Housetraining Boston Terrier?

Question

I have a three month old Boston terrier. I just got him 2 days ago. It is currently -14 degrees with the windchill outside. I have been trying to train him to go on the puppy pads which has worked out once. I'm not sure if I should just take him outside or what. He doesn't really go in a crate at all. I have one but haven't really used it. I'll take any suggestions for house training

Answer 1

This is long but I swear by it ....

Boston's are notoriously hard to house train. I have two BTs myself. Hamilton is almost 2 and I have had him since 8 weeks. Tinkerbell is a 9 year-old puppmill rescue that I have had for 6 months.

Here is my story though for you:

The first thing you need to know is Boston's are EXTREAMELY attention and food driven so lots of praise and small treats goes miles.

First DO NOT USE NEWSPAPERS in the house they stink to high heaven and your dog will learn to pee on all newspapers - even the one you are reading and put down just for a minute...

Second don't believe the line about crates being a dog’s den...Dogs are domesticated and their natural instincts only go so far. IF you bought the dog from a pet store or it was separated too early from the mom and most are - the dog seriously doesn't get the den theory. No matter how small the crate they might still go...My dog never got the crate thing. I cannot crate him outside of a time out because he pees every time I put him in there (No it is not to big get off that Mr. Random Skeptical Reader person). If I leave the house and he is in the crate he gets anxiety poos. No amount of separation anxiety exercises and practice has eliminated this behavior. He still loves his crate and will hide in it even if has peed in it and I have not noticed…he lays by his own free will on the dry pee. Tinkerbell spent 8 years of her life in a cage before she was rescued so she has her own issues about crate training. Every single dog is different and the "den" rule simply does not apply universally. So don’t buy into this crap. You might find yourself washing your dog and crate 2 or more times a day…During the day when away I baby gate them in a hallway (kitchen works if doggie proofed) with pads at one end and a beds and bowl of water at the other and everyone is happier at the end of the work day. They are not ashamed and I have an easy clean up. You cannot ask your small dog to hold it for 6, 7, 8, 9 hours while you are gone.

You can combo train your dog...My dog was hard to train as most Boston Terriers are...I trained both inside with pee pee pads first. Arm & Hammer makes ones they won't shred and smell nice from the package. You can get these at Target. I also like the Nature's Miracle ones but they are a tad more expensive at Petco/PetSmart. You can also buy a spray to attract her to the pads (Hammi likes this one http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_R_7324_PC_productlist_Nav_189_N_22+129+30+5055_sku_933031_familyID_12465.aspx don't be alarmed if she licks it first - Hammi licks it then pees on it...) but mostly praise him when he shows interest in them and give him a treat when he goes on the pad. If your dog insists going inside like my puppymill girl this might help you save your floors. You can also look at http://www.wizdog.com for a nice thing to designate small potty (1' x 2' if that) area for the dog. If you go with the pad option I recommend a Diaper Champ (cheaper in the long run than a Diaper Genie) so you are not taking out the garbage two times a day. Find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Trend-Diaper-Champ/dp/B00003TL7P/sr=8-1/qid=1170716149/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-5765202-2455058?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products

For outside training - remember when new stuff goes in...old stuff comes out. You should try and schedule potty times 10-15 minutes since he is younger after a scheduled eating. Do not free feed your dog this will make it easier for you to time the 'out' part. Dogs also need to do #1 and #2 upon waking in the morning and you should take her out before bed. Bostons tend to adapt to schedules like no body's business so that helps in your efforts going forward if you have a schedule that lets you be consistent with them.

Once you see the dog start to go potty you praise him and give him a small treat when done. You need to do this EVERY time he goes outside even if he pees 30 times on the walk. If you have a yard you need to stand out there with him until he pottys to praise him and give him a treat. (Boring and long but it is worth it) You also need to be patient. For Hamilton, he needs a full block of walking before he does #2.

To help your dog tell you when he needs to go outside get some bells for the door and ring them every time you take him out to potty. Bostons don't bark much at all unless they are being butt heads so these bells are popular in my dog world. They have a nice looking set here http://www.helpingudders.com/Poochiebells.htm and a portion of the sale goes to the rescue of your choice. Both my Bostons know if I don't respond to the bells in time to use their indoor potty. Saves me tons of sanity too during weather like we have now (-30 wind chill in Chicago today) and I can sleep soundly through the night.

