Can someone offer advice on how to house break puppy?

Question

I adopted a 3 month old puppy (Willie) about 2 weeks ago. I am trying to house train Willie, but it has not been easy. He is a black lab/ german shepherd mix and is a very bright dog. However, pottying outside is not coming easy to him! Upon the advice of the humane society where I adopted Willie and his vet, I am crate training him. He can hold his bladder all night in his kennel and during the day while I am at work. However, he will go to the bathroom in the house when I am home on weekends and evenings.

I am using positive reinforcement to train Willie by giving him a lot of praise when he goes outside. However, I am still finding he will go inside if I don't take him out every half-hour.

Any advice or thoughts? I would love it if he would go to the door or do something similar to signify he needs to go. Is this something that will occur with time, or do I need him to train him to give me signals?

Answer 1

Consistency and Patience will get you through house breaking.... here are some things you can try:

If he seems to go every half hour, take him out every half hour (I know this stinks, but I promise it WILL get better!)

Whenever you see him sniffing around or starting to lift a leg or squat, take him out.

If you catch him in the act, say "NO" and take him out.

When he goes outside say "Good potty" (or some variation of) and give him a small treat. (This will help him to associate potty outside with something good.)

When he does have an "accident" in the house, don't let him see you clean it up. (This is considered attention by the puppy and DOES NOT help with the house breaking process)

If you find a spot but didn't see it happen, do not discipline puppy.... they have such a short attention span, they will not know what they are in trouble for. Only discipline when you catch them in the "act".

The crate will become your best friend, and it sounds like you are off to a good start with the crate training. House breaking can and will try your patience, but as I said at the beginning, consistency and patience will get you (and puppy!) through it.

Answer 2

Crate training:

Keep the dog in the crate AT ALL TIMES you are not physically there with him. The second you take him out of the crate, go to the "potty spot" outside and STAY THERE until he goes and make a big deal out of it making him feel like super pup. When he goes, pick a simple word and use it every time and that will voice train him while you're at it.

Learn how to read the signs he is going to go inside the house so you can avoid it or if he starts to "go" in the house, be right there to pick him up (this will make him stop) and put him outside. Again, do not go back in the house until he has gone and eventually he'll get it.

Consistency is the only way you will be able to do this successfully.

DON'T use puppy pads as that will confuse him into thinking going inside the house AT ALL is OK to do.

Answer 3

You need to train him to give you signals.

Start by controlling his bathroom needs a little more. Feed him two times a day and remove the food after 20 minutes if he doesn't eat it. Offer water 3 times a day, also for 20 minutes.

Wait a half hour after he has eaten or drunk, and take him outside. When he starts to 'go' use the same word to describe what he is doing and tell him 'good boy' so that he can associate the word and activity.

'Outside' is a good word.

Tell him 'outside' and take him outside when you want him to go. Pretty soon he will 'get it' and do what you need him to do.

When he is inside, do not let him wander around the house freely until he is fully trained. Keep him in the crate unless he is eating or going outside, and then let him out in the house for a half hour at a time in one room, so that he can build up to being free in the house. He must see the room, and then the house, as a big crate instead of it being part of 'outside' if you get my drift.

Answer 4

I simply obtained a rescued a million-12 months historic beagle/terrier combine 2 weeks in the past and I realise what you imply approximately the condominium coaching anguish... However, I must say that with consistency and endurance they be taught very very quick. My puppy was once completely as much as challenge in approximately three days (he will have been housebroken by way of his historic proprietor, however he wanted a crash refresher path). Try to hold an overly regular agenda along with her. Feed her whilst each morning and night time. Take her out whilst each morning the very first thing while you get up, then after she eats breakfast, at midday, at round five pm, after which proper earlier than mattress time. When she's no longer being carefully supervised, hold her on a crate simply giant adequate for her to get up and switch round. Every unmarried time you spot her cross potty external, compliment her profusely and provide her some thing specified (like cheese or a small piece of a scorching puppy). If her dangerous behavior aren't too ingrained already, she'll capture on in approximately per week or 2. Just recall, be sufferer and regular. Read a few articles approximately it from web pages just like the Humane Society or the ASPCA. Be sufferer, be regular, be continual. As for introducing a different puppy, I'd wait till the only you've got now if completely housebroken and a minimum of as much as the challenge in elementary obedience coaching. Good good fortune and revel in your puppy!

