Housetraining
Crate/small kennel training is considered the best/quickest training method by most trainers. Dogs are basically den animals. They are very comfortable in their crate/small kennel and will not normally mess in this small area after the first week.
We recommend buying a kennel that is large enough for your pup as an adult. If the dog pees in the back and sleeps in the front on the first night then we would suggest temporarily using a piece of cardboard to make it smaller or using a little kennel like a cat kennel for this period.
Successful housebreaking is usually quickly accomplished by:
1. Put the dog on a feeding schedule- 3 times a day if 3 or more # at 8 weeks old, and 4 times a day if a small toy 2 # and under. It often works well to just put your pup and his food and water in the kennel before you sit down for your meal and then take him out right after your meal is over. If you don’t want to feed the puppy in the kennel (during the training period only) place his dishes in his gated off area instead.
2. After about 20 min. of eating take him out to the same spot and use the same word or phrase. It is especially important to use the same word or phrase. Using the same area is also helpful in that the pup just may choose to use only this area and then that is the only area you will have to clean. I would pick a protected area or southern location outside a patio door if available. It shouldn’t be too close to the house in the event it will be awhile before you do your pickup. It shouldn’t be too far away either as it is where he will go in winter.
3. Stay with him for 3-5 min. and lavish him with praise as soon as he does his business. Pet him and give your praise in a high happy voice. A young puppy 6 months and under needs to go out after each feeding and his evening water. If he doesn’t urinate and defecate (except after breakfast when he probably won’t be able to for awhile since he just did) return him to the kennel and try again after 15 min. If he does both he can run free for up to 1 hour or longer depending on his age , but then he should be confined again until the next feeding unless someone is very closely watching him or holding him while working on the computer, watching T.V. etc. Do this until he is completely housetrained. Of course, as he gets older he can stay out longer and longer based on your observation of how long he can go before having an accident.
4. Do limit his area and do not let him have the run of the house. A laundry room with a child gate across or a foyer or entrance that is gated or a portable exercise pen are choices. Fosters and Smith catalog offers the extra ,wide gates if you can’t find one locally.
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5. It is also a good idea to take the pup out after napping or playing especially the first week.
6. If you catch him making a mistake say a firm “No!” ( or “Net!” or some such word) and take him to where he should have gone even though he has already gone on the floor.
If you come into the room and see a pile or a puddle DO NOTHING except clean it up.
Especially, don’t rub his nose in it or whack him with a rolled up newspaper. That was old advice that tended to just make a scared dog that didn’t know why he was being punished. He has to pee and poop and should not be punished for that but he must learn where he should do this. He is not likely to make the connection when he is punished after the fact.
7. Take him out also after the evening water and just before you go to bed.
8. Be consistent. This is VERY IMPORTANT. and remember to give both correction but also a pet and praise when the puppy does what is right.
Finally, do use the kennel method and don’t be concerned that you are being cruel or hard on the puppy. A first time dog owner probably feels bad about this but experienced owners and trainers know that this allows them to get the housebreaking done quickly and efficiently with the least amount of frustration to puppy and owner so this is kinder in the long run. Also, even in the beginning, with an 8 week old puppy the puppy is going to the exercise or gated off area 4 times a day, after each of 3 meals and after the evening water. That is a minimum of 4 hours a day outside the kennel plus whatever time you are playing with him and holding him. And.... the period of time gets extended to be longer and longer as the puppy can handle it. Most of the time a puppy will be making very good progress within 2 weeks and be essentially housetrained within 2 months if the training is consistent.
Most of the housebreaking problems occur when “KIND” owners let the pup have run of the house or get rid of the kennel too soon. The pup gets in the habit of soiling the floors and for years after requires corrections. DO NOT give up the kennel too soon. Many pups will have good success in a few days to several weeks but if you then quit the kennel believing you are finished the habit won’t be ingrained. Some dogs love their kennel and use it as a little rest area or house long after housetraining is learned. Also, in the beginning it is important to place the puppy there when you will be gone for several hours. It serves to assist keeping clean but also offers safety. That way he won’t get into a habit of soiling behind your couch and getting into such things as plants and toilet paper. When you travel or when your dog wants to be alone the kennel will still be useful.
Using child gates to confine to one washable floor room is also helpful. There are even extra large gates that can span to fit foyers. (Some pet stores or Fosters and Smith).
