Crate VS PlayPen

[JuBee_&_BoBa]

I'm sorry for the double posting, I barely started on these forums and didn't look hard enough for the puppy section. My apologies for the double posting :

I have set off a 4 day weekend to welcome my 3 1/2 month old shih tzu puppy this coming Labor Day Holiday. Now I have read numerous articles and posts about the best way to housebreak and train a puppy is through crate training but I have also heard severall people talk about having a playpen set up with potty pads. I have read that it is possible to potty pad train and also do outdoor training at the same time - though it takes a lot of patience, both can be accomplished.

Here is my situation:

After my mini-vacation, I will have to return to my full-time career and will only be able to go home during lunch time to take the puppy out, and of course early mornings before work and when I get home in the evenings. BUT, I will have roommates at home that will be able to take him out also but will probably not be able to play with him. They will be able to let him outside, as well as feed him.

What I want to know is this: I just don't want the puppy to be in a crate all the time, so was wondering if I should just set up a play pen - one side with his food and water, and the other side with potty pads. And when I am home, I would take him outside to potty when needed. Is indoor/outdoor training possible?

Now before you answer: keep in mind that my original question is, should I still do crate? or should I do a playpen? I am involved in another dog forum asking for the same advice and got ridiculed by some pet owners telling me that I should not get a puppy if I have a full time job. BUT I have read experiences from people and also have had a lot of friends in the same situation as I, and have managed to raise a healthy and happy dog while maintaining a full time job as well.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[xo_PuPpYlUvEr_xo]

Hello, and welcome to Chaz! I would just like to congratulate you on your new to be puppy! I will also be getting a lhasa apso puppy, which is very similar to the ShitZu. I am going to be starting school next week, and i'm getting my puppy the following. I've decided to crate my new to be puppy while i'm at school, but have him out the rest of the night when im home. I know it's a little different because school is a lot shorter than a full time job, but maybe(if possible) just have your room mates play with him for an hour or so...

 

[sourjayne]

Just remember the rule: Dogs can only physically hold it for as many hours as their age in months, plus one. So a two month old dog can hold it for 3 hours maximum, a three month old dog can hold it for 4 hours, a four month old dog can hold it for 5 hours, etc.

If crated for longer than his max, he will have a very hard time holding it, and if he messes up his crate, it is hard to keep him from doing it again, so it loses its effectiveness as a housetraining tool... Besides making your dog very uncomfortable!

 

[Fran27]

I would forget puppy pads altogether. The pup will have accidents, sure, but he/she won't be confused about peeing inside and outside without pads.

About the pen, I tried it, and my pup found out pretty fast how to climb out of it... so it was basically useless, lol. IMO, the best is a crate to totally avoid accidents, but for other 3 hours, a puppy proof room with a baby gate is probably best.

About the roommates, just letting the pup out will be useless (I assume you have a fenced yard?), if you want to housetrain a pup, you need to be next to him praising him like mad when he goes outside - so, it would help a lot if the roommates could do that, otherwise the pup won't know the difference between peeing inside and outside anyway.

Anyway, I agree that taking a puppy while having a full-time job is not the best, but as long as you come back at lunch, I don't see a problem personally. It's when puppies are left alone for 7+ hours that it's a problem.

 

[bubbatd]

Geez . I'm so torn here !! It really depends on the breed and the situation ! I crated and paper trained my pups before the went " home " . Each new home was different . Really , it depends on what your breeder has gotten your pup comfortable with . That's why knowing your breeder is so important ! You can't take a pup who's only known a huge cage on straw without any interaction or training and expect any potty training for 8 weeks or more .