Crate training schedule?
When you were housebreaking your puppy, what was your crating schedule? We’re trying to find a good balance, our 3 month old sheltie/bichon mix puppy is really good at going outside, but we leave her in our den and go upstairs for a few minutes, and there’s usually a mess when we get back.
On the other hand, we don’t want to crate her all the time either. She is crated 8-12, and then 1-3:30. And tonight, I’m going to try to crate her overnight.
Considering she is a small-breed puppy, should we be crating her at all times except that for potty and play? Should we give her free reign of the den when we’re home but not necessarily looking or is that the opportunity to crate for a little while?
We DON’T crate our puppy all the time, and we play with her often when we’re home. We don’t even intend to crate her after she’s housebroken, but for now, what were your experiences crate training? Did we really have to restrict her area for a while?
ALWAYS CREATE ALL NIGHT AND WHEN YOUR OUT, ONLY. WHEN YOUR HOME SHE MUST BE IN THE SAME ROOM AS YOU ALL THE TIME TILL TRAINED. WHEN YOUR GOING UPSTAIRS TAKE HER OUT JUST BEFORE YOU GO UP OR GO UP JUST AFTER SHE’S BEEN OUT. ITS A PAIN BUT OVER USING THE CRATE WILL MAKE HER HATE IT . ITS HER HAPPY PLACE. DOOR OPEN CEPT NIGHT AND EMPTY HOUSE.ALSO IT WILL MEAN MORE TRIPS OUTSIDE AND SHE WILL GET IT FASTER. 
Housebreaking A Puppy – How Long In A Crate?