Comments on: Dog housetraining http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:26:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-218639 Lindsay Stordahl Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:27:00 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-218639 I never suggest training the puppy to pee inside. It is possible to train them to pee on fake grass or a tray or a pad or whatever, but nine times out of 10 the dog ends up confused and thinking he can pee on rugs, blankets and so on. I've seen way too many adult dogs with these housetraining problems. Many of them get lazy or don't fully understand what to do and they just pee right next to the tray. If you can, I suggest continuing with taking him outside as often as you can. That's great you or your partner are able to come home during lunch to let the dog out. I never suggest training the puppy to pee inside. It is possible to train them to pee on fake grass or a tray or a pad or whatever, but nine times out of 10 the dog ends up confused and thinking he can pee on rugs, blankets and so on. I’ve seen way too many adult dogs with these housetraining problems. Many of them get lazy or don’t fully understand what to do and they just pee right next to the tray. If you can, I suggest continuing with taking him outside as often as you can. That’s great you or your partner are able to come home during lunch to let the dog out.

]]> By: Dan http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-218519 Dan Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:57:18 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-218519 Hi there, we got our puppy 2 weeks ago and he's 9 weeks today. He's a black lab and is very effectionate already. He's a little star when in his crate at night and we have got him toileting pretty well already - he has never 'touch wood' pooed inside and only does so when outside, he cries when he needs to go which is brilliant. He does still have the odd wee accident indoors but I put that down to us not picking up on it quick enough although when we take him outside he goes on cammand perfectly. We have only been using praise but are going to begin giving him treats when he wees outside so he associates going outside with the reward. Myself and my partner are both teachers and my partner went back to work yesterday. I have taken another week off so that I can spend a little more time gradually getting him use to being left alone. We have got him a play pen for the kitchen with all his toys, kong and bed to go in when on his own. I was wondering if you had any advice about what we should do about a litter tray or not even? He's so good already with going outside and my partner will be coming home at lunch to feed, let him out and play but what would you advise we did about a litter tray etc? He's still obviously young but does hold his bladder well. Do you think we should get him a litter tray and train him to use that or just praise him even more for going outside? It's just that it feels like we'll be taking a step back and confusing him? Hi there, we got our puppy 2 weeks ago and he’s 9 weeks today. He’s a black lab and is very effectionate already. He’s a little star when in his crate at night and we have got him toileting pretty well already – he has never ‘touch wood’ pooed inside and only does so when outside, he cries when he needs to go which is brilliant. He does still have the odd wee accident indoors but I put that down to us not picking up on it quick enough although when we take him outside he goes on cammand perfectly. We have only been using praise but are going to begin giving him treats when he wees outside so he associates going outside with the reward. Myself and my partner are both teachers and my partner went back to work yesterday. I have taken another week off so that I can spend a little more time gradually getting him use to being left alone. We have got him a play pen for the kitchen with all his toys, kong and bed to go in when on his own. I was wondering if you had any advice about what we should do about a litter tray or not even? He’s so good already with going outside and my partner will be coming home at lunch to feed, let him out and play but what would you advise we did about a litter tray etc? He’s still obviously young but does hold his bladder well. Do you think we should get him a litter tray and train him to use that or just praise him even more for going outside? It’s just that it feels like we’ll be taking a step back and confusing him?

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-208474 Lindsay Stordahl Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:05:59 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-208474 Sounds like your dog has too much freedom. A young dog should not be allowed to roam around the house and pee everywhere. That's what the crate is for. Keep the dog in the crate when it can't be supervised. When your friend is watching the dog, the friend should let the dog out at least every two hours, and keep the pup on a leash near her at all times so she can supervise. When she can't supervise, then the pup should be in the crate. The easiest way to housetrain is to do all you can to prevent accidents all together and reward the dog for doing what you want. Sounds like your dog has too much freedom. A young dog should not be allowed to roam around the house and pee everywhere. That’s what the crate is for. Keep the dog in the crate when it can’t be supervised. When your friend is watching the dog, the friend should let the dog out at least every two hours, and keep the pup on a leash near her at all times so she can supervise. When she can’t supervise, then the pup should be in the crate.

