Where should she sleep?

[dignan]

Background: Just got my 4-month-old rotti female on Wednesday night. I purchased her from a family who got her from a breeder. The family told me that she has been staying in the house while they're out and that she sleeps inside, typically with one member of the family, at night. She is a very calm and gentle puppy. She is somewhat house trained. She knows that when I take her outside, she needs to go to the bathroom, but she's had a few accidents at night so far.

I am asking this to see what the opinion is on where she should sleep. I've kept her inside the last two nights and slept in the living room with most of the doors to my house closed so I can watch her. However, i am starting to get a little tired with having to watch her and take her out every few hours through the night. Should I keep her outside at night? She stays outside in the backyard while I'm at work without any problems so far. Opinions?

[ilovemyrottie]

All my dogs have always slept in crates. That's their spot for "high value" items and when it gets caitic(sp?) around here. It will also help you with the potty training.
Even though they sleep in a crate they are still very much a part of the family. The crate is also great for keeping a puppy safe from trouble when you are not around.

Where does the puppy stay in the yard while you are at work? Is it a fenced in yard? Do you have a lot of neighbors?


Keep asking questions; there's a lot of great info around here.

[natesmom14]

Crating your pup (especially at night so you can get some sleep!!!) is a great idea to reinforce the housetraining. It's been ages since I've had a pup, but maybe someone on here can give an idea as to how long a 4 mos. old puppy can go at night without being let out?!?!? My friend just got her 8 week old schnauzer puppy and says she can already go from 11PM-5am before needing to be let out to potty. She goes out more frequently during the day when she's active and also because during the day she is eating and drinking...

Once the dog is older and completely housetrained, then I guess it's up to you. Both of our dogs sleep together on the floor next to my husband's side of the bed. On the rare occasion one has an upset stomach and needs to go out at night, they will go to the bedroom door and scratch at it to let us know- otherwise, they sleep peacefully on the floor until our alarm goes off.

[targonrotts]

don't know about your town, but here if you leave a puppy unattended in a yard-it's gone!

[rottnkidd]

I'm curious why the people that had this young pup sold it? Do you know at what age they acquired it?
Crate training the pup is the ideal situation. It will aid in your housetraining and will also give the pup a 'safe' place for naps, sleeping at night, or when you need to keep the pup from getting underfoot. It may take some coaxing now that this pup has had 'freedom'. Make it cozy and comfortable by putting a rug or blanket in there, a favorite toy, and a treat or 2. Buy a crate that's large enough for him to grow into. Give him enough room to stretch out and turn around, but not enough room to potty in the rear of the crate; just put a partition in there. If possible, keep the crate next to your bed, so you can poke a reassuring finger in there, should the pup start to protest at bedtime. I don't know how many hours you're gone while working, but is there someone that could let the pup out to potty during that time?
A 4 mo old pup cannot be left unattended in the yard. It doesn't matter if the yard is fenced. There are just too many things that can go wrong.
Also, in order to expedite the housetraining, the crate is your answer.
Best wishes -
kathy

[dignan]

Thanks for all of your suggestions guys, I'm very happy to find this type of place that offers new owners advice. I purposely got a female because they are the recommended sex for first-time rott owners. The people I got her from had her for two months and sold her to me because they are moving to a new place that doesn't allow rottweilers. I believe certain appartments in the area have a list of dogs they don't allow.

I think I am going to talk to my vet more about crate training when I take her in to get her check up tomorrow. It makes a lot of sense, but I am a little concerned at how she will handle her newly removed liberty at first. I work about ten minutes from my home so I have been coming home every day and taking her for a thirty minute walk. She's still very shy and is still walking behind me.

Where does everyone keep their crates full-time? I have a strange house that has a very small down-stairs area...it's basically my bedroom, the living room, and the kitchen...and then the rest of the rooms are upstairs...I guess I could keep the crate in my room? I'm not sure.

Thanks again for your help. It is appreciated by both of us. :)

[brunie's mom]

The crate is the only way to go with your pup...she may fuss at the beginning going in...but it will get better soon. Feed her in her crate, so she understands that it's a good thing. Also give her a command everytime you want her to go in the crate...I usually say "kennel up" and throw in a treat towards the back of the crate...so that the pup will go in quickly.

