Please, help! I have problems with my new puppy?

Question

I have a new puppy, Marty. He is a 2 month old Sheltie. However, he isn't potty trained and I am trying real hard to be patient. He will use puppy pads sometimes and sometimes he doesn't. I just bought a crate to try crate training. I have never had a dog that wasn't already potty trained. If you have dealt with this situation, please help me. Any suggestions on encouragement? How often to take him out? How long can he hold it? Oh, and to be a Sheltie is pretty big now, how big do they usually get?

Answer 1

Keep working at it, when he poops in the house you take the poop out side, where you want him to go and make sure you get the scent out where he can not smell he went the last time, This is how i crate trained my dog, when you can not watch him at all times put him the crate. if the crate is big enough for him to stand up in and turn around then that is the right size crate, if it is bigger then that then you will want to block off some of the crate cause what he will do is go potty in his crate and sit or lay far away from it,, take him out of the crate every morning when you get up and take him out to potty and always praise him for going potty outside, also until he is compiltly potty trained then leave him the crate over night and when you are away and always before you go to bed take him out and when you come home for work or doing errons then take him out and praise him for not going potty in his crate I really hope this helps and one more thing when you catch him going in the house you take him to the door and scratch his paws on the door and then take him out,,, hope this helps and good luck with your new puppy
P.S. dont know how big they get cause i havent had one before

Answer 2

You should do some research on the AKC website to see how big shelties get - I think about 25 or 30 lbs.

Don't ever punish the dog for going potty, it only confuses the dog and will make him afraid to go in front of you. Then he will just hide elsewhere in the house to go and when you do take him outside- he will be scared to do his business while you are there and you'll be outside forever. Then when you come back inside - he'll run off to the spare room to pee!!! You need to watch him constantly and take him out frequently. When you can't - use the crate but only for a few hours at a time - he's too young to hold it that long. After playing, napping, eating, as soon as you come home, before bed, etc take him out.

Also - if you want him to go outside, teaching him to go inside on potty pads will only delay this and confuse him. I have trained all of my dogs and many client dogs in a short amount of time and never used any newspapers or pads.
Good luck! and read some books or articles on crate training

Answer 3

The best suggestion I have, is to get a book on raising a puppy. It offers so much information. I've only raised Siberian Husky's, so, I don't know much about Sheltie's.

What I've learned though, is that a puppy can hold it 1 hour, for every month of age. So, if your pup is 2 months, he should be able to hold it 2 hours. At 3 months, 3 hours. Of course, this is not always accurate, and it's not saying when a dog is 12 months he can hold it 12 hours. But it gives you a basis to work with when potty training a dog.

When I trained my pups, I watch them like a hawk. When they start sniffing, or pacing, take him out. When they potty in the right place.. PRIASE him. Get down clap hands, speak in a happy voice, let him know how happy you are. If he has an accident inside, only say "no, bad dog" if you CATCH HIM IN THE ACT. If you didn't, then it's your fault for not watching him close enough, and if you scold him he'll be confused as to why your scolding. The same for praising, make sure your praising while they do it in the right place, not afterwords.

I used crate training at night. The crate was right next to my bed, and when my pup would whine, I'd take them out, and encourage them to go potty. Then they'd go right back in the crate. It's much like having a newborn. You'll get little sleep for a couple of weeks, but it will pay off. Soon the pup will sleep all night, (helps to put a shirt of yours or something in the crate, your scent on it will help the pup sleep better.)

Most importantly, be patient. Be loving. Realize they are only a babe, and wont be able to hold it for long. If your uncertain as to how often to take the pup out, if they arent sniffing or pacing, I'd take them out every 1/2 hour, even if they dont act like they have to go. That puts them in the place where you want them to go, and when they do, praise them. They will quickly learn where they get praise at, and where they dont.

Hope that helps!

Answer 4

You will find crate training is going to help a lot.

My dog did take a long time to figure out potty training. Lots of watching - then hustling him out the door when he started to go in the house. Then once outside (when he would lose interest and just want to sniff around - say "go potty" over and over and when he would he go a lot of praise. Well learned it too well as then if he acted nervous and we asked if he had to go potty he would - wherever he happened to be.

Shelties are smart dogs and yours should catch on pretty soon. As far as size - adults should be between 13-16 inches for showing. But for pets oversize (or undersize) doesn't matter - they love you just as much.

Answer 5

It really doesn't take long - just takes some discipline.... I put a leash around my foot and put my 'puppy' on the other end..... I took her to her pad "EVERY HOUR".... and when she did something, I praised her A LOT...... I wanted a minute or two and then went back to what I was doing. She is only 4-1/2 lbs so I wanted her indoor trained.

