Potty training puppy?

Question

When crate training a puppy are you supposed to leave them in the crate the majority of the time? We just got a puppy and even after I just took her out, she will come back inside and pee. I even tried putting her on a leash inside the house so I would constantly have an eye on her but she doesnt give any warning. I feel mean leaving her in her crate all day (well, not really all day, I take her out several times a day to play outside for a while, and when I can focus on her completely, I let her play inside). But at least when shes in her crate she lets me know when she needs to go. I just want to know if I am doing the right thing by leaving her in there. Any tips on potty training would be greatly appreciated. How long does it usually take to potty train a puppy. She is a lab mix (possibly a lab/shephard mix) by the way.

Answer 1

You are doing most of the right things.    And the previous two responses did a good job on the details.  

I can only add the following:

The key is to get her outside at those moments when she is most likely to pee/poo.  Normally this would be first thing in the morning, 5 or so minutes after eating, after some active play.   Your pup should start giving signals - sniffing, circling, whining.  Take her out immediately (always use the same exit door, to teach her that this is the way "outside").  Try to bring her to the same spot each time as well.  

Start using a verbal cue...when you take her out and put her in her spot, say the phrase (I use "Be Quick").

Bring a book and sit down and relax.  It may take awhile until she figures out what you are trying to get her to do.   If she goes, then big-time praise and a small treat.   This must be done immediately so she makes the connection.

While she is going, reinforce the verbal cue by saying it loud enough for her to hear but not so loud that it distracts her.  This is to teach her to start to go when you give the command.

If you can get some "wins", they quickly get the idea and accidents will start happening less and less.  But you have to be very diligent.

As to your question about how long to leave in the crate, you do not say how old your puppy is.  The general rule of thumb is 1 hour for every month of age, up to a maximum of 7 or 8 hours.

The thing to remember is that puppies do 3 things:  eat, sleep and play.   And in the early months, sleep takes up about 75% of their day.   So being in a crate is no hardship.  It's a nice, cosy place to be.

That being said,  personally, I would never leave a dog crated for that long, no matter the age.  

I crate train myself, but I come home for lunch, so my pup is never longer than 3 or 4 hours (he's now 18 weeks).

Hope this helps!  

Answer 2

Does she go in the crate?  Where did you get her from?  Petstore puppies and sometimes some pound pups are hard to crate train if they got in the habit of going in their crate.  It is better for the puppy not to spend more than 3 hours in a crate at one time, and no more than 6 in the entire day (based on behavioral studies.)  Especially airline crates tend to be associated with issues later on.  

What I've suggested to people is to make a long-term confinement area where the puppy can go without being in trouble when they're going to be gone for a long period  of time (it should have water, shelter, and be safe.  Think the dog run in Beethoven.)  When you're home, tie the puppy to you, or put the puppy in the crate while you're nearby.  This limits the ability of the puppy to move around and increases your chances of catching the puppy right before they start to go.  If you can't keep an eye on the puppy, then into the long-term confinement area with a toy.

A good rule of thumb is that if the puppy gets up, stretches, scratches, and starts sniffing, take them outside.  Run them out if possible, it helps jiggle the juices down.  You might want to put a bell on the pup so that when she scratches it makes more of a noise.  I know a lot of people who put bells on the door and train the puppy that every time you open the door to let the puppy out you help the puppy ring the bell.  With time, the puppy will ring the bell to go outside and give you another warning.  I've also seen doorbell things at Foster and Smith and that may work too.

Once outside, ignore the pup and just stand there boring.  Bring a book, you may have to stay there for a while.  You may sit down some place if it's more comfy, it may also help your pup relax.  When your pup goes, then let offleash and play or start the walk or give treats.  The point being with time she'll figure out if she wants the walk to start, squeeze the potty out.  

If there is a mess that she's made, then use an enzyme based cleanser to clean it up and don't let her watch you clean it (if they watch, they tend to think they can go there again...)  Don't rub noses in it, don't hit, don't scream.  Things like that tend to make a puppy hide and go where you can't see them.  

Answer 3

Crate Training

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Try locking her in a kennel or crate, or "doggie safe area" for a few minutes, while you go do something. Make sure to do the "Crate Process every time she goes in her crate.

"Crate Process"

1. Put Dog in kennel, crate or "doggie safe area"

2. Give treats and a toy

3. Leave

4. When you come back, give her lots of praise, and treats. (Also, use the clicker if you are clicker training)

Leave her out, of her kennel "doggie safe area"or crate for an hour, then put her in for 30 minutes, Repeating the "Crate Process.(steps 1-3)" Then again, when you come back do step 4.

Repeat slowly extending the time, and make sure you leave time between kennel times, to spend with your puppy. Never expect your puppy to stay in his kennel longer than the age he is in months plus one. (example, if your puppy is 5 months old, only leave it in there for 6 hours. No dog/puppy should stay in it's kennel longer than 7-8 hours.

This is what i mean by "doggie safe area".

If you are going to be gone longer than a few hours, either have a dog sitter come to your house mid-day to walk him, or block off your bathroom, kitchen, hall, or other place with tile or wood floors for her to stay in while you are away. Leave food, water, toys, his kennel or crate, and puppy pads or newspapers(unless you want potty on the floor)

I Really Hope this helped.

House Training

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First and foremost, do not make the dog smell his mess, strike him or lock him ouside. This will just confuse the pup, and it might be afraid of you.

I have just got a puppy recently. The way I trained him was crate training. Here's a few tips on crate training and house training:

1.Try to teach them that their crate is a good place. Reward them when you place them in the crate. This is teaching them, that a treat comes with good crate behavior. Always keep your dog in the crate, unless you can keep a good eye on him.

2. Another option, if you do not want to place your dog in the kennel all of the time, hook his leash to your belt loop, this way he can not go off and use the restroom somewhere, and you don't know about it.

3.Always take him outside after;

+ rough play

+after he eats or drinks

+after being let out of his crate

+ after he wakes up after a night

+ or if he shows signs of having to use the restroom,(below are those signs)

*sniffing

*staring at you

*whining

4.Don't ever hit your dog, or rub his nose in his mess. This will just teach the dog to be afraid of you.

5.Don't feed him or give him to much water, before you plan to put him in his cage.

6.Don't expect your dog to hold it's restroom, more than the age of the dog in months, plus one. But no dog should have to hold it's bladder more than a 7-8 hours.

7.Be patient!! That is the key, to housetraining. Of course if you get too overwelmed, you can always buy a book, or ask a professional trainer!

8.Always, when he goes to the bathroom ouside, give lots of praise and treats!!

9. If you expect your puppy to go outside, and dont use puppy pads when he gets older, starting out with puppy pads, is not a good idea, because this trains them that it's ok to go inside, and then before they know it, they cant, it is to confusing for them.

Good Luck!

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