house training

[Mickbear76]

Anybody have any advice on how to potty/house train a puppy???  Thanks

[Spinach]

Start with a kennel that is not too big for the dog, you can probably guess how big your pup will be when she is full grown, if the kennel is too big, the pup will potty in the kennel and sleep on the other side.

Whenever you take the pup out for potty time, pick the pup up and carry her/him out to your designated area, set her/him down and praise her/him for going. Keep doing this repetitively and keep on a strict schedule, a young pup has 2 be taken outside every couple hours and more if they are playing alot.

Never ever punish your pup inside there kennel, or never send them to the kennel for being naughty, there kennel should be a fun place for them, a place they can relax and spend time sleeping or alone. Teach the dog to "kennel up" make it fun, give the pup a treat and lots of praise.

A puppy will naturaly not want to potty in there play area or sleeping area, but if the area is too big they will potty in one area and play on the other. Pick a place in your home that is small and you can block off with a portable fence or something, as the pup grows and starts learning to potty outside in your designated area, then you can start making the area inside larger, just do this gradual and before you know it, your pup will be fully housetrained.

Give them small treats but not too much, praise is the best thing for your dog or puppy.

[guythathunts]

I was going to say that... one thing that I did / do Is use an association word every time my dog goes. I say Pottie. A friend of mine says Look Sharp. If you say it when they are going, soon you will be able to say it to tell them to go. It works!
~ Greg

[Grouseman]

It's good advise!The portable kennel will actually become the pup's own safe place, like a bedroom to just go to and hang out. As with all training just be consistent.

[CampYJewel]

Just remember when they are real little they have real little bladders.  Take them out every hour.  IF you don't give them a chance to go in the house they hopefully won't associate the house as the place to go!!!  The biggest mistake I have seen people make it waiting to long to take them outside.  They typically don't give you much of a warning when they have to go.  They just go!!!


Jewel

[Joe]

Take the pup out immediately after eating, sleeping, and playing.

Crate training is a great aid in house training. Just place a small box, or like I did, a small cooler in the back of the crate/kennel. Give the pup just enough room to sleep. As posted above, if you allow them too much room you'll have a nice mess to clean up.

[nolmscheid]

Very good advice from everyone. Crate training is defiantly the single most useful tool when potty training a puppy.

One thing I will add to others advice is if you bring the puppy outside and he does not potty after 5 minutes. Bring the puppy back in the house and back into his kennel for 15-20 minutes. Then bring him back outside again and use your Que.

Like other have said, the kennel should be its little place to go when he/she just wants to get away from everyone as well. After not too long, if you leave the door of the kennel open, your pup will probably wonder in there to take a nap.

Again I am repeating what others have said, but DO NOT EVER use a kennel for punishment. You want it to be their happy place.

The thing I tell people when helping them train their dogs is that you need to create situations in which the puppy can not fail. When speaking about potty training, that means if you can not give your little puppy 100% of your attention, he should not be out of his kennel. If the kennel is the right size he will not potty inside of it. So, he will wait until your bring him outside. I use the word "hurry up". Any Que will work. My current puppy is 8 weeks 2 days. I just got him this weekend and he already will squat on Que to my command. Repetition!! Repetition!! Repetition!!

Off the subjct of potty training, but the concept on creating a situation where a puppy can not fail, another example is teaching a little puppy to fetch. Go to a narrow hallway with no outlet. Your little puppy will most likely chase it down, and he has no where to go but back to you. Some may say what are they learning from this. Well they are learning a lot, they are not failing, so you are happier, which means more patience, more praise and he is eager to do that next retrieve!

[Merimac]

Some say the amount of time a puppy can wait is easily calculated by how many month old the pup is.  4 months 4 hour max on bladder time.  Use good judgement when they get older.

They learn really fast.

Had my dog at a trainer for 3 months and I have to re teach her to hold her bladder.