Will this routine work?

[Lolathelab]

Next weekend we bring home our first puppy Lola, we have done a lot of research and with us both working full time jobs we have come up with a routine. Do you guys think this routine will work with potty training?
While we are at work puppy will only have access to our bathroom, it will be blocked off with a baby gate and all together will only be left alone 4-4 1/2 hours max!

6 am- wake up
7:30 am- first person leaves to work
10 am- second person leaves to work
12-1- family member visits on days we can't get home for lunch
4:30-5- first person gets home
7:00- second person gets home

Thank you

[Labradorks]

Yes, this can work. But I cannot promise that your bathroom will survive! I know plenty of Lab pups that have eaten molding, walls, cupboards, and linoleum. I'd crate the pup.

[Maxx&Emma]

I second the crate, they are an invaluable training tool. Congrats on your new puppy!

[Gibbysmom]

Crate train for sure!!

[smartrock]

i use a crate for our puppies, too. As the pup gets even just a few weeks older, towels, toilet paper, soap, the rug, the bed you thought he might rest on, all those things are fair game and can be ripped up, chewed on, eaten, all bad. A lot of first time puppy owners find the idea of a crate cruel, they don't want to use a "cage", that sort of thing. I thought that before we got our first puppies, who proceeded to tear up sofa cushions and pillows, chew through sheetrock, chew the bottoms of the kitchen cabinets, pee all over the floor on the papers we put down and then tear them up. We finally found out about crates and everyone's world changed for the better. It's a safe place for the pup when no one is there to watch him/her and is also convenient when you want to take a shower, go upstairs, downstairs, out to get the mail, take a little nap. Something you may wish to consider. If the puppy is 8 weeks old when he comes home, 4 to 4 1/2 hours might be a bit of a stretch for the first few weeks but soon he'll be able to hold out that long.

How exciting! We look forward to hearing more about your new pup pup!

[barry581]

Crate, unless you want your bathroom destroyed.

And just like war. All the planning goes out the window in the first 5 minutes once the shooting starts.

The first week or so, expect to get up and go outside at 1am, 3am, 4am, 6am, and maybe a couple more times.

Your life won't get back to "normal" for a couple of months at best.

Welcome to our world, and the best of luck with your journey with your new pup!

[Meeps83]

Also, it won't take long for your pup to be able to jump the baby gate. I definitely agree with the crate.

[littlelab]

Crate, unless you want your bathroom destroyed.

And just like war. All the planning goes out the window in the first 5 minutes once the shooting starts.

The first week or so, expect to get up and go outside at 1am, 3am, 4am, 6am, and maybe a couple more times.

Your life won't get back to "normal" for a couple of months at best.

Completely agree with everything above. We woke up almost every hour to take him out. He also quickly learned how to jump out of the gate so crate training is really important.

[teej89]

Crate, unless you want your bathroom destroyed.

And just like war. All the planning goes out the window in the first 5 minutes once the shooting starts.

Lol ditto, everyone has a plan till you get punched in the face.

But yeah definitely crate the pup, and don't be afraid to crate him while you're there too. Shows him/her that hey just because you're in there doesn't mean I'm leaving. Also feed the pup in there, makes it more of a happy place for them. Don't get a crate too big, I think I started my pup on a 18x24x20 crate?

[Tanya]

The bathroom may or may not be a safe place. It may be a safe place at first but then not as the pupy gets older.

I would highly recommend a safer zone. My friend recently brought home a puppy and has a crate within an ex-pen. The puppy is crated at night and for short outing (1-2 hrs) but left in the expen when they are gone longer periods. The expen has a potty area. In your scheule the puppy could be crated for two hours in the morning but possibly more the ex-pen for the first month during the afternoon. But they may also be ok in the crate.

Remember that training also means being on top of the puppy when people are home too! supervision and getting the puppy outside often and praise praise praise are key.

ETA: depending which Victoria you are in - it's possible crating isn't really done much in your area In North America crates are used as a safe place for dogs when they cannto be superivsed. It keeps them from injuring themselves or eating things they should not while we are gone. It's meant to be a safe den for the dog, and part of the training is making it a safe, fun, good place the dog wants to be in. It shoudl never be something a dog views at evil or bad or negative.

If you do plan to use a safe "room" instead of a crate or expen, make sure cupboards are locked and don't be surprised if the dog chews walls/floors/cupboards. make sure nothign is left on the counter/tub that the dog could grab. And may be best to leave a potty area (designated spot for him to go).