what's the best & easiest(if pos??)way to train a 4month old puppy to be housebroken???

Answer 1

*Routine* is the most important aspect of training. From the beginning, feed 3 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, Nature's Miracle, 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 2

Take the puppy out every hour or so. Crate them with food and water of course - if you're gone most of the day, and at night. Unless of course you're planning on getting up in the middle of the night to let it/take it out. But taking the animal outside often is the best and easiest way. (I don't believe in the wee-wee pad as it, IMO, encourages the animal to go to the bathroom in the house)

Make a routine of it - as the dog gets older you can of course adjust the frequency of how often to the length of time. This trains the dog that it may be a bit longer at times before you're able to take it out. If the dog is able to get you to understand at some point that it needs to go outside - that is shown by running to you and then the door several times.

Never punish the dog if it makes a mess as it was not done on purpose. Besides some dogs become traumatised and then start doing it out of fear.

When the animal has done it's "job" reward them positively. With a treat, petting and always a good dog girl/boy. Eventually you'll both get the hang of it, and the animal will not have to be crated over night or during the day.

BTW - If you can or are able put in a doggy door if your place or in a place where it is well fenced and secure for your pet. That way the animal as it gets older will be able to go out and come in on its own.

Answer 3

I will start with what I use. I use 100% supervision. This is best for me becuase I can not have children, so my dogs=my babies, I am home all day with them. What I do is buy a leash that is long for 3 days I connect it to my belt loop, so everytime they squat to potty I catch them, I say NO, POTTY OUTSIDE then I take them outside,they go potty, and I give them a treat. I also take my puppy out every couple of hours. At night time I keep the puppy in a crate by my bed. During the day, if I am doing laundry or something I put her in the crate. During the day I keep her toys and dog bed next to my chair in the living room, so she can have all her stuff near her since she is on a leash. After about three days they get the idea, so I let her off the leash, but limit where she can play/hang out. Then after she has proven herself trustworthy she gets to hang out where she likes.

Answer 4

My pup is almost 4 months old.We started about 3 weeks ago.At first I was taken him outside every 20-30 minutes and he would pee everytime and poop 7-8 times a day.I slowly cut back on taking him out and now he can hold it for 2 hours and is giving little signs when he needs to go out.At night I tie him up in the kitchen and since he associates the kitchen for his bed he does not mess or pee in the kitchen at nights.I like this way much better then crating a puppy or dog.

Answer 5

Every single time the puppy wakes up and after it eats, take it outside. You'll slow down a LOT of messes that way, and it will catch on quickly. When outside, don't rush the puppy. Take it a ways out and slowly bring it in. If it goes potty, don't run for your house yet! It might need to go poop!

Answer 6

Crate Training is the safest solution for you and your animal. Protects them during the day if you cant be there for a little while, and if you get the right size, they wont eliminate in it and will need to go when you get home. This builds the habbit of them holding it if need be and eventually teach them you will take them out when you get home. I recommend keeping the crate off the carpet though, they can move the crate and mess up the carpet.

To get the right size- make sure its big enough for them to lay down and stand up all the way- but not big enough for them to eliminate and lay at the other end!

Theres a few simple steps to crate training- Start small- couple minutes with the gate open, with you present, toss a treat in and let them walk in, dont close the gate yet

Then move up in time limits with you there. When the pup is comfy with being in there by himself, close the door for a couple minutes and move up from there

Dont open the gate when they cry or it will teach them Crying=getting out (very important not to enforce this!)

Wait til the pup settles and then let em out.

Move up the time limit with no more than 4 hours at a time. Always take them out right when you get home, and right before you put them in. And in general after playing and eating.

They need to be in the crate at night, this teaches them it is sleeping time not party time, or pee party time.

Never hit the animal if they make an accident, if you make a big fuss over it- they will start to get confused. When they go outside make a big fuss over them and praise them- they will catch on!

Never Play with the dog until they have eliminated if you have a yard or go for a walk, or they will learn to hold out on you and want to extend their play time!

Also potty pads dont work!!! Unless you want the pup to know its ok to pee on the persian rug or your bed (they dont know the difference)

Dont put food and water in the crate with him just make sure that they are getting out enough to get food and water, how is it fair to put food and water in with them when they cant eliminate. Also puppies tend to freak out when you put them in and they will spill and knock the food and water everywhere- HUGE mess!!

I hope this helps- contact me if you have any more questions, Im going through this right now too with a 6 mo old.

Best of Luck!!

Answer 7

i used a pet taxi. when the dog was ready to nap i would take her out to bathroom put her in pet taxi same if i had to be gone and when i slept at night. if the dog cried in middle of night i took her out. make the dog walk to the door and out it while saying outside or potty or go-go. simple words so the dog can associate outside and bathroom. good luck. do not leave food and water down. after the dog eats take the food and water and put it up. give it about a half an hour take it outside

Answer 8

It takes a lot of time and patience! Make sure to take the puppy out every few hours so the pup has a chance to go frequently. You can try this website as well!

http://www.dogteachers.com/pottytraining/

Answer 9

develope a habit of taking him out in the morning and after eating and before bedding at night--this is done at or about the same time each day until he gets it. Dogs learn by consistantly repeating what it is you want them to learn.

You also have to train him where he is to go when you take him out. Dogs get used to going in certain places and know to relieve themselves when they get there..

Answer 10

take him out every two hours and if he does his business give him a treat and play with him a while, if he doesn't do his business put him in his crate and ignore him for two hours, then take him out again and try it all over, pretty soon he will get the picture