Too late to crate?

Hi Guys, think I have got it all wrong again. Our two dogs are 13 years (got her at about 18 months) and 3 months. We have had the puppy for only 7 weeks but have given her free range of the bottom of the house. When we have to leave them for an hour or so or at night they are penned into the hallway (it is a large area). I have read lots and it is suggested that the puppy needs to learn to hold her bladder. Do you think it would be ok to start crate training her so that at night she can stay in the crate ane learn not to wee or do you think it is too late because she is now used to roaming at night and sleepng with our Ellie. Just thnk that we are not training her to hold her bladder. When we are there she goes outside everytime and is rewarded. Heeeelp

I personally don't use a crate to housetrain, although I know a lot of people do. For me, the crate is purely to stop my pup from getting into trouble overnight or when I'm out.

I prefer to let nature take its course - a puppy doesn't have full control over its bladder sometimes until about 5 or 6 months old. I make sure that the pup is taken outside every hour during the day & I usually get up around 4am to let them out for a pee.

I found that Cal did very well in her crate at night, never messed after the first 2-3 days. I think you could try to crate her at night--though if she was used to company could you put her in your room?

Nothing worked all that well during the day until Cal was about 6 months old, she'd still have occasional accidents. So don't look to me for advice on that one!

I have just posted this link on another post a min ago hope it helps .

http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/puppy-crate-training.html

micheled wrote:I found that Cal did very well in her crate at night, never messed after the first 2-3 days. I think you could try to crate her at night--though if she was used to company could you put her in your room?

Nothing worked all that well during the day until Cal was about 6 months old, she'd still have occasional accidents. So don't look to me for advice on that one!

Zeus was the same, messed in his first 2 nights with us in the crate, but after that learnt to keep it in all night.

It's never too late to crate! My girls love their crates, they are their bedrooms. It does help with bladder control I think> I got Lola at about 6 months and crate trained her. She had never been in one at her last home.

I don't use a crate to toilet train but know people that have. I don't think it's too late to do at all.

caz64 wrote: Just thnk that we are not training her to hold her bladder.

At her age, she probably still can't hold it for any length of time. If you take her into the garden every hour or so, and also after she's been playing, eating or just woken up, she'll soon start to look to go out herself. Also, a walk last thing before you go to bed would be helpful & maybe even a quick trip to the garden about 3 or 4am.

All mine are crate trained. The first 2 were 6 months old when I rehomed them and Maggie our Staffy x was 2 when we added her to the household. She's fine now and after a few months had the full run of the house at night with no problems.

I'm just about to turn off this damn thing and try to find some space on the bed for me