For additional info and help - I will direct you to the best Boston Source I have found since I got Hamilton. http://www.woofboard.com You can find help from other Boston owner's and they helped me lots since Hammi was very sick for the first six months of his life.

GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 2

If the Den instinct has been ruined by the breeder, your best bet is to just take the dog out at often as possible, like every 10 -15 minutes while you are home. Every time she goes potty outside, treat her like she just won you a million dollars. Tell her good girl, in a high pitched voice and praise the living daylights out of her. It may take some time, but she will soon learn that going outside earns her a lot of praise and going inside earns her no praise. Also, try making the crate just a little smaller, so that when she lies down, there is no extra room for her to use as a toilet. I know that sounds mean, but it is just for awhile until she learns.

Answer 3

I would go ahead and start using the crate, and taking him outside. Better to train the "good" habits now, and save time than battle it and confuse the dog later. I know its cold out, its the same temp here (14 below)....my dogs run out, do their biz, and come straight back in (one is a JRT). He'll be fine.

Answer 4

I ws like that with my yellow lab when he was a little guy . I didn't want to let him out in eth cold but one morning my dad took him out in the back yard just for a few minutes. And that was it, house trained. I woudl make his trips outside quick ones. Letting him go in the house may make problems for you down the line

Answer 5

Put a sweater on him and take him out. It is very confusing to a puppy to be paper trained. Bosties are very easily trained. You can adjust this basic potty training to your own weather and needs...As it is so cold there, I would really concentrate on the 'bell' training, so you don't waste a lot of time outdoors.

Routine is the most important aspect of training. From the beginning, feed 4 times per day, at the same times, and put the bowl up in 5 minutes, or when finished.

A puppy will need to go just minutes after eating, so whisk him outside, and stay with him until he 'goes'..Give him lots of praise when he does his job, play a few minutes, and come back in..

If you can spread down a bag of sand, from a garden center, it will give him a good place to go, so you can kind of aim him there, and not just all over your yard..

He should only need to go poop after eating, and perhaps at bedtime..

However, he will need water down at all times, and need to pee frequently..so, outside every other hour for that..and keep a close eye on him..He will need to go during active play, and every time he wakes from a nap..If you watch him, you will see him acting restless, and sniffing the floor, etc when he needs to go..at first, peeing may be just a matter of pausing, and uh-oh, there it is..He won't even be aware...So its important to never scold him for peeing...this is what makes traumatized pups that refuse to pee outside, or try to hide it in the house..as they get scolded for it, and it becomes a traumatic event..
Keep the product, Petastic, on hand, for instant cleaning of pee spots...or ask your pet supply which enzyme cleaner they recommend..

Puppies physiology only allows them to hold pee for about 1 hour per month of age...so expecting any more is unrealistic..a good reason for a playpen or crate at night.. He may hold it through the night, but is likely to need to pee at least once during the night..You can remove the water a couple of hours before bedtime..

By following a routine, and being ever watchful for the first few days, you can have him petty well trained in just a couple of weeks..or less

I house-train all of my pups before they ever leave my home, and I do it an entire litter at a time..it normally takes about 4-5 days, with very few accidents, before they are asking to be let out..
But, if you hang a little bell on the door, or a desk bell on the floor, and show him you are ringing the bell each time you take him out, he is likely to begin ringing the bell when he needs to go..Just be very vigilant, and yet stay relaxed..an accident doesn't mean failure..
Remember, it takes forever to potty train a human baby, and it is so nice that puppies can learn it so much faster, but they are still allowed to be babies, and don't deserve to be stressed about the training...
If you have important areas to keep clean, just keep him away from those areas until he is a bit older..

I recommend using a soft step-in type harness for the walking and leash training, as it is less frightening and stressful..eventually, as trust is developed, you can switch to a collar..but a soft harness takes the fear away from the beginning...Walking stimulates the bowels to move, more so than just putting the dog out..

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Duh! House breaking a 3 month old Boston Terrier is just like doing it to any other dog. Reward and Punishment. Read any book on training. It don't matter how cold it is outside. The dog has to go, you go too.
Which reminds me why I named my last dog Great Reluctance. When she had to go, I put the leash on her and told my wife I was going out with great reluctance.

Answer 8

have you tried after he go's on the puppy pads and does his thing to praise him and give him treats that way he will learn if he uses the pads that you will be happy with hem and he gets his reword as well.have patent's with him he is learning to work with you as you with hem and have fun!