8 week old opie - am i doing everything right?

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting. I got opie a male 8 week old on monday and i just want to make sure im doing everything right! So he sleeps in his crate, he went in there voluntarily soon as i took him home. I havent yet shut the door - when should i start doing that? He sleeps mostly through the night, cries briefly a couple of times the last 2 nights but goes back to sleep when you speak to him. He has a play pen around the crate but only when its bed time, he has free roam around my room/hall/kitchen when someone is here. He has been going toilet in the garden mostly, i take him out on the lead every time he wakes up/eats/plays. Has had a few accidents indoors but i havent told him off. Hes trying to nip me at times and chew things but ive been telling him no and giving him a chew toy if he carrys on chewing. I just want to make sure im doing everything right! Sorry for the long post!

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Hello and welcome from us.
What a little sweetie - congratulations !

My first thoughts quickly - if you have play pen around crate, no need to ever shut door on crate (I never installed the door on mine). Have you put puppy training pad in play pen ? Will avoid accidents and you’ll find he uses it less and less to go outside instead.
Is the lead a necessity ? If not, make the most of puppy follow-me reflex to let him discover his new world (in your garden) off lead at his own pace.

Hi & welcome.
What's your dog's name? He looks gorgeous in your avatar pic!

To be honest, it sounds like you're well on top of everything - doing a great job by the sound of it! If he's happy in the crate without closing the door (and you can trust him not to shred the cupboards/sofas/wires etc) then leave the door open.

I'd drape a blanket over the crate, though, so that it's more cosy for him - it'll seem like a den, then, or safe place for him to retreat to when he wants.

I don't like puppy pads (just me - others get on with them well), but he'll get the hang of going out soon enough. I also wondered why a lead? Is your garden/yard not secure? As Nifty says, you can use the time to start recall training.

Thanks for the replies! His name is Opie.. haven’t used a puppy pad over night, just taken him out a few times when he’s woken up in the night, he hasn’t had an accident the last 2 nights. I do have a blanket over his crate already, and one inside that smells of his mum and siblings. Can’t let him off the lead in my garden just yet, it’s huge and not yet puppy proofed so he could get out! I plan to sort that soon!

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What a lovely pup. It does sound like you're doing all the right things. Puppies are so sweet but such hard work.
My boy was a nightmare as a pup, nipping, chewing the furniture, climbing on the table etc. At the time it seemed endless, but it's surprising how quickly they grow up!

Well done, you! Can't really add anything to what you're already doing!

Sounds like you are doing a great job with Opie, he looks gorgeous

Thanks everyone!

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