No crate training

[WhoopsaDaisy]

It's the summer time now, I'm sure there will be some kids home for the summer looking for a summer job. I would ask around for a responsible kid in the neighborhood -maybe one that also babysits- have him/her come let the puppy out of the crate every 3 hours or so. That should get you to fall and by then your puppy will be able to last longer. Otherwise your puppy could chew something and get hurt. Also, the puppy is going to get used to going potty inside the house and that habit is going to be hard to break.
Edit to add: I certainly would NOT leave the puppy in the crate for 9 hours though. My Daisy was left in her crate for long hours with her previous owner and she has a horrible scar on her nose and a wonky toe to show for it. She was probably sitting in her own pee/poo and couldn't stand it and wanted to get out so badly that she wounded herself.

[Benelli_my_Lab]

Many of us work full time while we crate trained... But in my case I (or hubby) would come home at lunch and let Nelli out. But she was in the crate from 7:45 til Noon, and then 12:30 to 4:45. It's the safest place for them - no chewing on things or possibilities of obstructions, etc, and helps immensely with potty training.

i agree with finding a neighbor kid you can trust and pay them to come over two or three times a day to let the pup out. When I was a kid I would've paid YOU to let me play with your puppy, so you shouldn't have any issues. You could even check with your local vet or humane society for anyone they may recommend. Lots of kids volunteer at those places.

9 hours is way too long, and a kitchen is way too big.

[Zookeepermom247]

Crate training is vital for us. I need to have her crated if I am vacuuming because she is underfoot trying to wrestle and play with the hose. Same for the mop. Also, if we go out, she is crated. We are usually back around 2 or less hours. In the evening.. she is more in the pestering mood.. at dinner and we crate her so we can eat in peace or watch a movie. IF WE DON'T.. she wants to play.. beg... bring her toys for us to throw or try to get me off the couch so I can go outside with her and she won't sit still and we are basically tired and value our dinner and TV time.. She goes in the crate because we basically are the boss and we say go in the crate. During her day.. she is walked.. played with routinely to get that energy out, lots and lots of love and kisses, we practice our sitting, watching, leave it.. stay and so forth. She is soo loved. Evening is OUR time..lol.... and we don't feel guilty!

Sophie's mom

[WhoopsaDaisy]

Is there an update? I'm curious did you figure something out with crate training?

[bett]

I'm wondering how this dog will learn to potty outside, if left alone, for 9 hours.

and i had dogs that ate walls, an entire queen size sleeper sofa (left the metal and mattress).

before i had a clue about crates. and had sibs yet.
what was i thinking?

[Sue]

Tried the puppy pads and she just tears them up. Not sure what an x-pen is but will check it out. Thanks

An x-pen is an exercise pen, made up of panels with a door. Thik of an indoor kennel, although these can be used outside or when traveling. They come in various sizes.

A setup like this below is what Snowshoe had, I believe. The x-pen (exercise pen) gives the pup room to move, provides a place to eliminate, and can have food or water dishes attached to the sides. I would probably lay newspaper in it, at least under the food and water, to help with spillage.






One other suggestion, rather than use the chewable puppy pads, would be to use a litter box. This way, it would give your puppy the idea to use a specific place. As long as it's low enough for pup to climb in and out easily, that would be a bit safer than eating pads.

[Snowshoe]

An x-pen is an exercise pen, made up of panels with a door. Thik of an indoor kennel, although these can be used outside or when traveling. They come in various sizes.

A setup like this below is what Snowshoe had, I believe. The x-pen (exercise pen) gives the pup room to move, provides a place to eliminate, and can have food or water dishes attached to the sides. I would probably lay newspaper in it, at least under the food and water, to help with spillage.






One other suggestion, rather than use the chewable puppy pads, would be to use a litter box. This way, it would give your puppy the idea to use a specific place. As long as it's low enough for pup to climb in and out easily, that would be a bit safer than eating pads.

Sort of. OH made a very sturdy 4' x 8' pen. I didn't think x pens would be strong enough. We put the crate in the pen. It had a floor too as we put it in our dining room and that's hardwood. The odd time Jet needed to bathroom in the pen she chose the part behind the crate.

BUT, but, but, she was not alone for a work day till she was 6 months old. I was able to work evenings and weekends so she was only by herself from 1:30 to 4:30 a couple of days a week and for the first month OH went home on his afternoon coffee break, 3ish to check on her. Then for the first month of full days he went home two coffee breaks, then just lunch, then not at all. And I still worked weekends so it was only 3 days a week of full days alone. Who knew shift work was so advantageous with puppies?

[ZoeysMommy]

An xpen wont hold a lab puppy past 14 to 16 weeks old. Its very easy to just pop it up and get right out, not to mention how easy it is to just jump over as well. My corgi mastered the xpen in less than a half hour and she is barely one foot off the ground and 20 pounds

[petitesalmon]

I crate trained - was so easy to toilet train. We didn't leave him alone in his crate till we knew he could hold it in and not go to the toilet in his crate (hasn't ever happened yet) so we would just leave him outside when we went out. Now we know he can hold it for a while, he stays in his crate when we are out - never longer than 2 hours. 9 hours seems really long and I can't imagine how all that pent up energy would be when you got home!

I agree that a dog walker might be a good idea. Every Thursday I have a lady come to my place and take Ajax out for 'puppy play group' (includes an hour walk and an hour play) with heaps of other dogs - great socialisation and he absolutely loves it - his whole body won't stop wagging when the car gets to the house to pick him up maybe something like that might be a good idea?