Crate and Potty Training Our Frenchie- Pee Vs. Play Time

We used the crate primarily for naps, with a little bit of play time in the crate with special toys that are only in the crate. Then had plenty of play and exercise time outside of the crate. It's like a baby...nap (in the crate), out to potty, play/free time (outside of the crate), and back in for a nap. For feeding times, at first, you would feed right after the nap, then potty, then play. As the puppy gets older and naps less frequently, you will build up to having feeding sessions and play sessions that don't involve time in the crate in between (kind of like you get a baby down to two naps a day instead of the nap-eat-change-play rotation that happens every two-three hours in the beginning).

My kids are jealous...they saw the title as they were walking by and thought we were getting a Frenchie LOL.

Are you using a command word when he goes potty? If not, you should institute one. A common one is "hurry up." Put the pup on a leash when you take him outside, and walk him around the area you have designated as the place you want him to do his business. Circles if necessary. Give the command "hurry up" several times until he starts to go. The minute you see him squat, praise him. It isn't necessary to pet him (and interrupt)... just verbally use happy tones and praise him. AFTER he is done, you can pet him in praise. But it's important to acknowledge when he STARTS with praise.

Then, you can play outside, or go inside for playtime if you'd like. Then back in the crate, or attached to your waistband with a short leash, so these he is never out of your sight and you will notice immediately if he begins to sniff out a pee spot, so you can rush outside with him, give the command, and praise praise praise when he successfully goes OUTside.

Eventually, they're will be no mistaking what you are taking him out for, because he will know the command means to urinate/defecate. Walking for a minute or two always helps this process if he is slow to get down to business.
Good luck.

I would choose a special spot for him to pee/poop - a corner of the yard or a section on the street, whatever. Anyplace with not too much distraction, traffic, kids playing, etc. That means when you take him out of the crate, he goes right to the door. Same door, every time. Have small training treats in your pocket - not full biscuits. Make him "sit" at the door but be careful not to squeeze his hind section too much to make that happen, lest he pee right away. As soon as he sits or even gets really close to the door, give him one treat with a verbal approval. You want him to get in the habit of going to the same door every time when he has to go out. Take him to the "potty" area. You'll have to linger in that spot for a bit, and watch him like a hawk so that the second he pees, you reward him verbally and with a small treat. Same thing with poop - that's harder to predict, I know, but time your outside trips to meal times.

When he comes back inside, go into the kitchen or other semi-contained area but not the crate. That's playtime. Let him have a few minutes to just wander around before you get into hardcore play - you don't want him to pull you back in from outside because he expects playtime, you know?

You want a family pet so you don't, in my mind, want a dog in the crate all the time. You want him there when you go out, during the night, and when he needs to get away from chaotic play with a bunch of kids visiting or other things (dinner party or Thanksgiving prep, when he's underfoot). The crate isn't punishment - it's his special den. But for now, no playing in the house at large where there are carpets or things that can be chewed. If you can't close off your kitchen or back hallway, get one of those open pens (like a toddler play area) that can be formed into the shape you want.

Be sure you don't have him wearing any kind of collar/harness that can get caught in the crate bars, or chewing on anything that's a choking hazard in there (stuffed toys, for example). Google this or talk to the vet so you are well informed. Just because it's marked "doggy toy" or "collar" doesn't mean it's safe. He should have water but usually no food - you don't want him filling up and having to pee/poop in there. If the crate is large, consider walling off half of it while he's still little so he doesn't have room to pee/poop in there. When he gets bigger, remove the partition.

I agree with JB that you'll be cutting back the number of feedings and naps as he gets older.

The time you spend now will be well worth it. If he's only 3 months old, he's not going to be reliably crate trained anyway, regardless of what the prior owners did. You're lucky that he's young - we rescued a twice-abandoned (and abused) 1.5 year old dog, and she still has crate and potty issues! But she's come a long way.

My dogs along the years learned the words "outside" "go potty, "be a good boy/girl". One actually rank the bell we hung on the door knob when she needed to go out!

The pup learns key words.

Every morning my dogs go out to " pee pee", then they immediately to the fridge for their "surprise" reward for pee pee.

They know "breakfast" ,"dinner" , "snack", "biscuit" and more.

It takes time but be consistent and your pup will learn.

My 55# (1.5 yr old ) pup runs to her crate when I say it's time to go lay down a while knowing she's got a treat coming.

She's only crated when I'm away. Other than that she's sleeping with me and great at protecting my house!

My 12# poodle has never been crated and he will go on a pee pad if I'm not around.

It takes time. Be patient.

If he's peeing or pooping in the house you might want to teather him to you so he can't sneak off. My dog was a puppy mill guy who was 2 yrs old when i adopted him from a rescue group. He hadn't been socialized, potty trained, or had his basic needs met ever. Potty training was a nightmare until I started teathering him to me in the house. I put a carabiner clip on my belt loop and attached his leash to it. No sneaking away because he couldn't.

I'd tell him 'Let's go pee' and we'd go outside where when he peed or pooped I'll tell him he was a good boy. Took about 6-8 weeks before he was reliable enough to leave home alone uncrated for a hour or two.

He's crated every night (I say go to bed and off he runs to his crate) and is crated if we are gone more than a couple hours. He loves his crate and will be in there taking naps every once in a while. Heck the cat even naps in there.

Remember your puppy is a baby so he's just learning everything. Socialize him well. Go to puppy training classes so you know what to do and the basic commands