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Hello Dr Pup, I have been using the Pup Pee Poo Palace for my now 14 week old puppy and it's been a God send. I have a question on night time use of the Palace. Ever since I got him at 11 weeks old, at night I put him in and close the door with a chew toy around 11:00pm when we all go to bed and get up and take him out at 6:00am and start the day. Is this correct procedure... should I now add the play pen extension or is night time for sleeping only? I want to train him right but don't want him to get bored. Thanks.

So glad that the Palace has worked well for you.  Since he does well overnight I would suggest that you don't change that routine.  We have found adding a pen after the first couple weeks does make for a nice transition between just the palace and free run of the house,  I would suggest using that to expand his environment during the day when you are not actively engaged with him, once he demonstrates that he returns to his pad from the pen then you can expand his area even further.  If you are going to have him away from the palace and pen you can also take the pad and tray with you.

The crate in is the family room so is it okay for him to snuggle with us while we watch TV?  If we put him in the crate he seems so sad since he can see us.

We want the crate to be a place that he is comfortable sleeping, or playing when you are not available. Having the crate in a frequently used room is going to make it more difficult, consider moving it.
Letting him snuggle beside you or sleep in your lap is great as long as you have the opportunity to pick him up and get him to the designated elimination area quickly. The point is for you to have quick access to him when he is not in the crate.

How do we use the palace when we are home?  Do we leave the door open, does he have free run of the house?

Great question!  For the first week or two the puppy should be in his crate, door closed if he is not actively engaged with your family.  After this initial period you can go to using a small room (bathroom) or an attached play pen with the door left open.  Many people try to go from the confined space of the cage to free run of the house and usually get frustrated with the accidents.  Your puppy has to learn what you expect and how to comply.  As he approaches 12-14 weeks of age and control over elimination is improving then free run can work.  If you are to have him away from the crate you can also take the pad and tray with you. 

My puppy is tearing up his pad during the night.

This is an indication that he is bored with his situation at night.  There are some things you can try now and a solution you may be able to employ soon.  If you can pinpoint whether this is shortly after putting him in or if it is before you return to let him out might help in trying to eliminate it.  Be sure he has plenty of activity prior to retiring, and include a couple indestructible toys  such as Starmark Everlasting Treat,  Kong Quest or Traxx,  Nylabone Romp n Chomp or processed bones or antlers (Blue Buffalo).  Using spray chew deterrents is helpful for some pups as long as it does not discourage use of the pad for elimination.  If he is using his pad well for elimination you can add a collapsable play pen to enlarge his area and give him another place to go thereby reducing boredom.  Many times it is best to have a second tray and pad in the pen to make it easier to maintain the pad training idea.

It seems that he is doing this around 4 am.  Should I try the toys you suggested?

The only choices you have for the middle of the night tantrum would be to try the toys or get him out and have a play period which has its own set of problems both for you and his training.  The toys I suggested are all "interactive" in that they have stored treats that take time and effort on his part to resolve.  They are all good, the Starmark Fireplug worked well for my puppy.

It is important to recognize that what your puppy is reacting to is being alone in the cage away from you. She most likely has never been alone until now. There is no instant solution to that problem, she needs to learn that is okay to be alone and rest or play in the palace and that you will return and interact with her again at some point. Trying to wear her down, be sure she has eaten before you place her in the cage, giving her a couple treats when you put her in, always use the cover if you intend for her to sleep and usually have the palace in a separate room are all part of a good plan. You cannot go back to the palace until she has been quiet for at least 30 minutes. Having a favorite toy or two in the palace and using praise and treats when she has accepted being in the cage is helpful.
She does not have control over elimination until around 12 weeks of age so she cannot postpone elimination yet. This means that the appropriate elimination area has to be close by and you need to repeatedly take her to that area when you are with her to create the opportunity for success. She cannot be expected to go to that area unless you teach her that. You can also encourage use of the pad by confining her to a small pen attached to the cage or placing the cage in a small room after the first week or so, also you can take the tray and attached pad with you if she is going to be farther from the palace.  Expecting her to return to the palace for elimination while having free run of your home is not going to be practical until she approaches 4 months of age.

Before trying to answer your questions can you tell me what your long term training goal is?  Also how much time she is spending in her crate?  Are you away from her for extended periods?

He'll have to be in his crate during the school day; although my mom has been "puppy sitting" so he hasn't been alone for more than a few hours. He will urinate in the crate or on a pad in the kitchen for the most part. I bought that the house training aid to spray, but don't think it's working. We put him in a bathroom if he has an accident.  He is much less reliable with pooping. I was wondering about making sure he spends time in his crate right after he eats? I feel like we're starting to veer off course. Thank you.

The time he spends with your mom may be confusing in that he may be too far from pad/ crate when the need arises. He should be in the crate whenever not actively engaged in play.

After play or eating it is best to carry him back to the area where the crate is either in a small play pen or bathroom. Once he spends more time in the crate while you are away it will likely go better.

It sounds like we may be giving him too much freedom? When one if us is home, we let him wander around the house. Is that okay?

For short periods after he eliminates but not before. Going from crate, to crate in small area, to free roam over the first 3 weeks is ideal. 

Sleeping 1.5-2 hours when she is placed in the Palace is really good given that you have only had her 3 days. This indicates that she is comfortable and understands where her bed is. If you keep increasing the intensity and duration of play just prior to bedtime she will keep sleeping longer.

Responding to her when she wakes up actually has two separate elements that you are trying to mold, and you need to address both but there is some conflict. First, in regards to crate training taking her out immediately and getting her to the chosen elimination area reinforces the potty training message but conflicts with "once we go to bed we are done."
Second, letting her cry reinforces the bedtime message but conflicts with potty training. The PupPeePooPalace is designed to let the puppy have an accepted elimination area while you are asleep. Make sure her Palace is in a separate area from you. Your comments about her behavior seem to indicate that she calls the shots when it comes to sleeping and this is what you want to change.