Crate/small kennel training is considered the best/quickest training method by most trainers. Dogs are basically den animals. They are very comfortable in their crate/small kennel and will not normally mess in this small area after the first week.
We recommend buying a kennel that is large enough for your pup as an adult. If the dog pees in the back and sleeps in the front on the first night then we would suggest temporarily using a piece of cardboard to make it smaller or using a little kennel like a cat kennel for this period.
Successful housebreaking is usually quickly accomplished by:
1. Put the dog on a feeding schedule- 3 times a day if 3 or more # at 8 weeks old, and 4 times a day if a small toy 2 # and under. It often works well to just put your pup and his food and water in the kennel before you sit down for your meal and then take him out right after your meal is over. If you don’t want to feed the puppy in the kennel (during the training period only) place his dishes in his gated off area instead.
2. After about 20 min. of eating take him out to the same spot and use the same word or phrase. It is especially important to use the same word or phrase. Using the same area is also helpful in that the pup just may choose to use only this area and then that is the only area you will have to clean. I would pick a protected area or southern location outside a patio door if available. It shouldn’t be too close to the house in the event it will be awhile before you do your pickup. It shouldn’t be too far away either as it is where he will go in winter.
3. Stay with him for 3-5 min. and lavish him with praise as soon as he does his business. Pet him and give your praise in a high happy voice. A young puppy 6 months and under needs to go out after each feeding and his evening water. If he doesn’t urinate and defecate (except after breakfast when he probably won’t be able to for awhile since he just did) return him to the kennel and try again after 15 min. If he does both he can run free for up to 1 hour or longer depending on his age , but then he should be confined again until the next feeding unless someone is very closely watching him or holding him while working on the computer, watching T.V. etc. Do this until he is completely housetrained. Of course, as he gets older he can stay out longer and longer based on your observation of how long he can go before having an accident.
4. Do limit his area and do not let him have the run of the house. A laundry room with a child gate across or a foyer or entrance that is gated or a portable exercise pen are choices. Fosters and Smith catalog offers the extra ,wide gates if you can’t find one locally.
.
5. It is also a good idea to take the pup out after napping or playing especially the first week.
6. If you catch him making a mistake say a firm “No!” ( or “Net!” or some such word) and take him to where he should have gone even though he has already gone on the floor.
If you come into the room and see a pile or a puddle DO NOTHING except clean it up.
Especially, don’t rub his nose in it or whack him with a rolled up newspaper. That was old advice that tended to just make a scared dog that didn’t know why he was being punished. He has to pee and poop and should not be punished for that but he must learn where he should do this. He is not likely to make the connection when he is punished after the fact.
7. Take him out also after the evening water and just before you go to bed.
8. Be consistent. This is VERY IMPORTANT. and remember to give both correction but also a pet and praise when the puppy does what is right.
Finally, do use the kennel method and don’t be concerned that you are being cruel or hard on the puppy. A first time dog owner probably feels bad about this but experienced owners and trainers know that this allows them to get the housebreaking done quickly and efficiently with the least amount of frustration to puppy and owner so this is kinder in the long run. Also, even in the beginning, with an 8 week old puppy the puppy is going to the exercise or gated off area 4 times a day, after each of 3 meals and after the evening water. That is a minimum of 4 hours a day outside the kennel plus whatever time you are playing with him and holding him. And.... the period of time gets extended to be longer and longer as the puppy can handle it. Most of the time a puppy will be making very good progress within 2 weeks and be essentially housetrained within 2 months if the training is consistent.
Most of the housebreaking problems occur when “KIND” owners let the pup have run of the house or get rid of the kennel too soon. The pup gets in the habit of soiling the floors and for years after requires corrections. DO NOT give up the kennel too soon. Many pups will have good success in a few days to several weeks but if you then quit the kennel believing you are finished the habit won’t be ingrained. Some dogs love their kennel and use it as a little rest area or house long after housetraining is learned. Also, in the beginning it is important to place the puppy there when you will be gone for several hours. It serves to assist keeping clean but also offers safety. That way he won’t get into a habit of soiling behind your couch and getting into such things as plants and toilet paper. When you travel or when your dog wants to be alone the kennel will still be useful.
Using child gates to confine to one washable floor room is also helpful. There are even extra large gates that can span to fit foyers. (Some pet stores or Fosters and Smith).