Expanding Area

[Elleoz]

Currently, Max is confined to an exercise pen with a pee pad in the kitchen and his crate during the day when I am at work and his crate in the bedroom at night. Most of the time he will wait to go potty until I get home (as long as I am not late). I am wanting to eventually increase the amount of space he is allowed in while I am home, with the ultimate goal of him being loose in the house at some point. He is 5 months old now.

Any ideas on how to expand his area? How old should he be before I consider it? The kitchen has a baby gate across the entrance, but it is really large (somewhere around 20' X 12') so I think he will have accidents due to the size. That and he used to be able to fit through the bottom. He is also a climber.

The bathroom's are another option, but I have been told that he might have a problem being closed up in their since there is no way to see out.

Any suggestions?

 

[Herschel]

Could you buy another exercise pen and attach it to the one that he already has?

We never used exercise pens. We used crates and persistence. From my (limited, 2 dog) experience I've noticed that dogs typically won't have accidents in areas in which they frequently sleep, eat, or play. In other words, if you want to keep Max in the middle of your living room, make it a special place for him. Play games with him, let him play with new toys, give him chew treats, etc. Once he associates that area with something positive he will rule it out as a potential potty area.

 

[petguy]

Expand away now!

Sounds like you know what you are doing with the crate training method. 2 months is long enough to be giving them some more time to roam. I like to let them out to eat. Then walk them until they do their business. Then give them lots of praise. Walk them first thing in the mornings and after all feedings. Before bed too. Just always remember to keep an eye on them during their out time. Catch them just as they begin to seek a spot or start sniffing! Then walk them. They can be house broke at early ages too. My chihuahua Mugsey didn't even use his crate long. He only had one accident at 7 weeks. Amazing. Good luck.