Is crate training proper if I have to leave him alone for more than 6 hours a day?
We have a 3 month old, male, rat terrier. Unfortunately, we are obligated to work and school… so we have to leave him alone for a least 6 hours.
Would you recommend crate training him… for that long?
I am currently using pee pads and he has no issues. Eventually, I would like him to be able to potty outside. What should I do?
How young can a puppy start holding their pee/poop?
That’s a long time for a dog to be in a cage. I’d recommend maybe asking/paying a friend to stop by in the 3 hour mark and perhaps feed/walk/give it some attention. If your dog is already trained to use the pads and not the floor, that is great. The way to transition your dog from the pads to outside, is slowly (over a week or two), move the pad closer and closer to the door. The goal is to get the pad on the other side of the door, so that when the dog needs to use the pad, it will go to the door thus telling you its potty time.
Puppy Training – Training Your Puppy to Settle Down