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House Breaking Your Puppy « Thread Started on Feb 12, 2008, 3:05pm »
Proper House Training Techniques
by Shara Slorstad
Keep in mind, I'll be using a masculine term to describe generic puppy, simply because I'm use to having boy dogs, but it applies to both boys and girls.
When to start House Breaking:
You can start house training as soon as you get your puppy home! However, don't expect any immediate results, and keep in mind that it takes time not only for your puppy to learn the concept of doing his business outside, but also to train his bladder to hold it for longer periods of time!
What Tools Might Be Needed?
There aren't really any tools NEEDED for house training, other than patience and persistence! Though if you feel comfortable with the idea, and would like to try crate training, it can defiantly help the process along quicker and more effectively.
Make sure the crate is big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lay down in, but not so big he can have an area the pee in, and an area to sleep in. If your puppy is going to grow up to be a big dog, you can buy dividers that you put in the crate to block off any extra room your puppy may be tempted to relieve himself in. Teach your puppy that the crate is a safe, inviting place to relax and sleep in. You can lock him in the crate when you don't have the time, or aren't available to keep your puppy supervised to prevent accidents from occurring (this includes at night time when you're sleeping). Remember that the amount of time your puppy can stay in the crate and hold it depends on his age.
For more information on Crate Training, check out this wonderful article that will tell you how to properly train for the crate, and avoid problems with it: http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/crate-train.pdf (this file is read in Adobe Reader).
How To Start Training:
The easiest, and most effect way to House Train is supervise your puppy every second you can, monitor food intake, and take him out every hour or so (depending on age and how far along in the house training process you are) BEFORE he has an accident on the floor!
If you need to, leash your puppy to your belt loop to keep him with you around the house, and set a timer for when he needs to go out for a potty break!
I've found the easiest way to control your puppy's doings, and make it easier for cleaning up the back yard, is to bring your puppy to the same spot in the yard every time and tell him a command to go. I personally use "do your business" but you can use anything you'd like. Persistence is the key in training, so make sure to use the same command and bring your puppy to the same spot every time.
Meals and water should be controlled to help you know when your puppy needs to go. As a general rule, puppies need to go right after they finish a meal, are playing hard, or right after they wake up (so basically this means: ALL OF THE TIME!). Meals should be fed twice a day, with the amount depending on your dog food of choice and the age and breed of your puppy. Remember, if a bag says 2 cups of food and you're feeding twice a day, this doesn't mean two in the morning and two at night! This means one in the morning, and one at night! No food or water should be given to a puppy after 8:00pm (or depending on what time you retire to bed, I recommend 8:00pm if you go to bed around 10 or 11 pm). Make sure your puppy has gone outside right before you put him in his crate for the night! In the morning, it is always important that as soon as your puppy comes out of his crate he goes outside FIRST! I've made the mistake of getting up in the morning, letting puppy out and turning on the coffee machine FIRST, turned around to find a puddle on the floor!
It helps if you take your puppy out, and feed him at the same time every single day.
Praise your puppy when he goes in the correct spot!
REMEMBER: If your puppy DOES have an accident on the floor, you can NOT correct or punish him for it if you have NOT caught him in the act! This is extremely important! Puppies have very short attention spans. If you find a mess on the floor even 4 minutes after your puppy made it and then punish him for it, he will have no idea why you are getting mad at him and all you are doing is causing unnecessary stress, confusing and fear in your dog!
If you catch him in the act, THEN it is appropriate to correct and reinforce. When caught give a firm "NO". Pick up the puppy (if you physically can; if not move him from what he is doing), and rush him outside to the designated area. Place him on the ground and tell him "do your business" (or whatever command you have chosen). If it takes you 20 minutes waiting for him to finish outside, it's worth the extra effort. When he does go, PRAISE! Tell him "GOOD PUPPY! GOOD BUSINESS", THEN go inside and clean up the mess! It is important to correct and move puppy outside to the designated area as quickly as possible.
To clean up the mess: I suggest a product that will actually eliminate the smell! Vinegar and water work great for this. Any enzyme based cleaner should do the trick. Even if you can't smell it, your puppy still can and this will encourage him to go in the wrong spot again!
