My girls just turned 3 months yesterday. They are doing very good with potty training. Have not had ANY accidents in their crates for a few days. Right now our schedule is like this: 5:30 - potty, breakfast, play, potty - 7:00 crate time till 11:45 - 11:45 potty and lunch, play, potty incrate again till 4:15 - 4:30 potty, dinner, play, etc...till they go back to bed around 9:00!!

My question is: at which point can I (a) feed them twice a day and (b) not go home at lunch for potty!

I can't help with the potty schedule because Chance is outside when we aren't home, but as for two meals a day our breeder said as soon as we took her home she could go on two meals a day, that was at eight weeks. She still eats two meals, at around 7 in the morning and 6 in the evening.

Bailey also quickly changed to two meals a day because he really had no interest in eating at lunch time - weird for a lab, I know. So I would worry less about coming home to feed and more about coming home for potty breaks. I'm not very helpful because I still come home most days to take bay out for lunch time potty breaks, so i am not sure when your pups will be able to hold it for nine hours. Do they hold it that long through the night?? If so, they can probably hold it that long during the day. Keep us posted on your progress! I think you can at least start to get them off the lunch time meal. Good luck!

Patrick started on two meals when he came home and has been doing just fine with it.
As far as the potty at lunch time I can't always come home and I feel so bad when I can't. When I work days I leave about 8:45 and my oldest is home by 3 so it isn't too bad. I just make sure he has done all his potties before I leave. He can hold it for about 9 hours most nights and has for a little while now. I just feel worse about it durring the day.
Good luck and I guess you will just have to try one day and see if it works with the lunch time potty.

I think we switched to 2x a day around 4 months. That's also the time where they are supposed to have their bowels and bladder under control.

We too started 2x a day right away. I was afraid that even coming home at lunch, he would need to go - even if we let him go. (They just poop so much at this age..)

As far as lunch - Can you start pushing your lunch off? Maybe an hour a week?

I've heard the rule of thumb was, for whatever month old they are, is as long in hours that they can hold it. I.E. 6 months, 6 hours. At night they can hold it longer because they are sleeping (Ya right!). That being said, by 6 months we were leaving Calvin 7-8 hours - what he is doing now too.

Originally posted by d2roberts
We too started 2x a day right away. I was afraid that even coming home at lunch, he would need to go - even if we let him go. (They just poop so much at this age..)

As far as lunch - Can you start pushing your lunch off? Maybe an hour a week?

I've heard the rule of thumb was, for whatever month old they are, is as long in hours that they can hold it. I.E. 6 months, 6 hours. At night they can hold it longer because they are sleeping (Ya right!). That being said, by 6 months we were leaving Calvin 7-8 hours - what he is doing now too.

OMG can I push my lunch off...I'm sooo ready to stop driving the 8miles back home to see them...I am ready to go back to the gym. OH, do you mean, not go home one day??? If not, I have to take my lunch at the same time!

I've heard that too about the time..the girls are only 3 months = 3 hrs. I'm just too afraid to stop going home at lunch or getting them up one to pee...(yes they are poop machines) for fear of a messy relapse.

BTW - Yeah, forget the gym for awhile. ;-)

I just read another post from you where you said your girls weren't consistent with being dry. That right there is a sure sign not stopping lunch - for awhile. Sorry.

We were one of the "lucky" ones where by 11 weeks Calvin stopped waking us up at night. I would have gotten up still, but he just simple slept through the night.

Good luck - You know yourself - when this stage is over, it will seem like nothing. If that makes any sense. ;-~

Originally posted by d2roberts
BTW - Yeah, forget the gym for awhile. ;-)

I just read another post from you where you said your girls weren't consistent with being dry. That right there is a sure sign not stopping lunch - for awhile. Sorry.

We were one of the "lucky" ones where by 11 weeks Calvin stopped waking us up at night. I would have gotten up still, but he just simple slept through the night.

Good luck - You know yourself - when this stage is over, it will seem like nothing. If that makes any sense. ;-~

Jeez, thanks!!! I know, I know....I do enjoy seeing them throughout the day...so we continue to work on it. Hey, I just have to eat less!!! My husband just OWES me big time since I devote more time then he does..due to work locations! :brow:

Murphy went to 2 meals a day at 16 weeks. I cannot help with pee schedule, because he still gets a lunchtime walk.