My pup is only 10 weeks old (GSD) and this is not my first dog. All of them I have crate trained but an issue is popping up with this one. I had made arrangements with someone who lives close to me to let the pup out while I'm at work (commute + shift time = 8hrs on the dot) 3 days a week, the other are wfh. well its not been a week and this person has backed out on me. I live in a rural part so finding a walker is not going to be that simple.
I have a camera on her while I'm away and like clock work she hold it for about 5 hrs and then pees. When I get home I don't punish her, just quietly take her out on a 20 min potty walk, hose the crate down, and spray it with enzyme cleaner. while that's drying, she gets rinsed down because she has sat or laid back down and I only have the tray in the crate. Then she eats her afternoon meal in the crate.
If I put down an absorbent matt (not a puppy pad, something with out scent) will this help or hurt the situation if its just while I'm gone for the 8 hrs? then take it away when she's around 18 -22 weeks?
My worry is this counter acting the point of not peeing in our sleeping/eating space and prolonging crate training? But is not using a pad getting her comfortable sitting/laying in her pee? this feels like a damned if I do, damned if I don't situation and I honesty don't know what the right decision is.
We currently have her crate divider in giving her enough space to stand, circle and lay down.