What NOT To Do:
I suggest NOT using the Newspaper Method. Some people put newspaper on the floor for the puppy to mess on, and then gradually move the paper outside to teach the puppy to go outside. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to figure out how in the world it can benefit to teach your puppy to pee inside before teaching him to pee outside. I don't even think it's more convenient... you're still cleaning up a mess on the floor, the only difference is it isn’t directly on your flooring. I prefer to take my puppy out before he makes a mistake and then there's no need at all to clean up a mess off the floor!
Do NOT spank your puppy when he's had an accident on the floor, ESPECIALLY if you haven't caught him in the act while doing this. In my opinion, hitting a dog, no matter how hard or how many times, is considered abuse and is unnecessary when your voice should do the trick just fine of getting your message across.
Do NOT rub your puppy's nose in a mess. This is cruel, and a complete waste of effort. Most often when people do this it's because they've found the mess after it's been made and the puppy has no idea WHY you're rubbing his nose in this disgusting mess. Stop and think; were YOU potty trained that way?
REMEMBER: The most important rule of House Training is always keep your PATIENCE and PERSISTENCE handy!
House-Breaking a Puppy « Reply #1 on Feb 12, 2008, 3:16pm »
HOUSE-BREAKING A PUPPY
ESPCA "Make a Friend For Life" 12251-67 Street Edmonton, Alberta 471-1774
STAY home as much as possible until the puppy is completely hosuebroken.
TAKE him outside whenever he seems restless. Right after sleeping, playing and eating; and right before you go to bed. Often it is good to carry him outside. If walking, even a short stop along the way could lead to an accident.
IMMEDIATELY praise him when he "goes" outside, then take him back indoors right away so he'll know that outside is where you prefer he "goes".
NIGHT TIME ACCIDENTS can be prevented by keeping your bed within earshot of his bed so you will hear when he has to go out. He will be reluctant to soil his own bedding and attempt to get your attention if he needs to go out.
INTESTINAL worms can cause diarrhea. This makes housebreaking difficult or impossible. Take a stool stample to your veterinarian to make sure your pup is worm-free.
MEALS should be on a regular time table. A puppy younger than 6 months of age should eat three times daily. Leave a uniform amount of food out for 20 minutes each time. Allow the puppy to consume as much food as he likes during that 20 minute period and then pick up his dish. Water should always be available.
WHILE you are away, confine the puppy to one or two rooms without carpeting. Spread several layers of newspaper over the eintire floor. Only leave the papers down when you are out. Remove them as soon as you return, and do not replace them until you leave the house again. In the meantime, continue to train him outdoors.
GRADUALLY reduce the amount of paper you lay down until it is only covering a small area.
ONCE he is old enough to "hold it" while you are gone, try permitting him in a larger area of your home.
BE PATIENT stay calm when he makes a mistake. Rubbing his nose in it will ocnfuse him. Instead use a firm verbal reprimand (ie: "no").
Re: House Breaking Your Puppy « Reply #2 on Feb 23, 2008, 6:57am »
I have just read your article and i'm hoping that this will work. we have a 10 week old basset Hound who is pretty good on the whole with the house training and he goes to the toilet on his mat most of the time, those accidents do happen. Thanks for your advice.
Re: House Breaking Your Puppy « Reply #3 on Feb 23, 2008, 3:27pm »
You're welcome! I hope you find it useful! If you have any questions or problems, please don't hessitate to ask and we will try to help you out the best we can.
P.S. I would love to see pictures of your basset puppy if you've got them, I just love basset puppies! They are way too cute!
Re: House Breaking Your Puppy « Reply #4 on Sept 28, 2008, 7:51pm »
I have a 16 week old Dalmatian. She is a very sweet puppy who loves everyone. I'm just having a tough time with housebreaking. I take her out every 20 minutes during the day (a trainer's advice) but she still has accidents in the house. She is confined to the kitchen and family room during the day and crate at night. I'm home with her all day and if I run out for an hour or so she happily waits for me in her crate. I haven't gone more than 4 days yet without an accident though sometimes it's because my teenagers are watching her but not as thoroughly as they should. Does anyone have any ideas? How old are most puppies before they can hold it? Is this breed just harder to train? Every once in a while she heads to the door but not on a regular basis. Thanks for any advice you can send my way. BTW...This is our second Dalmatian but the other was a puppy over 16 years ago and I don't remember how long it took to housebreak her!
