Crate training and housebreaking?

Question

I am trying to crate and housebreak a 4 month old dog. Whats the best way and how many times in the middle of the night would this dog need to go out? Is it wise to not feed them or let them have water after a certain time in the evening?

Answer 1

The first thing to remember about house training a puppy is there ability to hold themselves is limited. A rule of thumb is they can hold "it" usually 1 hour for each month of age. 2 months old = 2 hours, 3 months old = 3 hours, etc. when your puppy wakes up (morning, nap, whatever) the pup has to go, right then! Take the pup out. When the pup eats or drinks, it has to go, take the pup out. after exercise (play), take the pup out. when the pup does it's thing outside praise it. a lot. Tell the pup how good, how smart it is. You have to pay attention to the pups "looking for it's spot" behavior. when you see that behavior indoors, whisk the pup out. if you catch the pup in the act, simply tell it "NO!" and whisk it outside. if you find a puddle or pile after the fact, clean it up with an enzyme cleaner (pet food store) get a newspaper and hit.... yourself in the head and say "I should have been paying more attention" daytime training they get pretty fast. Night time training is easier if you crate train the pup. Also remember the one hour/one month rule. you will have to get up through the night to take the pup out. good luck. At four months you may have to get up once through the night. Mine slept the night through at four months.

three websites on how to crate train a puppy

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~rc207100/info-pub.htm

http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html

http://www.planeturine.com/pettips/dsp_crateTrainPuppy.cfm


Your pup should have his/her daily ration sp;it into three daily feedings. when you have dinner is a good time to give the pup it's dinner. Our pets need quality pet food. Read the ingredients list and learn what the stuff on there is and what it does (or does not do) to/for our pets. A quick pet food 101. If the pet food contains corn/corn products or by products it is a poor quality food. Do not pay attention to advertising, they all say there food is great. Corn is a filler that can trigger skin problems. (allergies, skin problems, itching and excessive shedding) By products is anything from an animal not fit for human consumption, including cancerous tissue. Quality foods have meat as the first ingredient. California Natural, Solid Gold, Innova and Merrick are a few of the best brands available. If you want to learn more check out: http://www.sagekeep.com/petfood.htm www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359& more=1 http://animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoods.nsf/$$PetFoodsByRating?OpenForm

Answer 2

At four months old your pup should have the ability to hold it through the night. I would not get her used to going out in the middle of the night unless you want to continue doing this for the rest of her life. Constant supervision is the fastest way to a housebroken dog. To do this, tie her leash to your belt. Literally, make her your shadow. If you are constantly watching her, her opportunity to pee on the floor is eliminated. All dogs will do something to indicate that they are about to go to the bathroom--sniff the floor, walk in circles, whine, sit there and just stare at you, the point is, there is some sort of visual clue that she is going to go pee or poop soon. When she starts to display whatever her behavior is, get that pup outside. When she does go to the bathroom outside, throw a party, cheer, make a big deal of it. Your neighbors will think you are being a little ridiculous, but your dog will think this is great and will catch on much faster than if you dont react at all. When there are times that you cannot supervise her, she should go in her crate. Never as a punishment, just for a break or a time out during her wild out of control moments. I have found that the crate works best in the bedroom. She really only should be in there when you arent home, are sleeping, or showering. Otherwise, she should be tied to you at all times. The more constant her supervision, the faster she will come to understand being housebroken. If she should have an accident, slap yourself on the hand, because you werent watching her. This all sounds a bit tedious, but it isnt forever. The more diligent you are, the shorter time it will take. Also by keeping her on a regular feeding schedule, it will be easier to predict when she will have to go. If it goes in at the same time everyday, it will come out at the same time everyday. Good luck, and have fun getting to know your dog!!

Answer 3

You can buy a book or DVD at PetSmart about crate training. Or just go online.

A puppy needs to go pee at least every 3 to 4 hours. Some dogs can sleep through the night without haveing to go right away. But you would need to let him out immediately in the morning.

I hope you aren't leaving the puppy in the crate all day when you're not home. Dogs need exercise and if crated too long, can have problems with their legs.

Answer 4

schedule your day. this works great and minimizes accidents in the home. rule of thumb, for every month, it's an hour that the pup can hold it. so 1 month = 1 hour, 4 months = 4 hours. also take him out after he plays, he eats, and when he wakes up from naps.

what we did is we set up an area in the kitchen for our, then 12 week old, pup to play in. we slowly extend the area every other day until he learned that outside was where he needed to go. it helps to have a doggy door. we scheduled his meals. we broke it up 2 times a day. I would feed his am meal at 6 am, what he didnt finish i would let him eat the rest of the day. Then his dinner time is no later than 7 pm. anything he didnt finish was taken away at 7:30. this way if he had to go, he would do it before bed. ALWAYS KEEP WATER HANDY. never deprive a dog of water.

we limited his treats at night as well. we would then take him out at 10 to do his thing before bed. and when it was 2 am, out he goes and then again at 6 am.

we've had our pup when he was 12 weeks old. it took us about 2 weeks to potty train him and we've had 5 accidents in the house. 3 were from people who were not suppose to let him out of the crate and play with him without taking him to the bathroom first.

hope this helps.

Answer 5

Usually during crating they will not go to the bathroom inside the crate. Yes it is a good idea to limit their food and water before putting them to bed for the night. As for house breaking them..if you have the time, take them out once every half hour for an entire day. This way they will know that they are to go outside and not inside. I have had 5 dogs and did this with each and it worked for me. Of course at times they will have an accident. But for the most part it works. Good Luck!

Answer 6

A 4 month old dog can learn to wait until the morning, but may need more time. Definitely don't take water away, but food should be given at meals, and not left to eat free. This way you can control bathroom times, and it will help with training your doggie how to hold it.

Example. You feed your puppy breakfast at 7am, it's going to have to go out in 30-60 minutes. You feed him again at 5pm, same thing. After 10 minutes, take the uneaten food away. Now you will know 2 times when he will probably have to go outside as he will probably be going during that time, so now you can take your dog out during that time and train him to go outside. If you free feed your dog, you will not have this time schedule.

A dog should have an easier time learning to hold it with just water opposed to food and water.

Answer 7

Oh yes,
I take my dog out depending on her age,...more frequently when they are first starting, less as they get older..and don't start too early..this I've heard can make housebreaking harder.
take them out 1/2 hour (at least) after every meal...I usually stop water 1/2 to 1 hour before bed.
it the pup is real young, once or twice during the night for a potty is fine...it it's older 4 months or more...it should sleep througout the night.
water at night is not generally a bad thing, but you will have to get up more times during the night if you let him/her have it.
Soon you will get to know how much your pup needs to go out, I find they generally whine when they have to go out if you've waited too long.

Answer 8

Hi ,i have a 4 month old cavalier king charles ,i started crating him as soon as i got him and he will go in there his self now when he wants to be left alone,as for the toilet time ,i take oliver out before i go to bed around about 10 and then i go to take him about 2 then again at 6 ,your not meant to give them anything to drink after a certain time but oliver has that complete dry food and they get thirsty more with that ,it depends on the food .

Answer 9

Congratz on your pup!
Good rule of thumb - don't expect your pup to hold it while crated for more hours than it is in months. in your case, 4 hours MAX
as she is 4 months old. Take it out as the last thing you do before you go to bed, and again first thing in the morning. Best thing is ROUTINE and Consistancy! Good Luck!

Answer 10

Many of these issues are addressed at http://www.thedivadog.com look in The Reading Room for all tips!

Best of luck to you!