new dog re-training

Question
I just got a 2-3 yr old female basset from a rescue agency.  She was in a house with a doggie door and is now in an apartment.  The first night, she whined all night and peed once in the house.  The next day, she barked for hours while I was gone and made two puddles.  I bought a crate and am now leaving her in it while I am work and was planning to take her out according to this schedule: 6AM wake and pee. 6:15 food and water.  7AM pee and vigourous walk. 7:30 crate.  12:30PM pee, walk, then water.  6PM pee, then food and water.  9PM pee and walk.  Then she goes in the crate when I go to bed, and at 12:30AM, out for pee during the night.  It has only been 1 day and the potty part seems to be working well, but after reading your posts, I am worried about leaving her in the crate too much. Also not sure the schedule is right.

Please help!  I spend all day worrying that I'm messing her up!

Answer
Hi Cyndi,

Congrats on your new rescue!  I hate doggie doors, for reasons such as this and others.

Ok...your schedule.  Here's the things I would change:

6:15 food and water.  Your giving her about an hour and then locking her up for 5.  While potty training, this isn't such a hot idea.  You don't want to set her up for failure.  1230 water and back in until 6.  Again...setting up for failure.  You don't want to put her in the crate with a full bladder.  Even if she pees immediately, she's peeing old water (if that makes sense).  The water you've just given her is still going to be in her system.

If this is your permanent schedule, there's nothing wrong with feeding her one meal a day.  It's much better going that route than putting her in a crate with a full or even half full system.

I would cut the morning feeding and the noon watering.  I would also let her out one more time, just to be sure, before she goes in the crate at 730.  Most dogs will not eliminate in their crate, which is good, but not so good if they're holding it all day.

I'd also stop crating her at night.  You shouldn't have too many problems with her toileting in the middle of the night as she should be sleeping.  She's not a hampster ;)and shouldn't be living in a cage, which is essentially what she's doing.  She's out for about 4-5 hours a day...not enough by a long shot.

I crate mine as well, when I go to work, 4 hours in, break, 4 hours in and then I'm home.  All are out when I sleep.  3 sleep with me, 2 sleep in their room (yes...THEIR bedroom lol).  During potty training with the rescues, I'd put a jingle bell on their collars so that I could hear them if they started to wander around.

If you go with the one feeding in the evening...6 is fine, but I'd add a 7 pee time in between the dinner and the 9 o'clock walk.

You're doing awesome, just need a little tweaking.  :)  You may also want to see if you can find an affordable dog walker in your area.  High school kids are great, if you have any, and could come by after school which would be the perfect time.  You seem to have a dog friendly building in that they even allow dogs, you may be able to find a willing and trustworthy neighbor to give her an afternoon break.

You're not messing her up!  Really.  :)  All of us would love to be lottery winners and able to be home all day with our dogs.  When I finally win, that's what I'm doing!  Until then, gotta do what you gotta do.  ;)

Did I confuse you to pieces?  You can email me at nicole@boxerdogplanet.com if you like or have any more questions.  And I'd love to see photos!!