Housebreaking a 10 week old puppy?

Question

My father and his girlfriend just got a border collie puppy. She is 10 weeks old and my father just called me for advice on house breaking. My father-in-law is a dog trainer and I'm familiar with his techniques.

I suggested that he use the crating method of housebreaking since he's 10 weeks old at this point and he's already started peeing on the carpets in the house that he lives in.

He objected to that method on the basis that it's not nice to do to a dog.

Is there any other method that I can suggest to him?

Answer 1

Crate training is necessary for the purpose of teaching, it is never meant as a punishment.

1. Puppies must go outside every hour to pee, they don't have big bladders. Leash the puppy and take to the place where you want to use the bathroom. As soon as the puppy starts to eliminate, praise it.

If the puppy can't be in constant eye, then it either needs to be outside or in the crate. Otherwise you can't blame the puppy for going on the carpet because you were not there to see the signs when puppy needs to go.

I have two dogs and one goes to the door, the other whines.

If the dog is peeing in its crate then either the crate is too big and needs to have a divider in it, or purchase a smaller crate until its bigger. Dogs will not naturally want to pee where they sleep. If its peeing in the crate, its probably not being let out enough.

If you follow these rules, normally you will see a dramatic change in less than a week.

If you do happen to catch puppy peeing on the carpet, say "bad dog" pick up by putting your hand under its butt and over the genital area and putting them outside in their area to eliminate. (You may want to keep a rag on hand so you can use the towel and not your hand since they may still be peeing.) I did this for about 3 times and then my female dog "got it".

Persistance from the owner and you'll be fine.

Answer 2

Here are some tips, use what helps.

I use a crate* to potty train with, but only for potty training and then I break it down and store it.  I put blankets and a small food and water dish in the crate.  Dogs don't potty where they eat and sleep.  When they are first little, I only expect them to hold their potty for 4 hours, and then 6 hours, then 8 hours and so on.  So when they are first little, I set a timer or alarm clock to wake myself up at night to take them *out.  I only allow my puppy in the bedroom* or the living room, only one room at a time.  They have to graduate to more space.  If I allow them to have full run of the house, it will overwhelm them.  I take them out the same door each time.  I tie a dinner bell to the door handle.  Do not use a jingle bell as they could get their toe caught in it.  So when they are little, I ring the bell for them, and then open the door to go *outside to potty.  When they get bigger, I take their paw and whack the bell and open the door to go potty.  Eventually getting to the place where the puppy will ring the bell and let me know when they need to go potty.  Dogs want to please you, so it is your job to let them know what behaviors please you and what doesn't.  So when my puppy goes potty, I give her a treat*, and clap, and make a fuss and praise her.  So she learns that going potty outside makes me happy.  If she has an accident, make a disgust sound like “tsst”  and take her out right away.  I never yell* or spank* my puppies.  Take them out when they first wake up, after they eat or drink, before nap, finish romping, when their activities change, or when they are sniffing around. Some puppies go pee right away, but may not go p**p until 10 minutes later, so wait for the p**p.  I have a little play time here, because sometimes I think they are done, and they are not.  Puppies train at their own pace.  While I may have a puppy that hasn't had an accident in several weeks, I don't let my guard down.  I don't expect my puppies to be "fully potty trained" until one-year-old.  If they have a setback, shake it off, and start over.  I only have my puppies in the crate when I am not watching them.  When I am sleeping, cooking, ironing, doing chores, basically when I am not watching her.  All other times, she is out of the crate practicing being a "big girl."  This is the time I train her how to behave in the house.  So we are practicing "no barking", 'no biting", "no jumping", and "don't eat the furniture."  I also have to practice "playing inside" so she doesn't knock over things.  You must keep the puppy in sight when they are little because they don’t know the difference between newspaper and carpet, and you don’t want them sneaking off and getting into trouble.   Some puppies can sleep through the night around 3-months-old, but their bladder is grown around 6-months-old.



REVISIONS:



*I use a crate to train with.  It is the method I prefer, compared to other methods I have tried.  I noticed that if they are in the crate, while I am doing chores, they are o.k., because the crate allows them to see me and be re-assured.  The crate can also be a comfort when stored in the basement for dogs who live in areas where thunderstorms and tornados are an issue. .  However, use the method that works best for you.....a laundry basket, a cardboard box, a woof-woof house, x-pen, child gates, whatever works for you.



*Outside, pee pad, litter box, whichever method you are using.   When the puppy is first little, keep the pee pad, litter box near the food and water dish, so the puppy can eat and drink, and then go potty.  You can move it away as they get older.  The pee pad has a scent that smells and initiates potty.  Sometimes a pee pad makes a sound that scares some puppies, so you might want to use a litter box if that happens.  The pee pad allows a puppy to walk around, but a litter box keeps the puppy in one place.

*Bedrooms, I use the bedroom and living room for training, because it works for me.  Choose rooms that work for you, but watch for rooms that are damp, or drafty.  While my puppies sleep in the bedroom during training, once they are trained, I let them sleep where they want to.  They don't have to sleep in the bedroom forever.

*Treats.  While I use treats for training, you don't have to.  I like Charlee Bears for training (a little cracker for a little mouth,) I use them for training, but once they are trained, I cut back on them.



*Some puppies will go potty in the same spot each time.  Some puppies have to be told to go potty.  A command like "go out" for pee, or "go finish" for p**p, might work for you, keep saying “go finish” until the puppy poops.  This is a good thing to train if you travel with your dogs.  By using commands, the puppy won't get confused when you are visiting someone, on vacation with you, or when you get to a new home.  The command will tell them what you want them to do in an unfamiliar place.  You might also want to

Answer 3

I agree with Chris, I've been doing the same thing to my 4 month old Great Dane puppy and it seems to be working.

Answer 4

A 10 week old needs to be let out every hour if possible.

Suggest they take a training class! They will learn first hand how to deal with it before they get too frusterated!

If they can keep the dog on a leash at all times, (Instead of the crate) they will be able to watch her at all times. This is the only way! Crates are for when you can't watch them, like when you're sleeping, or at work!

As SOON as she squats, they must pick her up and take her out! The only way to let her know she can't go in the house is if she DOES go in the house, and gets corrected immediately. The only way she will know where it's okay to go is if she is watched while she goes outside, and gets immediate praise!

Answer 5

They actually make these little Dog Pads.. supposedly, the scent attracts the dog to go on them...  I dunno if they work but I guess its worth a try.

Other than that...  its kind of like potty training a child.. Ya gotta take em out every 30 minutes for the first few days to see when they are actually going.. then make sure to set that time everyday for outside time.

Answer 6

Buy those trainer bottle that you spray on a training pad or newpaper and make the dog smell it and He will pee and p**p on the training pad or newpaper ( That's what my 4month old Puppy Does )

And when ur not at home and the puppy is alone put sometihng to blocked the puppy do not  come on the carpet. Like maybe leave her in the kitchen that has no carpet with her training pad / newpaper and food and water and some toys and She will keep herself busy till you don't come and Even buy or make a lil bed for her so she can sleep on it too .

Hope It Helped

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Answer 7

This is the way I always housetrain my puppies. When they wake up I take them outside to go. After they eat and drink I take them outside to go. After they play I take them outside to go. These are the usual times when a puppy needs to go to the bathroom so if you take the dog out at those time it will almost always go outside and will soon learn that is where it is supposed to go.