Housetraining help needed?

Question

We are currently in the process of house training my boyfriend's dog, Archie (we currently live together...2 dogs 4 cats). Archie had previously been paper trained. Anyways, it's been along time since I've had to house train a dog. He is quite smart and we crate him during the day (we come home at lunch and let him out) and keep him supervised when he's out of the crate. The issue is that I am not really sure what to do to teach him to tell us when he has to go outside. We are on a nice schedule and so far everything is fine, but I'd eventually like to have him off leash in the house. Any practical suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I think a lot of it has to do with being consistant.You have to keep taking him to the same spot to pee straight after a meal and once he does his business praise him.I know punishment doesn't work,what breed is he? Some breeds are a lot easier to toilet train than others!

Answer 2

I have a puppy that will be 1 next week and I wanted him to "tell" us when he had to go but he is subtle and just kinda sit there and looks at us.  If he REALLY has to go bad he'll act a fool and start jumping around and looking at us.  You have to be tuned in to your dog and find out what his "thing" is going to be to let you know.  Some people train their dogs to ring a bell by the door.  You can try that by showing him to do it and treating when he does it.  good luck

Answer 3

I have a tip...my sister gave it to me.  She put a bell or doorbell on her door...low where her dogs could reach and every time they took them out, they rang the bell.  Every time they brought them in, they rang the bell.  Every time anyone went in or out that door, they rang the bell.  The dogs learned to ring the bell when they needed to go out.  

We taught Pepper how to scratch at the door when we take him out.  When we approached the door, we would say scratch, and then scratch the door.  He would scratch the door to be near my hand, and I would praise him.  He is so good at it now.