Some people seem to think housebreaking an older dog is different. Not at all!
SUPERVISION
Daily routine with a new dog/puppy
Dog is being crate trained and sleeping in a crate at night.
If your dog has no potty accidents in the crate the crate can be as big as you want it and you can then also start moving to an expen if you would like to give your pup some more freedom after a week of no accidents in the crate.
If your dog has ANY potty accidents in their crate you want to make the crate so small and confined that they aren't able to get away from their mess if they potty in the crate.
1st thing in the morning - open crate door and run with puppy outside. DO NOT pick up puppy.
Once your outside stand in one spot and wait for your puppy to go potty. If your puppy tries to play at this time put a leash on so that they have to stay in one spot with you. Give them less than 3 min. to sniff and go potty if they don't go take them back inside to their crate. Try again in 10-20min.
If they do go potty PRAISE like crazy get excited - NO TREATS, if the puppy goes i would then allow my puppy to hang out with me.
If puppy is inside - my eyes are on the puppy or he is crated/expen. No other options!
If my eyes aren't on the pup - he's crated or expened.
Pottying in the house
You are only setting yourself back if the puppy has the option to potty in the house without you catching him in the act. If you find it after the fact DO NOT punish the pup.
If your pup is able to go in the house without you catching it, it is praise in itself because it is a physical relief for them.
If you do catch the pup in the act Yell/Scream enough to surprise the pup to stop then physically drag the pup outside by the collar or scruff of neck. You want to make it as unpleasant as possible then once your outside you become normal and allow your pup to finish going outside praise if they go outside. Then put your puppy back in their crate so you can clean up if there is a mess inside as its difficult to supervise the pup and clean up a mess.
100% Supervision is key! If you are careful and the pup never gets a chance to go without you catching him in the act and you are able to catch him in the act once or twice your dog will be house trained in no time.
Water + Food
Do not free feed your pup or leave water down for them all the time.
Instead make meal time at set times from 8-11 weeks you can feed 3 times a day but they can eat twice a day by the time they are 12weeks.
Put their food down for 5-10min. If they don't eat it take it up until the next meal.
For pups or new dogs I will often feed them in their crate so they can't wander away from it and it creates more positive associations with the crate. But same rules apply I give them 5-10min to eat ... if they don't eat.. i pull it up and they will wait for their next meal. Water I give to the pup periodically throughout the day but I keep it up the rest of the time so I know when the pup drinks water -that way I will know when the pup has to go out. NO food or water 2hrs before bed time that will give you plenty of time to potty your pup before bed to make for a whole night of sleep.
The other thing I have used for water are the hamster/rabbitt lixit bottles on the pups crate so they can have some water without drinking a bunch at one time.
Some pups between 8-12weeks will need a potty break in the middle of the night. By 12-14weeks they should be able to hold it throughout the night in their crate.
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Reminder: Your pup has to make the mistake of going in the house at least once to learn that it is not ok to go inside. Otherwise If you just prevent your pup from having an accident inside you are managing the dog. Or if your pup has a doggy door and always has access to outside.. if for some reason the doggy door is closed or you are at a friends house don't be surprise if your pup pottys by the back door - they never learned not to go inside just learned they can go outside. Make sure to teach your puppy its not ok to go inside before you give them access to a doggy door. They NEED the opportunity to make the mistake to learn from it.
PEE Pads
Unless you live in a condo and work more than 11hr days I don't recommend using Pee pads at all.
I would rather my pup just learn - I don't potty in the house period. Instead of learning sometimes its ok if its on newspaper or pee pads. Avoid them all together it will be easier.
Moving on
As you start to trust your puppy i move them from a crate to an expen.
Then I give them a small room. Kitchen or bathroom. move to a hallway.. etc...
My dogs earn their right to be loose in my house. It makes them have more respect for the space and they are less likely to chew and destroy things if they have had more managed crate time early on.
Don't give them more freedom than they are ready for.
GOOD LUCK!
Contact us for a lessson if you need help!
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