The easiest way to housetrain is to do all you can to prevent accidents all together and reward the dog for doing what you want.

]]> By: Tiffany http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-208261 Tiffany Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:28:25 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-208261 help! she's since stopped eliminating in her crate. But since i started going to work (about 3 weeks ago) she's eliminating everywhere in the house! she has never done this. We take her out every few hours during the day and at night(after naps, food, in between) , so i have no idea why she's doing this. A friend takes care of her during the day and she takes her out every few hours as well. I dont know where I'm going wrong. help!

she’s since stopped eliminating in her crate. But since i started going to work (about 3 weeks ago) she’s eliminating everywhere in the house! she has never done this. We take her out every few hours during the day and at night(after naps, food, in between) , so i have no idea why she’s doing this. A friend takes care of her during the day and she takes her out every few hours as well. I dont know where I’m going wrong.

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-194543 Lindsay Stordahl Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:41:23 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-194543 Yes. Keep doing what you are doing. Take her outside often and reward her when she goes. You should be OK. It sounds like you know what you are doing. If needed, you could temporarily use a smaller crate so there is less available space for her to eliminate. Then go back to the larger crate once she keeps the smaller one clean or once she gets too big for it of course. Yes. Keep doing what you are doing. Take her outside often and reward her when she goes. You should be OK. It sounds like you know what you are doing. If needed, you could temporarily use a smaller crate so there is less available space for her to eliminate. Then go back to the larger crate once she keeps the smaller one clean or once she gets too big for it of course.

]]> By: Tiffany http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-194533 Tiffany Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:23:02 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-194533 I got my puppy about 4 days ago (chiwawa mix shihtzu, 2months old), when she first came i had no problems with her, i would take her outside and she would pee and poo outside. and she slept in her crate just fine (did not eliminate in her crate). However, the following day my mother told me that she wanted her to pee on newspapers (which I thought was ridiculous since we have so much space outside), but she refused to pee on the newspapers and has been peeing in her crate! I now have resorted to my own methods and have been bringing her out (I had a german shepherd when I was 11 and had no problems housebreaking him).. but the newspaper fiasco lasted about 2.5 days. I'm afraid I might have confused her too much now and I'm worried that she might be okay with eliminating her waste in her crate now! (she does whine after she eliminates in the crate, or sleeps on another end where its clean) Would constantly bringing her out and rewarding her reduce the chances of her eliminating in her crate? I'm really worried I've made a irreversible mistake. I got my puppy about 4 days ago (chiwawa mix shihtzu, 2months old), when she first came i had no problems with her, i would take her outside and she would pee and poo outside. and she slept in her crate just fine (did not eliminate in her crate).

However, the following day my mother told me that she wanted her to pee on newspapers (which I thought was ridiculous since we have so much space outside), but she refused to pee on the newspapers and has been peeing in her crate!

I now have resorted to my own methods and have been bringing her out (I had a german shepherd when I was 11 and had no problems housebreaking him).. but the newspaper fiasco lasted about 2.5 days. I’m afraid I might have confused her too much now and I’m worried that she might be okay with eliminating her waste in her crate now! (she does whine after she eliminates in the crate, or sleeps on another end where its clean)

Would constantly bringing her out and rewarding her reduce the chances of her eliminating in her crate? I’m really worried I’ve made a irreversible mistake.

