how can i train my puppy?

Question

hi, i have a 5 month old lab cross border collie and i am currently trying to train him to go outside to the toilet and stop him chewing everything. Does anyone have any advice they can give me?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

For toilet training it is a case of patience and perseverence - I trained my lab by taking him out when he woke up and after every meal. When he did something outside I praised him lavishly, ignored accidents in the house 'cos unless you catch them in the act they don;t know why you are yelling at them. If you catch him in the act you can say no sharply so he gets the idea that this not liked.

I never used puppy pads simply because they seemed to have no impact whatsoever - I bought some tried them and gave up as they were of no use so far as I could see...

Dogs want to please so if you can get him to understand what makes you happy and what makes you cross you a long way to stopping all sorts of undesirable behaviour.

If he starts to chew something you don;t want him to again say no sharply and firmly and give him soemthing he can chew like a kong or other rubber toy. He will get the message.

Again try to ignore chewed items that you did not catch him chewing because he won;t know why you are yelling at him and all that will achieve is to make him nervous and give him behavioural problems.

I would make sure he has plenty of more attractive options like kongs and doggy toys - and I always lock everything up before I go out so it is not available for chewing or eating - the day he found my dads peanuts for feeding the birds was interesting - 5kg in a sitting!! Boy was he ill!!

I would also take him to dog training classes and do some training with him each day it will strengthen the bond between you....

Answer 3

He should have got the toilet training by now, but don't panic, keep it simple, put his paper by the back door and encourage him to go outside more especially after meals when all puppies need the loo! Don't bother with any of the sprays that they sell for chewing my puppy just licked it off and then carried on chewing! The best remedy is to make sure that he gets enough exercise, because boredom is the main reason, (as well as teething) for your dog to chew. Play a lot with him, I would also recommend that you get a KONG they aren't too dear and they worked for my 8 month old puppy that chewed through the skirting boards and then my dining room furniture! They come in all different sizes and you can get a mousse that goes inside that keeps them amused for hours.

Answer 4

Hi Traci!! I have a daughter named Tracy also!!
I have a 12 week old Lab. I brought her home when she was 6 1/2 weeks old. She is house broke now. This is my story!!!
Any time my puppy walks around the house or looks as if she is looking for something I take her outside.
I keep her leash on the front door knob. I pick up my puppy carry her to the door and place her leash on her I have a harness on her instead of a collar. They only chock themselves with a collar. I then carry my puppy to the yard and put her down. I walk her around until she does her business. When she does her business I will praise her and really say how good of a puppy she is. Don't let the puppy play while trying to go potty. The puppy will get confused as to why it is outside. Always place the puppy in the same area where it has done it's business so it can smell where it has gone before.
I carry my puppy back inside the house, take the leash off and then I give her a treat and again praise her.
I feed my puppy three times a day. About 5-10 mins. after she eats I pick her up and take her to the door and repeat the same process.
When my puppy takes a drink of water I wait for about 5 mins. then I take her outside. Puppies have very small bladders and they have to go frequently. Their bladders will get bigger when they do.
I get up during the night with my puppy, they can't hold it all night long! Puppies are just like babies. I let my puppy sleep with my husband and I. That way I know when she wakes up and is having to go potty.
It has taken me about 3 1/2 weeks to have my dog potty trained. She will go to the door and at times she will take the leash off the door and tries to bring it to me. Other times she will just sit at the door and bark. You have to have lots of patiences. You can do it.
Please do not place the puppies noise in their urine or the poo!! This will only confuse the dog. I would hate if someone did that to me. I am sure if a puppy could speak they would say the same thing.
Good Luck

Answer 5

Bitter lime spray can be used on items that you do not want your dog to chew. You can buy it or something similar at the pet store.

As for house training, try buying puppy pads or using newspaper spread out on the ground where you want your dog to go, but not just in one place, some by his food dishes because he always knows where that is..a couple around the house and a couple outside. When he goes on the paper/pad, give him a treat and praise him! Once he does this at least twice, eliminate the paper/pads one at a time through the course of a couple days until all you have left are the ones outside. Hopefully he will get it! Some dogs are easier than others to train.

Remember, if he has gone somewhere and it has not been cleaned extremely well, he will pick up the scent and go there again.

Answer 6

Crate training is a bad idea you have on your hands a VERY INTELLIGENT dog that will need alot of mental stimulation . However when you are not home he may get lonely and bored and chew things so while you are home watch him closely and when he starts to chew on something stop him with loud noises use a can with pennies in it or just a quick loud hand clap or deep loud NO ! When you have his attention give him a chew toy and lots of love and praise when he chews on it . As far as potty training goes when you see him try to go inside again with the loud noises and take him outside and everytime he goes outside lots of love and praise . Remember you cannot punish your dog for something after the fact or they have no idea why your doing it . Another helpful hint dogs have no sense of time so whether your gone for 5 minutes or 5 hours it feels like an eternity away from you . Dogs get severly depressed when theyre owner leaves and can become destructive as a way of venting frusteration . So in that case I have found the best way to solve that problem is a fenced in backyard with lots of toys . I have a German Shepherd with severe abandoment issues

Answer 7

chewing...u need to catch them in the act and let then know when they are wrong.u can buy an anti-chew spray in the pet shop.your dog could also be teething.give it plenty of toys and rawhide to keep it busy and away from the furniture.both labs and collies are very demanding breeds,they need alot of stimulation.distructive activities like chewing and digging is a result of boredom

as for the toilet training u just need to be persistant and patient.if u catch your dog mid flow,make a loud noise to give them a fright and stop them,but don't make eye contact so they are not afraid of u.
immediately bring them outside to go to toilet..
make sure u clean up any messes with a product with no ammonia as this is what is in their urine and that draws them back to same area.
also make sure u vary where they go to toilet..grass,concrete etc
some dogs if they are only brought to grass will only go there
when out walking u will need to bring a pooper scooper to clean up after them when the soil to avoid a fine

Answer 8

Tabasco sauce for the chewing works a treat and does no harm to your puppy. Toilet training easy use training pads or news paper keep moving it towards the door every time you put down fresh paper and when its at the door lift it and he should cry for somewhere to go then let him out.

Answer 9

My dog chews on everything! But he has learned w/toys like dental toys you can get or a rope something he can chew on to keep him entertained but if you do be sure to watch him cause if he's like my dog he will eat the toys....so be careful about that.
You can crate train him which is like a cat lol but if you don't want to do that you can always take him outside alot,eventully they learn as long as you start at a young age like you'res is. you can go to a local book store/computer and look up more detailed intructions. I hope that works. Good luck.

Answer 10

After feeding bring your pup outside to relieve himself.
Before bed you may wish to remove the water bowl as well.
Praise him every time he does well.
Pup pee pads are also available for training & to avoid accidents @ night.
Consider buying him something he is allowed & encouraged to chew on-it is a puppy!!
Many pet stores offer training classes for you and your pooch @ a reasonable price.Positive reinforcement training classes recommended.

Answer 11

sophylak answer was mostly stupid! Get a crate to keep the dog in and each time you let it out take him straight to the spot outside you want him to go. Keep him out until he does his business and then give him praise. If you run him and play with him while outside, it will help to relieve some energy.