New 8 week old pup!

J

Jasper

Forums Novice
Hi all,

This is my first post here, so please be gentle :o

We are picking up our sheltie pup in two weeks when he will be just over 8 weeks old. I have been reading a lot about puppy training/shelties etc. However I have a few questions. I have ordered a crate with dividers and intend to do crate training. However everything I have read suggests starting with 5 min intervals at a time, how is this going to work on the first night? I intend to have the pup sleep the night in the crate, so am confused about what I should do. On the first few nights should I use puppy pads as well, or not? How often should I be up during the night to let pup out to toilet, if at all? We will be letting him out about 11.30 at night then up about 6.30 in the morning.

Also should I just not use paper/puppy pads and just take the pup outside? I will be around to do this.

And finally, although I will be around, I do need to take my son to school which is 40min round trip-should I take pup in car with me (not a problem to do so) or should I leave him in his crate? I don't really want to do that when he is so young...

Any advice appreciated!!
 
I have always just put the pups in the kennel for the night on the first night. Of course you will have to let him out at least once during the night to go potty. I usually let the pup let me know when he has to go.

I would not paper train him at all! It is confusing for them to be allowed to pee in the house one time but then not another time IMO it slows down the house training process.

For the school trip, I would alternate some days take him some days leave him home crated. That will not only help get him used to cars, (and schools are a great place to socialize) but also get used to being home alone crated. Which is good for the days you cant take him with you.
 
Jasper said:
Hi all,

This is my first post here, so please be gentle :o

We are picking up our sheltie pup in two weeks when he will be just over 8 weeks old. I have been reading a lot about puppy training/shelties etc. However I have a few questions. I have ordered a crate with dividers and intend to do crate training. However everything I have read suggests starting with 5 min intervals at a time, how is this going to work on the first night? I intend to have the pup sleep the night in the crate, so am confused about what I should do. On the first few nights should I use puppy pads as well, or not? How often should I be up during the night to let pup out to toilet, if at all? We will be letting him out about 11.30 at night then up about 6.30 in the morning.

Also should I just not use paper/puppy pads and just take the pup outside? I will be around to do this.

And finally, although I will be around, I do need to take my son to school which is 40min round trip-should I take pup in car with me (not a problem to do so) or should I leave him in his crate? I don't really want to do that when he is so young...

Any advice appreciated!!
Click to expand...

Well,geesh..those frist few nights crated,he may surprise you on how often he will need to potty. I would'nt wake him up thats for sure. If you retire him fter 10pm,and you know in fact he has voided both ways,and if he is tired enough,he may sleep a good 4-5 hours. Key word is "tired enough"...I always say a tired puppy is a happy puppy.

With all of mine here,thier night time crate was in our bedroom. Daytime crates were centrally located in the home,so they could still be a part of the household activities.
And they were very content being there,if I was busy. I did however cover thier crates,with a blanket or sheet,it sometimes helps with the adjustment,and makes them feel more secure in thier "dens"

I never had a problem with any pup whining or screaming to come out,as all of my pups were well introduced to a crate before coming home. So they loved thier dens.
I never used puppy pads.Never. And only for one reason,they tend to shred them & eat them. Or at least I knew my pups would.

Thier bedding consisted of a crate liner & a sherpa blanket. And it was washed daily.Sometimes more,as they may tend to piddle. Most puppies will not poo or pee in thier sleeping quarters,and learn to hold it. I still to this day,wash bedding weekly,only because I don't want my dogs sleeping on dirty bedding.

There is a formulation regarding age & how long you would or could expect a puppy to hold its pee or poo. And its fairly accurate.
Taking them out every 2 hours,is what I did.But I never woke them up to do so.That was even during day hours.

As far as the ride to school,I will tell ya,if you can manage the pup & the child,it would be a fantastic way to acclimate the pup to car rides. I would'nt hesitate,as it would do him good.
And as the pup ages,he will look forward to the ride. They love things to look forward to,and your son will love the company. But that's my thoughts,not everyone may agree,but it makes for a wonderful training & bonding experiance.

My oldest sheltie (Trapp) goes just about everywheres with me. Even just a quick trip for gas,he loves to go. With Trapp's half brother Jasper,he still has issues of drooling (car sickness) but nothing like it was when a wee pup. We could not even get out of driveway,without him tossing his belly.

Good luck with the new addition,forum members will help as much as we can. Don't forget to post pictures!!
 
I'm no expert, but my Sheltie was by far the easiest dog I've ever house trained. We didn't get her until she was about 12 weeks old, but only had to let her out about once during the night for the first week, and then she started sleeping through the night.

I think she might have had 5 accidents in the house while we were training her -- and it was mainly because we weren't picking up on her little clues that she needed to go out. I'm not including the ones she had when she had a UTI, which were a couple more, as she just couldn't hold it.

Callie spends more time in her crate than I wish she had to, as we work full-time and leave her in her crate during the day. She also still sleeps in it at night. Unfortunately, we had to take her bedding out as she was eating it. I'm thinking of trying to switch her to our kitche, and putting her crate in there along with a regular dog bed, and see if she'd still manage to stay dry during the day if she wasn't confined to a crate.

I've read about several Sheltie who had trouble being car sick, but Callie LOVES the car. She goes happily with us whenever we're running a quick errand or going to visit family. I'd try your new puppy carefully in case he gets car sick, but hopefully he won't.
 
Thank you all! Really helpful.

I think we will know about the car sickness as the trip back from the breeders is going to be 3 hours plus.... I hope the pup likes/or gets to like the car as it would be lovely to be able to take him along on the school run. Alternating days is a great idea, as after the first two weeks I'll have to be back at work, so itll be about 3 hours I'll be away from the house.

Very excited, have the crate and bed and everything set up already....:rolleyes2:
 
I think I saw somewhere you can figure 1 hour per week that a pup can hold it (though it might be 1/2 hour) Sca slept fine the first night after some initial whining and was 10 weeks old. Spitfire.... well he was older but does live up to his name so the whining was MUCH more determined :lol:

The car ride is cool if you can do it and like others said a plus later if he gets used to it.

Congratulations on the new pup and let the spoiling begin
 
Ooooo, a Scottish member! Welcome! We visited your country a few years ago and LOVED it. Although, we saw NOT ONE Sheltie!! :lol:

I agree with the night time advice, let him wake you up when he needs to go, quick trip out, lots of praise but then right back in the kennel. You don't want him to think it's party time in the middle of the night. Asta was 10 weeks when we got her and only had one pee accident in her crate at night, I think we slept thru her crying. I think she went all night at about 4 months or so.

Also, yes take him in the car at least some of the school trips. He'll likely love it and I'm sure your son will love having him along.

Don't let him out of your sight in the daytime, and outside after every meal, drink and when he wakes up after a nap. At least every 1 - 2 hours. Help him be a success!

Good luck and please post pictures!! :yes:
 
Everyone gave you great advice. We did not keep Shelby's crate in our bedroom. We got her when she was about 14 weeks old and our breeder does not crate train. She did not like being in the crate and cried a lot. A good pair of ear plugs help block out the crying so you can sleep. Shelby did eventually realize that crying would get her nothing but it was tough. Now she is begging to go in her crate every morning at 6 (when we leave for work).

The only accident she had in tbe crate was when she was sick with giardia, coccidia, and still had worms. Poor thing her belly would just grumble so loud. She could't help that she made a mess.

Enjoy puppy hood. It can be very trying at times but extreemly rewarding. I loved all tbe training and teaching. I think there is nothing better than seeing your dog and knowing you taught them everything.
 
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