Crate, playpen, pee-pad logistics for Coton de Tulear Puppy

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Crate, playpen, pee-pad logistics for Coton de Tulear Puppy

by Tracy
(Florida)

Coton de Tulear Puppy

I got my Coton pup on 3/16 and couldn't be more excited! I have bought a small crate, a playpen and puppy pee pads (among other things, of course).

Ultimately, as an adult dog, I hope he'll sleep in the crate next to my bed at night and have run of the house during the day. I'd like him to use pee pads inside the house (kept in a spare bedroom that we never use) if we're gone too long, but will be taking him out regularly to do his business outside, too.

So...as an 8-week old pup, what are the logistics involved? If I put the crate next to my bed, should it just stay there all day? I could put him in the playpen then when we can't focus on him (like when making dinner or something). Or should I also move the crate out to the living room each morning so that he can use the crate during the day if he needs a little puppy nap?

I understand crates are supposed to be where the family is, so I worry that if its tucked away in the bedroom, he wouldn't use it during the day.

Also, if I use pee pads, should I put them in the play pen while he's so young or put them in the spare room where they'll be permanently later on?

Am I just over-thinking all of this?

Thank you!

Tracy

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Crate, playpen, pee-pad logistics for Coton de Tulear Puppy

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Apr 02, 2010
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Pee pad location
by: Moxamomma Iris

I have had my Coton since he was a six week old pup.He is now two years old and could probably speak English, he knows so many words and commands. Coton's are extremely intelligent.I think mine is a reincarnated human!

The first words he learned was go pee. I lived in an apartment at the time in California and I put a pee pad on a bath rug in the bathroom where his crate, a bed, and toy box were. The room was oversized so it was a sort of kennel for my dog and his food and water were also in there nearer the door (far from the pee pad ) and he had a see through gate at the doorway so he was safe while I was away at work. I stayed home with him the first week and continually hovered over Tuffy and would say go pee when he was doing the deed. I would also watch when he was ready to go and sniffing around, I'd place him on the pee pad and say go pee. Then he got a lot of praise, good boy make pee, and would get a treat. He picked up on it fast.

Then we moved to a condo in Connecticut and I put the pee pad closest to an outside exit in the living room, in front of the sliding door to the deck. We also put a privacy screen behind the pee pad holder which was good for the dog and less intrusive if we had company.

One big mistake I made was putting a second pee pad upstairs in my bedroom. After stepping off the pee pad Tuffy would leave pee paw prints on the rug, so more times than not, he would sniff the scent on the rug and pee half on the rug, half on the pad!

Now he is fully trained to go pee and poop outside and no more pee pads. We recently moved again, and I tried to get him to use the pee pads because of the bad weather, but he refused and actually gave me a look that said: how insulting!. So now its rain or shine, snow and ice, we go pee and poop outside!

He will "go in" to his soft sided carrier his "cave", but not the metal crate. I put his carrier in the crate and now he goes in, but only to hide from me if he thinks I am trying to catch him for doing something wrong (like pulling the stuffing out of his toys), or to avoid a bath. Tuffy sleeps on my bed at my feet, and naps in his bed in the kitchen next to his crate. When he feels too warm he prefers to sleep on the floor.P.S. Woolite makes an excellent foam cleaner that removes pee stains and barf.

Hugs, Iris & Tuffy

Apr 01, 2010
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Congratulations on your new puppy
by: Anonymous

Hi Tracy, thanks so much for sharing a photo of your beautiful new Coton puppy. He's adorable!

I know what you mean about overthinking the situation. It can be a little overwhelming to care for such a young puppy and you want to do things right so he doesn't develop bad habits.

The good news is that in my experience, the Coton is pretty smart and picks up housetraining pretty quickly. The most important thing at 8 weeks is being very consistent. Puppies that age usually have to go every 1 or 2 hours and especially after they eat, sleep and play. So make sure to take him to his pads or to a designated outdoor spot during those times and whenever you see him circling or sniffing.

I think having the crate in the same room as the family is a great way to make him feel comfortable and safe in his new home.

The best place for the wee pads are where he won't have to go far on his own to find the pad. You don't want a puppy that young unsupervised so you can move the pads to an area where the family is as well (until he's a little older). A spare room sounds pretty isolated...

EVERYONE gets a little overwhelmed with a young puppy so just relax and enjoy your new Coton.

You can check out more crate training tips here and I'd love to hear from anyone else who has had good luck with crate training.

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