Answer 5

Routine.. routine.. routine.
He needs to go out on a schedule. Very important at first when house training him. Also, take note of when he is drinking water or eating and take him outside within 15 - 20 minutes soon afterward to do his business.

Each time you go outside... grab his leash and use a 'one word command', "outside", "Leash" (whatever you choose). Then after a short while, he will realize each time you reach for the Leash and say Leash it means time to go outside. Then after about two months or so, you can say your "one word" plus another word like 'Fetch', "Get", "Find".... Because once he has mastered doing business outside, you will teach him how to retrieve a ball or toy and bring it to you.

Have you checked with the Vet. to be sure he does not have a bladder infection. Because if he is peeing very frequently he may have an infection or sugar problem. Also, he may just be marking his territory in the new house, if he is dribbling or just attempting to pee every little bit.
You can keep paper down, and see if he will use the paper only. After each mistake on the paper, rush him outside, using your 1wrd command. Give him a minute outside. Then back inside until he eats or drinks, then take him out for his routine walk. Praise him when he does his business.
After, a few times on the paper and rushing him out... remove the paper all together. And just routinely walk him on a schedule.

Answer 6

Seems like you're doing all the right things and I know it's difficult. I had a time training my little Peke. I used the crate method too. But when I took her out, she'd run around the yard then come back in and build a castle with a moat around it. She finally got the idea and just stopped and started scratching at the door when she was about 6 months old. She's now 3. years old.

Answer 7

I just got a rescued 1-yr old beagle/terrier mix two weeks in the past and that i understand what you imply about the house coaching suffering... Nonetheless, I have got to say that with consistency and endurance they study very very speedy. My canine was once thoroughly as much as task in about three days (he may have been housebroken through his historic proprietor, but he needed a crash refresher direction). Attempt to maintain an awfully regular agenda together with her. Feed her at the same time each morning and evening. Take her out even as every morning very first thing whilst you wake up, then after she eats breakfast, at midday, at around 5 pm, and then correct earlier than bed time. When she's not being intently supervised, hold her on a crate just colossal adequate for her to stand up and turn round. Every single time you see her go potty external, praise her profusely and provides her whatever unique (like cheese or a small piece of a scorching dog). If her bad habits usually are not too ingrained already, she'll capture on in a couple of week or two. Just remember, be sufferer and steady. Learn a few articles about it from internet sites like the Humane Society or the ASPCA. Be sufferer, be consistent, be persistent. As for introducing another pet, i'd wait except the one you have got now if totally housebroken and at the least up to the project in general obedience training. Good success and enjoy your canine!

Answer 8

Use positive reinforcement when he goes outside, use the same command, and about the same time. We used "find a spot", now when we tell him to "find a spot" he does.

Use a loud stern voice when he goes inside, and associate it with negetive.
Puppys are quick learnners, but don't have the best bladder control.

When he goes in the house, use a negetive tone, take him outside, then use positive.

Answer 9

crate training is the way to go. and when you are home, you do need to take him out every 30 minutes. sorry, but that's the price of puppy-ownership. praise him ridiculously, give him treats, love him up, whenever he goes potty outside. it shouldn't take long. my shepherd mix got it down in about a week, but you have to be consistent and take him out every half hour!!!!!

Answer 10

He is 3 months old. You need to be pateint and have consitency. Kepp taking him out every 1/2 hour and keep to the set schedules. Reward him EVERY time he potties. He will need to be in the crate until he is old enough for you to begint o give him freedom around the house, then you will still need potty pads. Trust me, he will eventually learn it just takes time and consitency. Don't forget he is still a baby.