New puppy and working mom

Question
QUESTION: I just got a Schnorkie a couple of days ago, he is 10 weeks and I work daily from 8-5.  I am trying to housebreak him by using a crate, last night he had an accident in the crate.  I didnt punish him at all, just cleaned everything up and moved on.  He rarely poops before I leave for work in the morning or before I put him in the crate at night, so i do not know what to do. While I am at work I put him in the bathroom with pee pads, and he seems to go on them just fine.  He also does good with using them on command while I am home. I am just concerned because I am gone daily and I still want to housetrain him.  He also cries during the night and when I leave in the morning.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,

ANSWER: I am a bit confused with your problem. If the dog is great about using the pee pads when you are gone and when you are at home, what does it matter that he has not pooped before you leave in the morning? Take him to the pads to potty about every 40 minutes when you are home and he is loose, and praise him excitedly when he potties, just as one would do when putting the puppy outside. He should soon be seeking out the pads by himself.

You should put the crate closer to you so that you will hear him crying during the night if he has to potty. If he is crying because he wants attention rather than having to potty, then he should be ignored (but he should always be put on the pads if he cries during the night).

Be sure you always feed him in his crate so that he learns to love it, and give him a small treat every time you put him in it.

Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I guess what I want to know is, do you suggest i leave him in the crate all day, or continue this bathroom routine? I dont want him to think it is ok to potty in the house, no matter where he is, but i thought the bathroom was a little more humane than crating for 8 hours or so.  He pottys well outside now hen I am home, but I also would like to know how to teach him to let me know when he has to potty so I may give him a little more free time outside of the kennel in th house.  My friends' dogs often let them know they need to go out (i.e. sitting by door, scratching, etc) I want my puppy to do this too...

He also stopped the night crying, I think it was just a getting used to things issue


Answer
Puppies this age cannot survive for eight hours in a crate without having to potty (limit is about four hours); to expect anything else is unreasonable. If you cannot find someone to come in at lunchtime, let him out, and play with him for a bit, then your only option is the pee pads in the bathroom.

When the two of you are heading for the "outside" door, get really excited and hesitate for a brief moment before opening the door as you ask the puppy a couple times if he wants to "go outside". Be really excited and "cheerlead", and eventually, if you get him excited enough, he might even start barking to go outside. Be sure to praise him when he responds to you!

Karen