What are good ways to potty train our new puppy as well as teach him not to chew on certain items?

Question

My roommate and I just bought a new puppy. We're not for sure if he's house trained (no accidents so far but we've only had him for a couple of hours) and the woman at the pet store couldn't tell us for sure. He's also been nawing on us and pillows. We believe he's teething right now. For the house training, in case he isn't trained, what are ways we can trained him that have worked for others. And how we can we teach him not to naw on certain items. Any info would be great. Thanks.

In case anyone needs or wants to know, he's 4 months old and a terrier/brindle mix.

Answer 1

Ah, potty training. I remember it well. I don't know that we did it the best way, but it worked and the pups are now 1 1/2 and don't ever go inside. Below is a list of what we did.
1. When not able to watch them puppies stayed in the tiled rooms of the house. (This was easy for us to do due to the layout of our home, without locking puppies up in some room far away, like a basement. Ick.) That way any accidents could be easily wiped up and there's no reason to be hysterical.
2. Invested in some awesome carpet cleaning spray by Nature's Miracle because, inevitably, the carpet WILL be tinkled on. This stuff works great.
3. We took the puppies out at regular intervals (dependent on age-I still make them go out every two hours if they haven't come to me to go out already), whether they thought they had to go or not.
4. Any time they tinkled on the floor I would be on clean up duty and my husband would swish the puppies outside. No fuse, no screaming. This helps them make the association of tinkle and outside. Never punish them because they don't understand.
5. We crate trained them as puppies. This means that they went into their mondo crib every night for bedtime (as soon as we said "bedtime" in they'd trot and wait for their nightly Kong treat). When they are very young you should wake up every two hours at least to take them out. You cannot expect them to hold it any longer than that. Now that mine are trained their crate doors are never shut. We leave them open at all times so that they come and go whenever they want.

This strategy really seems to have worked for us.

Regarding chewing--that was a little more painfull. We have a boarder collie and an australian shepherd, same age. Their mouths are larger than some puppies'. I recommend keeping approved chewing targets in plenty around the house. The Kong treat chew toys are good because they have a hole that you can put peanut butter and other goodies in. They can chew on the Kong as well. Also rawhide bones. It is better to opt to have more than is necessary around the house. Do not get any chew toys that could lead to confusion later, like a raw hide chew toy in the shape of a shoe. You can see how that can lead to trouble, right? What worked pretty well for us was when we caught them chewing on inappropriate items (caught being the operative word), just say 'leave it', then 'here' and had them their bone. Shows them what you don't want them to do and then shows them what is okay. And keep in mind, accidents will happen. Like that windowsill that forced my puppies to chew on it...and that darned old dining room table leg...and the corner of the wall...and their puppy bed. I've mellowed as I've aged and learned to roll with these things.

Answer 2

Crate train him, this is the best most effective way. Also when you are wanting to be with him, have him on a leash and tie it on your belt loop. This way not only will he learn to walk with you but also, you can keep an eye on him if he starts to pee or poop. When he does this pick him up immediately and say firmly, NO. Then take him outside to the same spot you usually take him out to potty. When he does his job, say Good Puppy and give him a treat. Alot of people just praise the dog with no treat. That is a personal preference. I like giving a small treat. Also, take him to potty after he has eaten. Remember~ what goes in must come out.
This may help also~~
www.dogtrainingbasics.com/Potty%20Training%20Basics
Provide rawhides or some type of chew toy for your puppy. When he starts to chew on something that is a no, no. Tell him a firm NO, and offer him one of his chew toys or raw hide instead. He'll get the message eventually.
Best wishes on your new pup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dogs Rule!

