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Jmeff2664

Posts:9

10/15/2012 12:43 AM
Hey y'all i just bought my first GSP!!! His name is rebel and I pick him up oct 24 he will be 8 weeks old. I plan to crate train him right away but am still worried because I am a police officer and work third shift and my wife works days. He will get play and exercise time from about 4pm-11pm everyday. Can anyone offer advice or tips from personal experience about how to handle the situation of him being crated at night when my wife sleeps and then I will need to come home and sleep?!?!?!?!?!

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7835

10/17/2012 8:14 PM
I suspect he will do well with the crate, but remember that he is a baby. As a baby he will need to go out about every 2 hours, after he wakes up, and after he eats. So, just don't expect him to hold it for several hours at this age. Also the first month is the best time to start his training and socialization, so take advantage of this window of opportunity. Be patient and just remember he is a baby. Have fun, welcome to the forum, and post some pictures when you can.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

everbell

Kanata, ON

MH
Posts:3162

10/18/2012 6:19 AM
When we brought Bo home he was 8 weeks. We crated him from day one (in another room). He cried the first night, but then settled into the routine prety quickly. I recall the first week or so we got up several times during the night to let him out. I want to say that at about 12 weeks, he was sleeping through the night without incidents. For the first couple months, I went in to work late, and hubs came home from work at noon. Gradually we were able to leave him from about 7 until a dog walker came at about 12. Now we leave both dogs from 6:30 to 16:30 in their crates on the two days hubs and I are at work. We also crate them at night since they really see their crates as homes. Advice for the transition: - If you can, get the breeder a piece of your clothing (or a towel) so the puppy can get used to your smell before you pick him up. Our breeder also thre the towel in with his littermates with mom and sibs so their smell would be on it when he came home. - Use a small (or divided wire) crate to start. Most (but not all) dogs will not soil where they sleep (unless they REALLY can't hold it any longer). - Some people have success living stuffed kongs in the crates with the puppy. Just make sure that he cannot hurt himself with anything left in the crate if you aren't there to supervise. - We use wire crates and always throw a blanket or something in it to make the space more den-like.

Joce and Rich Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs) Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats) The Everbell Adventures

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