This is the correct answer. If you're not actively engaging a puppy, it should be crated until/unless it has been fully house-trained (not just housebroken/potty-trained). Chewing your stuff may be an annoyance to you, but it might be a medical emergency to your dog. |
Who is this idiot trainer recommending "naptime" for dogs? It's mentioned on the other puppy thread, too... This is nonsense, and if your trainer suggests it, fire them immediately. Everyone knows the sleeping puppy is best for snuggling. Puppy should be "napping" at your side while you post to DCUM. Forcing the puppy to "nap" in a crate is going to get you exactly this. Crate puppy overnight. Wake up as needed for potty breaks (depending on age). Take puppy outside for potty, then feed/train (kibble should be used as rewards, not just free-fed from a dish at this age), then back out to pee, then puppy should be pretty sleepy and crate for a bit. Then out, then play/train/feed, then out again, then crate (unless you play too hard and puppy sleeps on/near you, in which case, success!). Repeat until 'last call' walkies, then crate overnight (again, waking up to take puppy out as needed, depending on age). But the idea of "okay, it's nap time" is garbage. Naps are the result, the "natural consequence" of proper training; we don't train naps. |