Answer 3

My spouse and I have an older puppy. He's seven months old now. I did a lot of research before getting him. So my answer is from different sources.
For potty training, puppies need to go outside at least every couple of hours. If he starts pacing and sniffing the floor a lot he's probably got to go. Bring him outside and when he pees and/or poops give him lots and lots of praise. If it seems as though he does'nt have to go; wait until he does. If and when he has an accident in the house and you catch him in the act give him a stern 'no' and bring him outside immediately. Praise him when he goes outside.
If you don't catch him in the act don't yell at him for the mess he made. He'll just think that it's bad to go pee/poop whether it's inside or out. Do'nt rub his nose in it when he has an accident, that's just mean and he does'nt know why you're doing it anyway. Make sure you keep letting him out during the night also.
For chewing, buy him rawhide bones big enough that he won't choke on them. Or flavored bones that are meant for teething puppies. It's not good to give him stuffed toys just yet, since it feels the same in his mouth as the 'corner of your couch'. Do'nt give him old shoes or boots either, he'll assume all the rest are his too. If you catch him chewing on 'your things' tell him 'no' and give him one of his chew toys instead. Praise him once he starts to chew on that. Always give one of his toys in exchange for things you don't want him to chew. If you have an area just for him, fill a basket with just his things in it so he can grab things as he feels the need to chew.

Answer 4

They need to bite on things always and especially when teething. Freezing some carrots worked for mine. They need lots of chew toys and you need to replenish them too when they get bored by them. Give the puppy a toy box. If you put the toys away every day, you'll teach him to put his toys away on his own. You can try "bitter apple" or similar products to spray on your furniture so the pup doesn't destroy it but you have to use training simultaneously like saying "no" or making a sound that's ugly when they start to feel your nagging with that no.

Puppies bladders aren't very strong and some can only hold it for a couple of hours. Best to get a crate that gives them enough room to move around in and lay down comfortably but not too much room. If they can pee on one side and sleep on the other, it's too big. Dogs don't like to go where they sleep. Reduce the water intake at night, take him out before bedtime, take him out immediately in the morning. If the dog can't hold it that long, you'll need to wake up in the middle of the night and take him out. If he pees before getting to the door, pick him up from the crate and carry him to the door.

Answer 5

Get a box big enough that he can't jump out of it. When you go to bed at night, set the box by your bedside. This will let him know when it is sleep time and when it is play time. When he gets restless in the box and starts whining, he has to go to the bathroom, because dogs will not potty in their sleeping area. Put a collar on him and a leash and take him outside to do his thing. Do not spend more than twenty minutes outside. He will be potty trained in one week if you do this every night. When you have to leave the house during the day, give him lots of love, put him in the kennel and leave. When you come back, take him out to go potty, even if he has pottied in the kennel. Then love on him. Never hit the dog, but when he does something wrong, you can scold him, but love on him afterwards. As for the chewing on the furniture, get some beef and chicken flavored dog biscuits and dog bones. When he chews on the furniture, scold him, take him away from the chew area, put him in his kennel immediately and give him a dog biscuit or chew bone. If you do this every time, he will learn what not to chew on and what is acceptable to you.

Answer 6

I got my first puppy a few months ago... and there are things called Puppy Pads in stores. Basically, they are scented (you cannot smell them, only your dog can) and for some reason, the puppy will feel the need to pee on those instead of on your couch. :D
and for the teething issue, just give him as many toys as possible. for my terrier, the biting problem stopped completely. after 6 months.
Hope that helps.

Answer 7

TOYS lots of toys and when u show ur dog the toy say toy good and do it every day for a week or two and if that dont work when u catch them nchewing on something besides the toy yell no

Answer 8

yes take him out every 20 mins or when yu see him sniffing around.reward him with happy tones outside when he goes pet him .chewing just roll an old sock up and give it to him.Say no with a deep tone when he chews in things or clap loud and say no or hit something near him with a paper.or hit you hand say no.

Answer 9

what we did to our was put puppy mats so she could go on those and bought puppy toys so she could chew on those.

Answer 10

You should take him/her out every 20 min. to make him/her stop chuuing on stuff i do not know what to say. sry