea, than paper is not necessary. If your pup has the space he will "go" where ever he pleases. Paper training is sometimes used by people who live in places where easy access to the outdoors is not available. Since you will not be home in the day to let your pup out you may want to consider paper training to restrict the mess to a small area. Paper training does not necessarily hinder house training but it should not be used as a replacement to house breaking. When your pup gets a bit older he will be able to control himself better thus making house breaking a little easier. When you are home use that time to introduce your pup to the concept of eliminating outside with lots of praise for a job well done. I don't think using both methods will confuse the pup, the paper is there as a psudo outside potty.

Taz · 07-26-2004, 08:07 PM

You could try puppy training pads until the pup is old enough to hold it while you’re gone. They have a sent that attracts the dog to use them. You can get them at the pet store, and it will keep the mess down in the room.

dogx3 · 08-08-2004, 09:22 PM

Lablover, excited yet? Only a few days left. I remember when we were waiting to get our golden, our first dog ever, I was so excited. Let us know how the home coming goes?

Furbabymom · 08-09-2004, 07:35 AM

I agree with everyone earlier. We adopted 2 young puppies early this year and while I work from home more often than not, there were days where we were both gone 10 hours a day.

We have their crates in the back porch (a 7 X 11 room) and we used puppy pads when they were younger. We trained them to use the pads (those also help when we missed their signals to go out and they went to the pads to pee). The puppy pads don't discolor or stick to the floor like newspaper will do. We couldn't confine them to the crates for that long so the "extended" kennel room helped them out. You don't want them crated for that long because if they have to go, you don't want them getting used to going in their kennels.

I'd invest in an extra crate or as someone said, plastic grates to give them a comfort zone. Make sure the room is puppy proof - all chemicals put away in locked cabinets (they can chew thru them so put them up high), all electrical cords tied out of reach or hidden. If you have anything wood in there (like chairs), suggest you remove those also for a while (mine ate thru the wooden cabinet and the door molding that was in there with them). The puppy will be bored and will act out by chewing anything in site.

Agate · 08-09-2004, 08:59 AM

I have a 11 week old yellow lab . He is crate trained . I also have a area blocked off for him to be in when I am home with puppy training pads just in case of accidents . Labs are notorious for chewing so be sure to puppy proof your areas where the puppy will be. Above all have fun with your new furbaby.

kjm · 08-09-2004, 10:26 AM

I'm moving in a couple weeks and had planned on using a gate to put up in the kitchen to allow Boone room to play a little while I'm at work. He's crate trained already but I'd like to put down the puppy training pads in case he needs to go. My problem is that he chews on EVERYTHING and that would include the pad. Has anyone else dealt with this problem before? How did you solve it?

***Carrie*** · 08-09-2004, 02:47 PM

CRATE TRAINING. Peeing inside the house whether on newspaper or anything else makes it harder for them to learn to go outside and gives them permission to pee in the house. Peeing in the crate (their den) is much less likely, unless they absolutely cannot hold it any longer. They do not like to mess their den.

Carrie

07-25-2004, 05:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
lablover Labrador Retriever Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 56 Rep Power: 83	Bringing Home a New Puppy My husband and I will be bringing home an 8 week old labrador retriever on August 14th. We have done a lot of research and are trying to plan ahead. Because of our jobs, the dog will be alone for around 8 hours a day during the week (family is coming over to let him out at least once a day). Here's my problem. We are aware of the importance of crate training with a lab and plan on crating him at night in our room. We have also read that he shouldn't be crated for more than a few hours, especially when he is a puppy. Since we have no kids and a big house we were going to lock him in the laundry room in the basement (it is about 10" X 8' with heating/air ducts). My husband is concerned that he will be confused with the crate being upstairs and his "room" being downstairs. What is the best thing to do for the puppy? I know that other people must have this problem because we aren't the only people that work and have a dog. Please help. Thanks.

07-25-2004, 06:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Taz Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 611 Rep Power: 98	QW is right , I know of many people who do the same thing. But if your husband is worried, maybe you can leave the crate in the laundry room with the door open while you’re at work. It will give the pup time to get used to it. I have a 11yr old Lab, and crate training is the way to go. When Duke was a puppy(before he was crate trained) he ripped tiles off the floor, the sofa, my brother’s motorcycle helmet, and a tire off the car They can be very destructive chewers.
	__________________ Money will buy a pretty good dog but it won't buy the wag of his tail. - Josh Billings

07-25-2004, 06:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
doberkim doberslave Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 830 Rep Power: 106	well, why are you locking him in the room? is it in lieu of the crate? or why dont you just put his crate IN the room?
	__________________ bowies modern love rn cgc snd

07-26-2004, 03:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
dogx3 retriever happy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: home Posts: 180 Rep Power: 86	Consider getting another crate. Having two will keep you from having to drag the one crate up and down the stairs. If you do not want to invest in a second crate try securing off a smaller part of the laundry room into a makeshift crate using something like plastic lattice, puppy playpens are great and they are larger than crates. Do you intend for the pup to eliminate in the laundry room while you are out? Make sure that all cleaners and chemiclas are properly stored and out of puppy's reach. Labs have a wonderful ability to seek and destroy so be careful about what is lying around in the laundry room.
	Last edited by dogx3 : 07-26-2004 at 03:18 PM.

