How do you housebreak a stubborn puppy?

Question

Help! i have a male bichon whos 12 weeks old and he just does not seem to get house breaking. I am trying to crate train him and he seems to just whine nonstop. i have been using the treat method to get him comfortable but he'll want to walk right out. if i close the crate door he'll be ok as long as i'm right there but everytime i try to leave the room he cries.

When i am around the house watching him he doesnt have any telltale signs that hes about to go. he literally just walks around like normal and all of a sudden he stoops. Since i'm watching him i always catch him and scold him and he'll usually stop immediately and i take him outside, and he'll just lay down. i'll pick him up but it always ends up the same. so i'll bring him inside and he'll randomly finish later.

I've also tried the pee pad which he doesnt react to at all, nor the spray. soooo anyone have any ideas of what to do to help? or is it simply a matter of time?

ps sorry for the bad grammer

i'm firm when scolding him with a stern NO but i dont think its anything too harsh. His crate is already covered and right next to the bed and doesnt seem to help.

I've also tried the whole leaving the house at 5 minute intervals up to 45 minutes. Everytime i come back i can hear him crying.

I take him out all the time and it just seems to confuse him. Wether its after eating or midstream of an accident he just wont go outside.

Answer 1

Forget the pads or newspaper, they will only make your job tougher, your dog more confused, and down the road lots of frustration when he starts going everywhere else.

He's only twelve weeks old, he needs some time. Also how are you scolding him? If you are to harsh you are going to frighten him and he wont wnat to go in front of you.

As far as whining in the crate he will get used to it. At night you should put the crate in your bedroom. He will feel safer, whine less, and let you know if he needs a middle of the night outing.
http://www.tiaspetplace.com/housetraining_your_puppy_or_dog.htm

Answer 2

with the crate training, instead of just leaving the room you need to leave the house..if you have the time, i would do everything you normally do to get ready to leave the house, so he knows what your doing..practice it..get your purse, or wallet, put him in the cage, say good bye and walk out the door to your car..go for like a 15 min walk, when you come back be very quite, don't go inside but lean up to the door to see if you can hear him or not..if he is still whining after 15 min, he might have seperation anxiety, plus he is just a baby..but most likely after a few minutes and he knows your gone, he'll stop. but if you have to i would try quiet time pills..its just something that helps them relax and sleep..so with those he'll calm down and after time he'll realize you leaving isn't bad, cuz you always come back.
for house training, i would try bells. i've told a few others about this and i've heard from others that it works great. you put bells up by the door he will be taken out to go potty at. i would keep his leash by them too. potty time will now be the most exciting thing you can think of..you gotta make a big deal of it! ring the bells, grab his leash and say" potty time" or "let go outside and go potty" and get excited about it! do this every time you go outside..yes it sounds silly but in a short time he should get the idea that ringing the bells means go outside..so he should ring the bells himself to go potty..those are the 2 words i use..potty and outside..my puppy still at 14 months go nuts for those words! he knows what they mean. you also when you are home should be taking him out every hour, or 15 min after he eats and drinks..good luck

Answer 3

Some dogs just don't respond to rewards, unfortunately. My mother had a rottweiler puppy who kept peeing in the house, she was trying to get him to go outside and one day she just lost it and chased him around the house with a wet mop. He never did it again. I am not recommending this, but this is just to illustrate to you that some puppies need a bit of vinegar.

Dogs don't like being left alone. That's why he cries.

It sounds like you need to be stern with him. Raise your voice, tell him no when he goes in the wrong spot and then put him in the right place. Like in the crate and ignore him for a while. He'll get over it. You might have to do this repeatedly, but dogs need repitition. Good luck.

Answer 4

Its going to be a matter of time I'm afraid, they all take different times for the penny to drop. I use the newspaper method I found it easier.

Answer 5

You just have to be more stubborn and bull-headed than the
dog. Some dogs are more headstrong than others.