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Archived Message

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
by Lisa

I am getting my first Maltese puppy tomorrow. I am concerned for her at night. My husband and I both work third shift, and she will be alone for four hours before I can check on her. Should we let her sleep in the crate or let her have access to a blocked off kitchen? (by the way our work schedule will only be like this for three more weeks) Any advice apprciated.

DISCUSSION:

I would leave the puppy in the crate. It's the easiest way to house break. Emily never went in her crate and would go immediately when we took her outside. In about a month your pup should be able to be left alone without the crate. Good Luck
-Dennis

Lisa, You didn't say how old your puppy will be. If she is around 12 week or a little older, four hours shouldn't be too long to leave her in the crate. Make sure that the crate is either small enough or blocked so that there is only room for her to lie flat and turn around--otherwise she may use the "extra" space as a bathroom. When you get home, take her out of her crate and outside immediately--don't even let her feet touch the floor.( I used to take Lucy's leash to the crate, put it on while she was still in the crate, then carry her downstairs and out when she was crated.). This will keep her from a "mistake" indoors and if she doesn't make them it's easier to just keep her focused on the fact that potty happens outside..
-cathy brown

Just in case you might want to litter box train your dog, you can put her in a small area with her crate and newspapers around the floor. As she goes on the newspapers you can slowly make the area of newspaper smaller and smaller until it can fit it a litter box. You must cut one of the long sides of the litter box down so she can just walk in it, not jump in it. I did this with my Maltese who is 5 lbs. Now she runs there whenever she needs to go and I just wrap up the paper. Its great on rainy days and she never gets dirty or fleas. Good Luck!!
-Gina