Housebreaking a Toy Bishon. Having trouble with her peeing & pooping in the house. Help.?

Question

She really isn't a "toy"...just a particularly small bishon. She is about 1 yr old & was a stray that was never reclaimed. I found her running on the side of a highway. What someone else did to houusebreak her when she was a puppy, I don't know.

Answer 1

Without question the most effective way to housebreak your dog is to crate train it. There are dozens of books and trainers that will give you more information, but the basics are this:

Eating or drinking stimulates the puppy's need to go.
The puppy will not soil its own sleeping place.
Consistent praise or punishment will imprint in the puppy's mind what is appropriate or inappropriate behavior.
Don't forget that the dog's mom also praises an corrects the puppy, using "dog language," i.e. a growl or the mom using her mouth to pin the puppy from the neck, or licks and squeaks for encouragement or praise.

To crate train, initially when the dog is alone at home, when you're sleeping, or when you can't watch the dog, put her in the crate. When she is let out of the crate, she goes straight outside- you should watch and praise her when she goes. Right after eating, she goes outside and goes and gets praise. If in either instance she doesn't go, she goes back in the crate for 15 minutes. Then go outside again, repeating the cycle until she goes. It should only take a few repetitions of this cycle until you don't have to watch her outside- leave her out for a few minutes, then let her in.

When she's inside, she MUST be watched. If she goes, a firm "NO" is given, pick her up by the scruff of his neck and put her outside. If she gets away with peeing or pooping in the house, she doesn't learn. There's a balance between prevention (letting her out so she doesn't even have the urge when inside) and correction (you don't want to punish her a dozen times, but a couple of corrections aren't bad because it gives her guidance as to what is proper behavior).

Answer 2

There comes a time in every puppy's life when she has to be house trained. You don't look forward to it and neither does the puppy, but it is something that just has to be done! This can be a frustrating time for you and the dog, but here are some tips to help you get started:



Get into a routine from day one. Take the dog out every few hours to go to the bathroom. Praise him like crazy when he does his business outdoors -- "cookies" are a great idea! Before taking him outside, ask him something like, "Do you want to go outside?" or, "Do you need to go potty?" Whatever you decide, ask him the same thing every time so he gets used to it and know what's coming next.


Consistency is the key. As with the "command" you'll give her when you're going to take her outside, create a ritual that stays the same every time. If you put her on a leash to take her outside, do so consistently and without changing the order of actions. Make her sit, put on the leash and take her out every time in that order if that is the ritual you've established. If she is released into a yard, go out with her every time and make sure she does her business, praising her afterward.


If you have to leave him alone during the day, put him into an indoor pen with newspapers on the floor. This method can also condition your dog to soil only floors that are covered by paper. You will have to clean up when you return, but this will help prevent those little surprises behind the couch or in the middle of the kitchen. As soon as you get home, take him outside using your normal routine.


Don't get frustrated! It is tough to house train a dog, but it must be done. Yelling and screaming is not a productive way to house train. If you find an accident in the house, clean it up. If the dog is nowhere to be seen when you find the accident, yelling at her won't help, as she won't know why you're yelling. If you catch her in the act, then by all means tell her she's a naughty dog and immediately take her out to finish. If she goes outside, praise her for it.

With a little patience and consistency on your part, you'll truly enjoy the outcome when you no longer have to clean up those surprise puddles and "gifts" from the carpet. Be consistent, praise often and get into a routine. Soon your dog will be by the door telling you he needs to go outside. And don't forget to take the cookies with you!

Answer 3

With good training any dog can greatly improve! I would start by crate training the dog. That will teach her how to hold it for periods of time. Past 4 months a dog can hold it for up to 8 hours without issue. Younger than four months, it is hard for puppies to hold it for more than 4 hours.

There are lots of books and videos out there. I would stop by a local chain pet store, such as Petsmart to pick up a manual.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Good luck with that. I had a regular bichon and he never did get fully housebroke- his vet told me it was the breed. They are prone to incontinence- and having a "toy" means these issues will only be more severe. There are no "toy" dogs, hon-- just backyard breeders who breed runts to runts to get smaller versions of the dog without any consideration for those puppies' health...

Answer 5

I know exactly how you feel. I have a Yorkie puppy who seemed to be impossible. He's 8 months now and rarely has accidents, but you have to remember, that have REALLY small bladders! It's either they can't help it, or she doesn't KNOW where she's supposed to go. The way I taught my Yorkie was to bring him outside constantly. When he went inside, I told him "No." firmly, and brought him right outside. Even though he already went inside, he has to put the two together. You also may want to try wee-wee pads JUST in case. I only use them for emergencies for him. You don't want her to get too used to them cause it really sucks when they ONLY want to use them. Good luck.

Answer 6

Hope you didn't pay extra for a "toy" Bichon!!!!! That is just a breeder scam for "I need to charge you more money!".

The smaller the dog, the harder it is to housebreak!!