Start Practicing a Daily Routine
Puppies adjust to living with new humans much better when they’re on a strict routine.
Yours should look something like this:
Moring right away – go to designated potty area for relief 5 minutes of playful romping
Breakfast
Potty break.
Play on his own while you get ready for your day.
Final morning potty break.
Go outside for potty break 5 minutes of playing outside, then back inside,
POTTY BREAK!
Playtime and training
Dinner
Plays on his own in his play area
Potty break
Bedtime
Stick to a strict routine like the one above.The first two days, set a timer if you have to, to take them to their potty spot every 2 hours, and reward any relief in the right spot with praise and play.
Always offer a potty break after your pup wakes up (even from a short nap), eats, drinks, has a heavy bout of playtime or comes out of the crate.
By 10 weeks, following a good routine, it’s reasonable to think your puppy can “hold it” for about 3-4 hours during the day or 5-6 hours overnight.
It also means your pup will probably still be whining around 2-3 am for a potty break too.
Crate Training
It will make your overall life as a pet parent much easier, knowing that you have the option to secure your pooch in certain situations.
It also helps to know that they are calm and happy to have their own quiet place to relax, nap, and play with a few puzzle toys, rather than whining, barking, or destroying everything (including the crate itself) because it thinks she’s being punished or held back from the fun.
Introducing your 8-10 week old puppy to her new crate is as simple as making it a game.
Start with a new toy and a few treats staged inside the crate with the door propped open. Bring your puppy over to their new crate with an established favorite toy. Toss the toy into the crate with the others. Let your puppy explor their new crate, and make it a positive spot not a negative spot. Keep the door open from time to time for them to know its not a punisment spot. .
Over the couple of days, occasionally toss a treat into the crate to encourage your pup to continue finding surprises there. Once it is going inside on its own, you can start closing the door before giving them a treat. Then open the door back up and start the game over.
Repeat this version of the game for a few sessions, then add whatever cue you’d like, such as, “Go to bed,” or, “Go to your crate.” You can also start leaving the door shut for 30 to 45 seconds before giving them the treat and releasing her/him.
Then start leaving the room and coming back to reward and release. By the end of their 10th week, your puppy should be comfortable going into her crate when you gesture/cue.
It will likely still whine or bark after 5-10 minutes of being alone in the crate, but with continued training and maturity, this most often will go away.
Additional information will be posted as this years WWL litter grows and will be timed with that specific age of your WWL pup.
Pick a feather!
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