07-26-2004, 08:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
dogx3 retriever happy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: home Posts: 180 Rep Power: 86	Eliminating on paper is not a natural behaviour so unless you plan on paper training, which in your case may not be a bad idea, than paper is not necessary. If your pup has the space he will "go" where ever he pleases. Paper training is sometimes used by people who live in places where easy access to the outdoors is not available. Since you will not be home in the day to let your pup out you may want to consider paper training to restrict the mess to a small area. Paper training does not necessarily hinder house training but it should not be used as a replacement to house breaking. When your pup gets a bit older he will be able to control himself better thus making house breaking a little easier. When you are home use that time to introduce your pup to the concept of eliminating outside with lots of praise for a job well done. I don't think using both methods will confuse the pup, the paper is there as a psudo outside potty.
	Last edited by dogx3 : 07-26-2004 at 08:09 PM.

07-25-2004, 05:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Global Paw Information Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,065 Rep Power: 131	Well, I don't think the dog will have any problem learning the difference...dogs adapt very quickly.

07-25-2004, 06:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
lablover Labrador Retriever Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 56 Rep Power: 83	The only problem with putting the crate in the laundry room is that it is downstairs. I don't want to have to drag it to the basement every morning. We would like him to sleep in our room so that he can have more time with us. We also read that they should be crated at night because they are so mouthy. That's why we were going to put the crate in the bedroom.

07-25-2004, 11:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Barrett dachshund Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 2,758 Rep Power: 158	I think he will be fine. Just put a comfy pillow in the laundry room for him to sleep on.

07-26-2004, 06:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
lablover Labrador Retriever Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 56 Rep Power: 83	Thanks for the great advice. Should I put newspaper in the laundry room during the day since accidents will probably happen? Does this help or hinder potty training?

07-26-2004, 08:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
Taz Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 611 Rep Power: 98	You could try puppy training pads until the pup is old enough to hold it while you’re gone. They have a sent that attracts the dog to use them. You can get them at the pet store, and it will keep the mess down in the room.
	__________________ Money will buy a pretty good dog but it won't buy the wag of his tail. - Josh Billings

08-08-2004, 09:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
dogx3 retriever happy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: home Posts: 180 Rep Power: 86	Lablover, excited yet? Only a few days left. I remember when we were waiting to get our golden, our first dog ever, I was so excited. Let us know how the home coming goes?

08-09-2004, 07:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
Furbabymom Owned by Sam and Spike Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 25 Rep Power: 82	I agree with everyone earlier. We adopted 2 young puppies early this year and while I work from home more often than not, there were days where we were both gone 10 hours a day. We have their crates in the back porch (a 7 X 11 room) and we used puppy pads when they were younger. We trained them to use the pads (those also help when we missed their signals to go out and they went to the pads to pee). The puppy pads don't discolor or stick to the floor like newspaper will do. We couldn't confine them to the crates for that long so the "extended" kennel room helped them out. You don't want them crated for that long because if they have to go, you don't want them getting used to going in their kennels. I'd invest in an extra crate or as someone said, plastic grates to give them a comfort zone. Make sure the room is puppy proof - all chemicals put away in locked cabinets (they can chew thru them so put them up high), all electrical cords tied out of reach or hidden. If you have anything wood in there (like chairs), suggest you remove those also for a while (mine ate thru the wooden cabinet and the door molding that was in there with them). The puppy will be bored and will act out by chewing anything in site.

08-09-2004, 08:59 AM	#13 (permalink)
Agate Labrador Retriever Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 43 Rep Power: 81	I have a 11 week old yellow lab . He is crate trained . I also have a area blocked off for him to be in when I am home with puppy training pads just in case of accidents . Labs are notorious for chewing so be sure to puppy proof your areas where the puppy will be. Above all have fun with your new furbaby.

08-09-2004, 10:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
kjm Schnauzer Slave Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 533 Rep Power: 93	I'm moving in a couple weeks and had planned on using a gate to put up in the kitchen to allow Boone room to play a little while I'm at work. He's crate trained already but I'd like to put down the puppy training pads in case he needs to go. My problem is that he chews on EVERYTHING and that would include the pad. Has anyone else dealt with this problem before? How did you solve it?

08-09-2004, 02:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,551 Rep Power: 292	CRATE TRAINING. Peeing inside the house whether on newspaper or anything else makes it harder for them to learn to go outside and gives them permission to pee in the house. Peeing in the crate (their den) is much less likely, unless they absolutely cannot hold it any longer. They do not like to mess their den. Carrie
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

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