How do you housetrain a large breed puppy that has been crate-trained for 6 months?

Question

I'm at my wit's end. That's why he stays in the crate all day long. But I feel bad for leaving him in there so much!!! I live in an apartment.

Answer 1

Well, you are going to have a very unhealthy dog. Large breed dog are NOT meant to stay in a crate that long and the puppy cannot be getting enough exercise and no muscle tone and that leads to more orthopedic problems.
You feed the dog..and take it OUT!

You see the dog wake up...take it OUT!!!

It just gets done playing....take it OUT!!

It just had a BIG drink..take it OUT!!!!!

Either show some responsibility or find the dog a better home, because at this rate, you are ruining the dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

First of all, crating him all day long is probably not helping the situation. You should get the book " Puppies for dummies" This is a really helpful book. I just got a puppy about 4 months ago and we just started to house train her. You should try and get some puppy pads(they poop and pee on these) and leave them around the house. Everyday, you should move them closer to the door or wherever you want it to relieve itself. This will potty train him. Just ask people around you that have dogs to help u out. Be patient... children don't get potty trained until they are one, two or even three years old. I promise it will get better. I ahd the hardest time with my dog too. I was sick and tired of cleaning up messes all the time. Ohhh, another good tip is to get an odor spray that you can spray where the pet went last time. Pets go where they smell pee or poop. If you remove the smell, then they won't go there!!!

~ GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

I can tell you how I do my Lab pups, but my circumstances are different from yours. Maybe you can adapt. Rule #1 You must be vigilant! Take him out of the crate while you are at home and watch him carefully. Keep him in the same room as you so he can't sneak off and tinkle. First sign that he may need to go get him outside. Let him so his thing and then straight back in the house. No playing with him out there. That will come later, after he learns to associate outside with business. Put him in the crate to sleep at night. If you don't work and can be home with him, this should only take a couple of days. Let me know how it goes,

Answer 4

A puppy should NOT spend a lot of time in a crate!!! They should only be there if they can't be supervised. They need to be out getting exercise having play time, being allowed to grow naturally and develop their muscles and their mind.Just putting a puppy in a crate is NOT going to housetrain it, you the owner need to make an effort and need to be consistant. You need to TAKE the puppy out on a regualr basis..every 45min to hour to start as well as after eating, playing, after naps and before bedtime. You need to TAKE him out not just let him out and praise him when he goes.You can't let him have complete run of the house unsupervised.
Proper training of any type takes patience, consistancy, persistance and time.

Answer 5

i'm confused by the question: crate-training is PART of house-training.

whenever U can't supervise the pup, they go in the crate; it's safe, no toxins, no trash, no electric cords to taste-test, etc. if they are lying in a cozy space, they don't WANT to pee/stool there; they'd have to live with it, and pups who have not had their instinct for cleanliness wrecked, will avoid soiling their bed.

the rules for housetraining are pretty simple:
** set the pup up for success: they go outside EVERytime they are likley to need to potty: after a nap, after active play, after excitement, after a MEal, BEFORE U leave them in the crate.

they go out to potty ON-leash, only: go with them, don't cheat.

how do U know if they went, and WHAT they went, if U aren't there? U need to know they are -empty-, both bladder and bowel, before U depart for the day/eve/whatever.
and... they get REWARDED!! for going, in the right place, at the right time, right >there<, as soon as they stand up!!

if U deliver the treat in the house, U are rewarding for coming indoors- what does that teach?

Umbilical-Train: run the 6-ft leash around Ur waist, thru the wrist-loop, and clip it to their collar. where U go, they go... carry a chew-toy in Ur pocket. when U are going to sit or stand still for a bit, give pup the chewie.

they learn to follow U, hang out peacably without being the center of attn

(scratching Ur shin, whining, barking, getting petted... nope, just lie down and chew. that's all i want U to do right now...)

U can't pet Ur pup 24/7; U can't even be home 24/7.

pup needs to be socially independant, and housetraining errors are the HUMAN'S mistakes! the pup/dog is a management problem, and is not responsible for Ur errors in judgement - be prepared to apologize to the pup when U don't get them out on-time, don't keep them in the same room with U, etc.

baby-gates, closed doors, tethers, crates and a leash on Ur belt are all good tools -
scheduling is a -great- tool.

lifting the water-bowl at 7 pm is a good idea; that last trip out, abt 11 pm, should keep them dry overnight.

best of luck!

Answer 6

If you want 2 b really cruel, hit him when he's bad. But if u want 2 b nice (and it sounds like u do!) then have a friend that has nothing 2 do take care of him and take him out 2 go 2 the bathroom and then praise him.