I strongly believe in keeping a pup in a kennel. I raised labs for over 35 years and as they were being weaned and eating puppy chow, we would take them outside as soon as they were done. (it can get pretty difficult to keep track of 8 - 10 puppies sometimes). It was surprising how many of our buyers would call and say when they were done eating they would run to the door to go outside. I bet it was over 50%.