My Challenge

This is what I would do:

Ditch the crate.  Give her a litter box and use an xpen or similar to confine her when you need to.  Reintroduce the crate, but keep the door closed at first (so she only goes in when you SEND her in for meals or naps or special treats or chews, and only then after she has recently peed oustide or in the litter box).  Gradually transition to her toileting outside all the time.  Always give high value rewards for outside toileting, keep litter box toileting neutral (no rewards/praise) and completely prevent crate toileting as much as physically possible (by keeping door shut etc.)

 I agree, wholeheartedly. When you're ready to crate her, again, keep the door closed unless you want her in there for crate time.

I sort of agree.  I'd set the crate up IN the expen, with the door closed and the litter box outside of it.  Maybe at night, leave the crate door opened so she can get out to pee....she's still pretty darned young.....and eventually, you'll be able to ditch the box entirely.

Does she pee when she's being crated, or does she just run into the crate to pee?  It sounds like the latter?

I like the expen idea.  Now mind you I've only had two puppies this age so far but I did the same for both of them and it worked well.  I setup a "puppy pen" in our main room (where I spend most of my time) and also the puppy crate (and have a second crate in the bedroom).  I don't keep the crate open.  If I put the pup in the crate, then the door is shut.  If I give the pup "free" time (outside of the pen or crate), both the crate and pen are shut.  Nikon used to run back into the pen to pee (he took a while to house break).  When I had "free" time, I let the pup out every 15-20 minutes (b/c usually they were really awake and rough-housing).  In the pen, I would let the pup out every hour, or anytime s/he woke up.  Same for the crate.  The pups generally got about 1/2 hour of free time for every hour in the crate or pen.  To be honest I really only used the crate at night, for travel, and when I left the house.  When I was home I use the pen.  With Nikon, I put the crate in the expen for a while but then ditched that and never did it with Ana.  It didn't seem to really make a difference, neither puppy wanted to willingly go into the crate if the door was open rather than use their free time to be free.

I'm a pretty hard sleeper, so I always kept a towel in the crate so that if the pup did wake up and pee, the towel would absorb it and the pup could curl up in the opposite corner.  Basically I view *any* accident as *my* fault and don't want the pup to be exposed to the pee.

I would take some litter she has used outside and encourage her to use that spot.  I would get a different style crate for her sleeping/confinement crate.  If she's used to plastic, get a wire crate.  She'll figure it out.  With some help from her new mom.  You're going to have to be twice as vigilant with this puppy and anticipate her urges. Set an alarm and wake her up during the night and take her out to potty.  Leash her to you during the day when she's awake or better yet send her to me. :)

WHERE ARE THE PICTURES?

 Ann I have no helpful hints although i like Jackie's idea the best about putting some litter outside.

JackieG

Leash her to you during the day when she's awake or better yet send her to me. :)

WHERE ARE THE PICTURES?

Aunt Karen and Uncle Bugsy are here to help as well 

and tap tap waiting for pics 

JackieG

WHERE ARE THE PICTURES?

Yes, where are the piccies?

Best of luck with your new bundle of joy!
Oh yeah, FYI, I'm jealous! I would *LOVE* a baby black labbie girl someday!

Ok first of all until I get an email site... I can't post pictures   However if Art and I get video of her we can put her on you tube and share that. She is SUCH a cutie!!!!

I don't know what her actual living arrangement was at the kennel, but she did have a litter box and what I saw her in was a puppy box in the reception area in their reception area, it was a plastic wall box, we have wire crates. I do not have an x pen, I am not buying one either. Belle's crate is HUGE!!!! That will be enough inside space for her. I also do not have any litter or a cat litter box. Not sure I want to spend the money, as I NEVER want my dog to think it is ok to "go" inside my house for any reason. 

She does a combination of things. When she is out playing and needs to go, she will run in and pee (or poo) no warning. However at night I am now thinking she goes then cries. We took some of her cushions out, and she did wake us up, however "after" the fact. I need her to alert us she needs to go out. It was "better" yesterday. Now I know this is a process, it's just I never have had a dog who was taught it is "ok" to go potty inside. Even at my horses barn my dogs do not go "in" the barn but go outside. 

Ann