What this does is helps you keep an eye on your dog AT ALL TIMES so you can 'catch her' starting to sniff and take her immediately to her pad or where you want her to go. Within one week, my dog was trained and 4 years later has never made a mistake (or if she did, it was MY fault). Spending really good quality time with your new dog in the beginning, will make it a good pet forever.

You have to decide whether you want to 'pad' train your puppy or teach her that 'outside" is where to go. So in your case, I would take her to the door you want her to go to (or put the pad there for the time being) when she needs to go - and eventually open it - take her to her area and wait and see if she needs to pee or whatever (only wait a minute); then leave but keep her attached to you so you can tell when she starts 'sniffing'.

Answer 6

as far as the crate training goes---good for you! now listen up because puppies learn from experience---

you must get him on a set schedule, once you do that, it will be way easier for you.
one thing you should know is that a dog usually doesnt like to use the potty anywhere the he sleeps or eats---unfortunatley for puppies, that isnt really quite set in yet.
when you are home, have pee pads in an area that is okay for him to use---DONT CHANGE THE AREA AROUND! IT WILL CONFUSE HIM. make sure you take him out at least every hour even if its just out to the mailbox.
if you are not home, have him in the crate, but make sure he has been fed and watered and WALKED BEFORE you leave him in there for the day.
**also, at night it would be a good idea to have him in there too---
***NEVER USE THE CRATE FOR PUNISHING HIM!
you want the crate to be a place that he can feel safe and comfortable in---he needs to know that the crate is his and not for a punishmeny because if you use it for punishment AND keep him in there during the day, it will confuse him!

hope it helps!
amber lea

Answer 7

You do need to beat your dog. That is a human reaction. You should watch it to see when it looking to void. Never put its nose into the urine or feces. A dog ability to smell is much greater than yours and as a pup you could damage its receptors. Do take it outside regularly ever hour or so depending on how long between voids. Pups may need to go more often. If he voids and you see him immediately take him out. It does no good if it has been linger ten min. It will have no idea what your upset about. you can bring it over to the spot and say no or reprimand sternly. Give a lot of praise when he goes outside. Also make sure it is area where other animals void so it will recognize the scent of other animals. I have trained 6 dogs it works. most of all YOU must be the patient one you are the human it is a puppy and a dog.
best of luck

Answer 8

I wouldn't make him hold it for more than 2 hours since he's still so young. Also, if he does mess in the house, do not punish him unless you catch him in the act... he will not understand after the fact.

Take him outside after you feed him (or he plays hard) and wait for a while. You could also ask him if he has to go potty before you take him out, tell him to go potty (or number 2) while outside, and praise the heck outta him when he does go outside. Get all excited like you would a little kid. Be patient, he'll get it eventually.

Answer 9

First deside on a word or phrase you wont to use for go to the loo, something like hurry up or be a good boy.(remember others will hear you saying this so pick something that wont sound silly or funny)he will need the loo very soon after he has eaten, first thing in the morning and last thing at night and loads of times in between.never never chastise him for doing it in the wrong place, best just to clean it up and ignore him, they dont like to be ignored ..take him out and use your phrase. dont take him back inside untill he goes. when he does it outside praise him big time. tell him hes a cleaver boy etc and give him a treat. he will soon get the idea.dogs are like small children thats allways worth remembering so dont smack him!!!!! he will end up resenting you or worse he could grow into a not very nice dog. the puppy pads are great carry on using them, but graduly move them nearer to the back door. then into the garden(making sure that it has some of his do do on). clean the areas that he has "been on" with orange oil diluted with water , this will take away the smell that only he can detect.he will not grow big at all about the size of a french poodle. good luck!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

I have never had a sheltie, but I have definitely had experience house breaking all different breeds of dogs. If your pup is only 2 months old, then I would recommend patience. He has absolutely no idea what you want him to do, and he isn't born with the knowledge to only go outside. I usually walk my puppies about every two hours, and always say something like, "do you want to go outside?" or something like that so they begin to incorporate that with going outside. If they do go in the house, i would put their nose near it, not in it, and scold them, telling them it isn't ok for them to do that inside. Make sure you praise them when they take care of business outside. Don't hit them... if you get them scared of you then that makes more problems. Just be patient, and dont use the crate as a punishment. You want them to be comfortable in the crate and think of it as their place- they will be less likely to make messes in there if they respect that it's theirs (contrary to popular belief, dogs really dont like to sleep in their own waste, and wont if given a choice). As for how long he can hold it, it varies from breed to breed, but until you know how long he can wait you need to take him out frequently. After you get him housebroken, then I would recommend waiting awhile before taking them out because that encourages them to tell you when they have to go.