Re: House Breaking Your Puppy « Reply #5 on Sept 28, 2008, 8:58pm »
Every 20 minutes seems like awful short intervals for a 16 week old pup, and to have her still eliminate in the house seems odd.
Does she both pee and poop in the house, or it is only one or the other? (Most puppies tend to learn one first and the other takes a little bit more time).
How long it takes to house train a puppy isn't an exact science. It depends on the method being used, how consistent the owners are, what breed of dog it is, and many other factors that could make or break the house training experience.
I don't know a whole lot about Dalmatians (other than that they're gorgeous ), but from doing a quick search it seems like you house train a Dal much in the same way you would any breed. I do believe that in general, terriers are the harder ones to house train.
Does she ever have accidents in her crate at night?
Generally a routine needs to be established and stuck to like glue. Example: Puppy wakes up in the morning and goes outside right away to relieve herself. Puppy comes in and has breakfast, plays for about 10 minutes and then straight back outside. Puppy comes in and plays and then naps. When puppy wakes up she goes straight out side. etc. Basically; they need to go outside right after they've finished any activity (including eating).
The best way to house train is to prevent accidents from happening rather than correct them. To do this you need to watch your puppy a LOT. If you have to; tie her to you with her leash to keep her in eye sight at all times. Once she starts sniffing around, whining etc., showing signs she needs to go, bring her outside to her area that she's allowed to eliminate in and praise a lot when she does!
« Last Edit: Sept 28, 2008, 8:59pm by DogGoneGood »
Re: House Breaking Your Puppy « Reply #6 on Sept 29, 2008, 7:28am »
Thanks for the response! She only pees in the house. The only time she pooped was when a tropical storm blew through and the wind scared her. I do reward her lavishly when she does her potty outside (even during walks) and I take her out at the recommended times plus some. Do you think she should be crated more during the day. As it is I have her in the crate 1 1/2 hours in a.m. and the same in p.m. She never goes to the potty in her crate and goes for 8 hours at night with no problem. Hopefully it is just a matter of time!
Re: House Breaking Your Puppy « Reply #7 on Sept 29, 2008, 11:02am »
You're very welcome.
I do believe that the less time spent in the crate the better, although it won't hurt a dog to be in there all night. It's just dogs need a lot of stimuli mentally and physically and it's hard for them to get it in the crate. But if you aren't home in the afternoon and feel your children aren't watching her properly, then by all means crate her a bit during the day as well. Just remember she probably shouldn't be in it for more than 4 hours without a potty break
It sounds like to me that she's getting there... you just need that little bit of extra consistancy and persistance to drive the point home. Potty training deffinately doesn't happen over night, and once they are trained doesn't mean there will NEVER be another accident again, although any accidents that do happen after are generally due to the dog being sick.
Just keep at it, and try to avoid any accidents and praise for doing her business in the right spot (which you've been doing ) and she should get it.
Also, if you feel she's really behind in her potty training even though you've been watching her like a hawk and taking her out at schedualed times; you're doing everything top notch and right on the mark; you can try taking her to the vet. To me I think it sounds like she's just taking her time to learn because there have been the few accidents happening in the house (it happens), but if you really want to be safer than sorry you can bring her to the vet for a check up exame. Explain to the vet your concerns about her still peeing in the house.
Quite often after all training methods have been exhausted and still aren't working, specifically with house training, it's an underlying medical problem causing them to be unable to hold it in
« Last Edit: Sept 29, 2008, 11:02am by DogGoneGood »
Re: House Breaking Your Puppy « Reply #8 on Sept 29, 2008, 5:02pm »
Sounds like good advice to bring it up with the vet. She's going in 2 days for her last young puppy check up so I'll ask her then. She'll be 4 months on Thursday and I was hoping that by this point housebreaking would be behind us and we would be working on regular training. Guess she's just being a bit stubborn and we'll just have to wait it out. It will be good to rule out anything medically wrong. Thanks!
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