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-187237 Lindsay Stordahl Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:55:43 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-187237 I'm guessing she came from a pet shop? Dogs that are kept in their kennels 24/7 have no choice but to eliminate in their kennels. Then it becomes a hard habit to break once they go to their new homes. I would never recommend you teach a dog to go to the bathroom in your house as you are doing. However, if you must, you should train the pup the same way you would outside. Take her on a leash to the same spot every time, wait there with her for her to go and then give her a reward. If she doesn't go where you want her to go, then you put her in the kennel for a few minutes and then back to the toilet area again until she goes. Don't allow her much freedom except for right after she goes to the bathroom. Keep her in the same room as you so you can supervise or keep her on a leash near you. Since she has no problem eliminating in the kennel, I recommend letting her out for more bathroom breaks than you currently are. Take her out every two hours for a few weeks. If she goes without accidents in her kennel, then you can go a bit longer, like three hours. Get up in the middle of the night to let her out, too. I’m guessing she came from a pet shop? Dogs that are kept in their kennels 24/7 have no choice but to eliminate in their kennels. Then it becomes a hard habit to break once they go to their new homes.

I would never recommend you teach a dog to go to the bathroom in your house as you are doing. However, if you must, you should train the pup the same way you would outside. Take her on a leash to the same spot every time, wait there with her for her to go and then give her a reward. If she doesn’t go where you want her to go, then you put her in the kennel for a few minutes and then back to the toilet area again until she goes. Don’t allow her much freedom except for right after she goes to the bathroom. Keep her in the same room as you so you can supervise or keep her on a leash near you.

Since she has no problem eliminating in the kennel, I recommend letting her out for more bathroom breaks than you currently are. Take her out every two hours for a few weeks. If she goes without accidents in her kennel, then you can go a bit longer, like three hours. Get up in the middle of the night to let her out, too.

]]> By: yvonne http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-187167 yvonne Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:46:00 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-187167 Few weeks ago i bought a mini schnauzer puppy. She is only 2.5 months old. I tried to train her to potty in the toilet. Sometimes she does her business there & i praise/reward her. However sometimes she doesn't want to do it in the toilet & potty in the living room or kitchen just few seconds after i let her out of the toilet. It has been 2 weeks now but she still doesn't understand her potty place is in the toilet. Every night i put her in the kennel to sleep but she did her business inside the kennel & makes a mess. Every morning when i wake up to let her go potty but she already did it inside her kennel. The kennel is very smelly & the puppy smell bad also. Did i do something wrong?How do i correct this behaviour? Please help me :( Few weeks ago i bought a mini schnauzer puppy. She is only 2.5 months old. I tried to train her to potty in the toilet. Sometimes she does her business there & i praise/reward her. However sometimes she doesn’t want to do it in the toilet & potty in the living room or kitchen just few seconds after i let her out of the toilet. It has been 2 weeks now but she still doesn’t understand her potty place is in the toilet.
Every night i put her in the kennel to sleep but she did her business inside the kennel & makes a mess. Every morning when i wake up to let her go potty but she already did it inside her kennel. The kennel is very smelly & the puppy smell bad also.
Did i do something wrong?How do i correct this behaviour? Please help me :(

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-13833 Lindsay Stordahl Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:31:06 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-13833 Yeah a kennel should not be a punishment. Instead the dog should be conditioned to view the kennel as a good, relaxing place full of treats. Yeah a kennel should not be a punishment. Instead the dog should be conditioned to view the kennel as a good, relaxing place full of treats.

]]> By: AnimatedPet http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/08/25/dog-housetraining/comment-page-1/#comment-13829 AnimatedPet Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:37:40 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4293#comment-13829 I hear stories about people getting frustrated with leaving the house with a puppy alone, and coming home to a mess. The biggest mistake is, they'll then use the crate as punishment which doesn't help correct the behavior. Instead, everything just repeats. This is a great list of Do's and Dont's. :-) I hear stories about people getting frustrated with leaving the house with a puppy alone, and coming home to a mess. The biggest mistake is, they’ll then use the crate as punishment which doesn’t help correct the behavior. Instead, everything just repeats.

This is a great list of Do’s and Dont’s. :-)

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