Hi we have a 15 wk old labrador pup who was doing really well with the crate/potty training method. As she seemed quite big for her crate we put a gate on our kitchen area which is quite small and put a basket in there. She doesnt seem to be unsettled but as started weeing and pooing at night time and sometimes even when left for an hour or so. Should we go back to a crate or can we do something to ease this transition and give her more room and us a clean floor in the morning. All answers welcomed.
Thak you for your post. I apologize for the delay in responding to you.
I am personally a big fan of crates and using these crates to house train. When in a crate, a dog should have enough room to comfortably stand, turn around and lie down. Normally a dog will not relieve themselves in an area where they sleep or eat. If the area in which the dog is left during the night is too big, they are more likely to eliminate.
I recommend, if you have not already, that you either make the sectioned off area of your kitchen smaller, or you go back to using the crate.
We found the crate beneficial for more than just house training. If we went and stayed with my parents, we would put our dog in her crate overnight so that we didn't have to worry about her going visiting in the early hours of the morning, trying to encourage anyone to get up and feed her! Instead, she slept quietly in her cage beside our bed until we woke up. Our dog also had to have surgery on both of her back legs, and was therefore required to be in her crate 24/7 for 6 weeks - per leg! If she was not already been used to being in her crate, it would have been much more stressful for her!
I would assume that your dog is now old enough to hold on all night. However, if she is still eliminating during the night, you might want to start getting up and taking her outside once in the night. Gradually stretch out how long you leave it before taking her out. It's not easy having to get up in the middle of the night, but it will make things easier (and less messy) in the long run. My female dog could hold on all night from 11 weeks, but our boy needed to be taken outside once in the night for a lot longer.
