We just got a 4 month old hound/lab mix. We got him from a rescue center and they say that he is litter box trained (a box with shreaded paper). So far he has had a few accidents in the house. I really want to house break him. Wont going in the litter box in the house confuse him into thinking its ok to go in the house? What are the best house breaking techniques for him to go outside?
2007-02-20 08:23:39 · 7 answers · asked by ACtimes3 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
1.Use a crate. Crate training is very effective. A crate is used to allow your pet to have a place to sleep and teaches them to control their bladder. They won't soil their bedding. Then, when it is time to get up and go out, you can easily do just that. The dog learns from the start that you control potty time.
2.After meals, give your pet 15 minutes and then take them out. Food is a trigger not only to eat but also to go. When it comes to potty training success, allow your pet to get outside when the urge is approaching. What's more is that you shouldn't leave food out. Put it down for them at the designated time and allow them to eat for 15 minutes to 30 minutes and remove the bowl. Soon he will learn and that again allows you to control potty time.
Take him outside (and stay till he's done or a long time has gone by with no results):
As soon as he wakes up in the morning (You don't have to be awake.. much!)
Right after his breakfast
Right after his lunch
Right after his naps
Right after taking him out of his crate
Right after his dinner
Right after any snacks of much size
Right before his bedtime
If he whimpers in the night
Praise him in a cheery voice when he produces
3.Pick a potty spot. Select the area of your yard that you want your pet to go in. Take them to that spot every time to go. This will help your puppy to learn that when he needs to go, he needs to come here. What's more is that the smell of urine is yet another trigger to your pet to go.
4.Don't reward them with food. Remember that rewards need to be emotional, and therefore it is more successful to give them a reward of a patting and rub down then it is for you to hand them a treat. Also, treats are food which triggers potty time again!
5.Reward success, but don't punish accidents. Although you will be angry and you will want to punish your pet, your pet does not see this as a bad thing. He sees it as attention. He also can become aggressive as well as not like to be around you. Dogs don't relate their potty mistake to the punishment you are given them. Instead, ignore them when they do something wrong. Don't speak to them or interact with them.
6. When you and he are both home, keep him with you as much as you can, whether at your side (a leash can be handy for this once he accepts it), in a confined area, or in a crate, or otherwise nearby. (If you are crate-training, do keep the puppy in the crate as little as possible.)
TIPS:
### Don't take him back in the house the very moment he has done his stuff. He is likely to notice that the fun of being outside ends abruptly once he eliminates, and this is not an idea you want him to come up with!
Hope that helped!
Good Luck!
2007-02-20 08:31:25 · answer #1 · answered by xtaintedLOVE 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, going in a litter box tells a dog that it's okay to potty inside your house.
Take the dog outside a half hour after feeding, and take away food and water at least an hour before bedtime to curb nighttime accidents. A 4-month old can only hold his bladder for four hours, so you will need to take him outside once during the night.
Crate training works best. Crate him during the night and when you cannot watch him, but never for more than 4 hours max. I recommend you watch him closely when he is not in the crate for signs of needing to potty such as sniffing in circles. Also, he needs to be taken out after he wakes up from a nap, first thing in the morning, and after play times.
If you catch him in the act, clap your hands or do something else to surprise him and get him to stop, and then take him outside.
Most trainers recommend using a code word that you repeat outside such as "go potty" and repeat it over and over until he goes, then praise him and tell him "good potty." And make a big deal out of it. Some people will reward with treats but I don't think they are as necessary as positive reinforcement.
Never spank your dog because the only thing that teaches him is to not potty in front of you, and that's when you will start finding "surprises."
2007-02-20 16:32:14 · answer #2 · answered by Frederieka F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't use a litter box anymore. Just take him out every hour and be consistent. I tried to keep an eye on my dog as much as I could and you can usually sense when it seems like they might have to go out. If he has an accident, immediately bring him outside. You can also use a crate if he is going to be alone for a short period of time.
2007-02-20 16:30:00 · answer #3 · answered by Megz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a litter box outside. Show it to him a few times, and if he uses it, praise him like he's a genious and give him a treat. Eventually take away any litter box inside until he only uses the outdoor one. Eventually get rid of the outdoor one and praise him for going on the ground.
2007-02-20 16:28:30 · answer #4 · answered by allyalexmch 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
every 15 minutes take him out so he wont go in the house evently he will catch on to go to the door if he wants out and have a special word like "go potty" to say when hes outside thats what i did with my dogs when i got them when they were 5 weeks old
dont use a litter box it just tells the puppy to go in the house
i hope you have a easy time potty training the dog good luck
2007-02-20 16:33:51 · answer #5 · answered by NONAME 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with allyale.. , the best thing to do is reaffirm what he already knows, outside. It is also very important to make your dog feel like a king when he/she uses the bathroom outside, but not so much when he has an accident inside. I found a little light scolding with reinforcement of going outside typically helps a dog realize what it is you want them to do(never beat a dog, they are here for us just as we are for them!). Positive reinforcement is key, along with plenty of availability to use the bathroom outside.
2007-02-20 16:38:14 · answer #6 · answered by tomcat 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him out side every half hour for five minutes
2007-02-20 16:27:11 · answer #7 · answered by emily m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