Puppy housetraining not going too well at the moment, any tips please?

Question

It's early days yet, but is there a smell they don't like that would dissuade him from going in the wrong place.

Answer 1

hi i have a 15 week old puppy and i used training pads for him to begin with,one in the livinroom and one in the kitchen, after about 2 weeks i moved the one in the livinroom to the hall and 2 weeks later i moved it all together and just left the one in the kitchen, when he done somethink i gave him half a dog choc, then i started to give him one when he only done somethink outside, now he will go to the door to go out, i have left the training pad still down in the kitchen for now as he still goes on it now and again.....buy some teething rings from the petshop and buy a spray to stop him chewing or use lemon hope this helps ..

Answer 2

Just don't let the puppy roam free in your house EVER.

There should only be 3 parts of the puppy's life right now:

1) Time spent in his crate
----The crate should be small. Only enough room for the dog to turn around. That's it. If you're using a bigger crate, then put something in with the puppy so that it creates a barrier.
----Leaving the dog in the crate for a long time is NOT cruel. They love their "Dens" and they will soon want to be in there a lot. It's their safe haven, but you have to make it that way.

2) Time spent outside
----I think invisible fences are the best way for a dog to safely run the yard, but whatever you need to do is fine. The dog needs a lot of time outside, so for the first few months, you're going to have to be out there a lot too.

3) Time spent inside WITH YOU.
----Just never have a time when the dog is alone indoors. Not even for a few minutes. Before long, you'll get used to the dog's "schedule" and you'll know when it's time to let the dog outside to pee/poop.

There is not a magic formula or pad or anything that will train the dog to be housebroken quickly. It's a lifestyle that must become a habit. You're not failing if the dog has accidents. Accidents are going to happen, just try not to make it YOUR fault. It's a lot of work at first, but it's well worth it. It could take an entire calendar year before the dog is "trustworthy" indoors, but that point will never come if you don't dedicate your schedule to his/her training now.

Answer 3

The trick is that they don't like going in their den, or bed, or where they sleep. They prefer to go as far from the nest as they can.
So its like potty training. You wouldn't leave a baby on the carpet with no nappy, don't leave your pup unattended. Use a puppy play pen or crate and put a comfy bed in it. Put some carpet under his bed so he thinks 'carpet = bed'.
He has to stay there while you can't watch him.
Make him a spot that you do want him to use. Mark it out so he can see it. Use planks or bricks. Take him there on the hour every hour, wait with him and reward him when he uses it.
You take him to the loo then after he goes he can have a run around and play. Get into a routine.
Like you take the baby to the potty and reward them when they go.
That way they know where you do want them to go. Its called 'target training' and its very effective.
I've also used it succesfully with adult dogs so don't be discouraged!

http://www.apbc.org

Never punish him for using the wrong spot. It can cause seperation anxiety and other behavioural problems. Plus learning will stop, he'll be more interested in placating you and stopping the punishment than learning where he should go.
Its counterproductive. You wouldn't punish a baby for a mistake, its the same for dogs. Just ignore mistakes, and pull a face of mild disgust as you clean it up - then take it to the toilet spot and look pleased. Thats where it belongs.

Answer 4

Monitor the puppies food and water intake (Don't leave them down on the floor).

Take the puppy out about 20 minutes after it eats or drinks anything, every 2 hours or so and if it wakes of from a nap. Stay out until he goes, then PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE!

If he has an accident, show it to him, tell him NO (Don't rub his nose in it or anything...), then bring him outside. Make sure you clean the spot well with Urine Out or a similar product or he'll go back to the same spot.

Most of all, have patience - In 2-3 weeks, the puppy will start catching on to the idea that outside is the place to go.

Answer 5

Puppies don't naturally want to go on your carpets but usually there isn't an alternative that they can see when the need arises.

This is a method that I have used succesfully, maybe it will work on your dog.

Put out a couple of sheets of newspaper and usually they will use that. As they get used to it, gradually move the newpapers closer and closer to the door (over a couple of days/weeks) and eventually when they will think that the newspaper is outside and they will wait and the door for you to let them out.

I have seen people who put a puppy's face right next to their "business" to punish them for what they have done. It's not their fault, they don't know any better so NEVER EVER do this.

Answer 6

The best way is to watch your puppy at all times for signs of needing to go. Straight after you puppy has had something to eat or drink you should then take them outside straight away to where you want them to go and tell them to go to the toilet and then praise them when they do. If you keep this up they will get the idea that this is what they are meant to do and where they are meant to go. The next step is to then teach the puppy to bark at the door so that it is telling you that it wan't to go out so that you can open the door for them. I have 5 dogs and they are all trained like this however you can be opening the doors alot so my suggestion would be to get a doggy door. If you are going to lock them in all day then make sure that you let them go to the toilet just before you walk out the door.

Answer 7

Make sure you have a crate that is just big enough for him to turn around in and lay down. If it's too big he will use the restroom in the corner of it. As soon as you wake up in the morning take him out. then if you see him sniffing around throughout the day take him out, be consistent, then again before you go to bed take him out, leave him out to sniff and look around, sometime they may take a few min. to decide where to go, but they will go. Keep this routine up and in no time he will let you know when he has to go. But as for the going in the same spot in the house, there are a couple of different things you could buy, check your local pet store and tell them your story. If you see him getting ready to go on the carpet clap your hands loudly and take him outside immediately, never scold him, he's only doing what comes naturally.

Answer 8

I had tried this kind of thing years ago and found that it really wasn't very effective. IMO, the best thing to do is to be persistant at getting puppy outside often for a potty run and always monitor puppy inside to watch for signs of needing to go. It takes time and pups just need the opportunity to go outside often. A good deodorizing carpet cleaner is going to be a benefit as well. Getting the odor out helps.

Answer 9

use a mix of washing powder and warm water as that will take the amonia smell away when he messes in the wrong place..also it may help to keep putting your pup in the garden say every 15 minutes even if you think he doesnt need to go then eventully he will get the idea, also u could put some of the paper that he messes on out in the garden so when u do put him out he gets the idea

Answer 10

Do not use bleach to clean up the mess. Bleach gives off ammonia which smells like urine and so encourages the pup to repeat the habit.
You can buy Stain and Odour remover from your pet shop. It might seem expensive but it is worth it's weight in gold.
We have three entire bitches in the house and I still use it when they are in season (and I sometimes use it for cleaning the bathroom).