How can i tell the difference between barking to potty and barking to just get out of the crate?

Question

I just got a brand new 8 weeks old boston terrier. It has been about 3 days since i have had some good sleep. He barks as soon as he wakes up and this is pretty frequently through out the night. How can i tell if he is barking because he wants to potty or just want to get out of his crate to be with me. as soon as he barks, i usually wake up and take him outside waits till he pees then praise him and then put him back to his crate. afterwards he just wont stop barking. at first i open up his crate to let him go again but he doesnt do anything but go to sleep by my feet when he is outside so now i ignore him and just leave him in his cage (after i put him back in for peeing) but it has been three days and he is still barking. when is he going to learn that barking wont get my attention? help.... i need sleep.

Answer 1

You can't expect to get too much sleep when you have a new pup. But, you can teach him not to bark. If he's just gone outside and he peed, obviously he doesn't need out again for at least 20 minutes (if not much longer). So if he's barking then, to get your attention, you can scold him with a growling NO and then tell him firmly, Quiet! You can try other kinds of corrections to like pounding on the top of the crate or shaking a can of pennies. The really important thing is to praise him as soon as he is quiet. Even if he's quiet for just 10 seconds, give him praise for that. And make sure it's really happy, excited praise- go overboard so that you sound silly. Oh, what a GOOD boy you are!!!! The tone of voice is very important. Soon he will learn what "Quiet" means. Make sure that in the evening, you feed him early enough and take his water away at some point so that he won't need to go too many times during the night. If you do this on a regular schedule you will learn the timing of when he needs to go out. You might have to take him out a few times during the night, but not all the time.

Answer 2

Sounds like you are doing a good job most likely is you have just taken him out a few minutes ago he won't have to go again so it may be hard but ignore him if you don't he will learn barking equals attention and he will do it forever. Just be sure you are taking a puppy that young out every 2 hours but it sounds like you are doing great so far.

Answer 3

Okay...here's the deal. Puppies need to relieve themselves often. Usually they can go one hour for each month of age.

It sounds like you are doing the right thing by taking the pup out to potty when he gets you up.

You might try covering his crate when you put him back in (after his potty break). It might help if he can't see you through the bars. :o)

I would also recommend getting "Cesar's Way" By Cesar Millan (National Geographic Channel's - Dog Whisperer). He's great with the dogs.

It might help you stop any behaviors you don't want to take root.

Best wishes!