Potty Training Puppies

• Substrate for potty box
• How to start crate training

Substrate for potty box

Q: What is the best substrate to use with a litter of puppies for potty training? I used potty pads and they would sometimes use them for potty but they often ripped them up, too. I want to keep their area as clean as possible but they are so messy!

A: There is “no one size fits all,” for potty box material. Much depends upon your breed and your tolerance for messiness. I know breeders who successfully use equine stall pellets, wood-burning stove pellets, alfalfa (which pups tend to nibble), and paper pellets. Others use potty pads, as you did, but as you noted, they become play toys for some breeds. Still others use real turf that they rinse and replace with a new fresh one every week. Finally, some breeders use artificial turf that wicks water through to a pad below. You may have to try several to see what works best with your puppies. 

Below are a few suggestions to try out to see which works the best for you.

1. I start with scented potty pads in the corner of the whelping box at week 2-3, then transition to a low tray with a pad and pellets on top, then no pad and only 1” of pellets. This has worked well for my Labradors.
2. My husband built a 3-sided box to go around our pups’ pellet box to contain wayward pellets and reduce the mess. Other breeders use taller pans with pads or pellets, and even put a wire grate on top to keep the pellets out of the pups’ coats. 

The key is to find what works for you, your setup, and your pups.

How to start crate training

Q: What are your ideas for starting crate training for 7-week old puppies before they go to their forever homes. How long does it take before they sleep or are content through the night?

A: I suggest starting around 6 weeks with short “naps” in the crate after a long play session. I start at 4 hours with 2 puppies together in a crate. Then work up to 6 hours at night, separating them into individual crates at that time. I find most of my puppies (Labradors) are good for 6 hours at 7-9 weeks of age. Then it is like their bladder grows up, and at 10 weeks they can go 8 hours. 

Remember, time will pass quickly so encourage your new owners to increase crate nighttime sleeping by roughly one hour a week. It is also important to not feed or water after 6 pm, as I have found that even the evening snack can cause a crate accident until they are about 6 months old.