I am concerned that your 4 month old pup is shy and walks behind you ....a young pup should not be shy. She should be happy to see people and the world. Sounds like all that time she spent outside in her first home she was not getting enough socialization. A scared pup, can soon grow up into a snapping, nervous dog.
Please get her into Puppy Classes asap!! and continue with classes for the next 2-3 years with her.
Also get her out and about in the world, stores, crowds, people...you want her meeting all sorts of kids, adults and different races. Take some treats with you and ask friendly looking people to give her a treat.

Gina

[brunie's mom]

P.S.
I forgot to answer your question.
Keep her crate where you spend the most time...so that even when she not right with you she can see and hear you around. Don't leave the crate in some isolated place.
Ideally one in your bedroom and one in your living room/family room or kitchen is good.

Gina

[Judi W]

Although she won't know it, she would much prefer being crated and staying out of trouble than being yelled at after the first time she explores eating a hole in the couch! She is still very young and will be getting into mischief even if not going potty in the house.

[dignan]

Here's a follow up on everything so far...please let me know how I'm doing. I bought a large wire crate and put her blanket in there for her to sleep on. I put the crate in my bedroom. Last night I put her in it and she whined and whined for what seemed like hours. I eventually went out and slept on the couch so I could get some sleep. She finally settled down around 2 am. I took her out to pee at 4:30 and then put her back in...this time I think there was less whining and I think she went right to sleep. I took her out and fed her this morning...walked her around a bit and then put her back in the crate when I went to church. She's now sleeping on the couch next to me.

A few questions:

1) How long should I crate her before I start letting her stay in the backyard while I am at work? A few months or just until there are no more accidents in the house?

2) How do you guys deal with training your rott when it's raining to pee outside? It's raining pretty hard today and she's not liking to pee outside. In fact, she just went #2 on my floor.

3) Should I crate her during the day when I am home or just when I am gone and at nighttime?

Thanks,

Peter

[Judi W]

She is not a delicate flower that will melt in the rain. Grab your umbrella and stay out with her until she relieves herself. Give her a good rub with a towel when you come back in.

Crating when you are home. If you cannot be supervising her, then do pop her in the crate so she doesn't learn to entertain herself by chewing furniture or eating electrical wires. If you can keep an eye on her for when she has to go potty, or so you can redirect her to a toy or appropriate item, it is good for her to be out and learning what is and what is not hers. Although it varies, usually a young dog is not above getting into mischief until it is well over one year of age - depending upon how good a job you do at teaching her and how she matures mentally.

As far as staying outside, you will need to evaluate how safe your backyard really is and the neighborhood is. It is quite easy to hop a fence and hoist a little puppy over so you don't want her to be stolen. Also, starting right now and always in the future, put padlocks on your gates and keep them there and locked. This keeps someone from inadvertantly opening a gate and letting your dog become a road pizza, or never found again.

Well, that's a quickie and rather short response, but should get you started.

[dignan]

For those of you with backyards, did you transition your rotts to the backyard or are they still in the crate while you are gone? If you did transition them, about what age did you do this? And if you didn't put them in the backyard...how long do you leave them in the crate at a time?

[yogi53]

still in crate - I would never leave my puppy outside unsupervised! She loves her crate and she is 4 1/2 months - she's in it from 9am until noon and 1 until 4 - she also sleeps in it a night from 10 or 11 until 7 - she does not need to go out in the middle of the night anymore (thank god!) but you can research lots of information on how to effectively use your crate on this forum.

[Puppy Love]

We crate all our dogs to this day(except one she has roam of our living room). But I would just keep crating her while you are not home so she can't get into anything. I wouldn't leave her out in the backyard she could be stolen, an animal coould get her, or she might find a way out and get lost(etc). She is safe in her crate.

[dignan]

I agree...I'd like to leave her in her crate...but I don't want to confine her all day. Sometimes I have to be gone for more than 8 hours...is that too long to leave her in a crate? Everything I've read says that is so.