Housebreaking Lessons 101 Needed

[Louise]

Thank you, Penny's Aunt, for all your wonderful suggestions! However I need step by step instructions. Everything from how long it will take to start seeing results, how often is he put out, for how long is supposed to be out, what do you do with him when he is out, etc.

I know nothing and have never had a dog. I have emailed Valerie from Australia for her article on housebreaking, but I need all the info I can get! Thanks.

Louise

[Owen's Mom]

OK... I'll take a crack at it...

I don't know that this will be step by step, but it should help a little...

First... Be patient, Potty training doesn't happen overnight.

Second... Be consistent. Always take her out at the same time intervals. (i.e. every 2 hours, always after she eats etc)

Third... Don't just put the dog out... Go with her and encourage her to not mess around. Put her on a leash and take a short walk around the block (good excerise for both of you, I've probably lost over 30 lbs since I got Owen). As soon as she potties or poops PRAISE the heck out her. Give her a special tastey little treat. I hear Raisins (reserved only for potty treats) work great. Or a little piece of hot dog, something she doesn't usually get.

Again, it not going to happen over night.. you need to be with her until she goes potty out side, you have to praise her, you have to be consistent.
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In my house, I get up at 6 am, even if I don't want to, and I make Owen get up and go outside. We stay out until he goes potty (first thing in the morning, it doesn't take long). I take him outside probably every 2-3 hours while I'm home with him, and always right before bed. He knows he can't go back inside until he goes potty.

I hope this helps you http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

~~Amy~~

[Krista]

It probably was two months before I felt I didn't have to watch Rudy every second to avoid potty mistakes.

Amy is right Consistency linked with patience is the key.

With Rudy, this was our schedule at first.

6:00am up and carried immediately outside. Take them to the same place everytime -they like to potty where they can smell themselves. Give the command and wait. As soon as they start to potty, give the command again and start to praise them like crazy. Treat. more praise. -firt thing usually just pee

Go inside and put the food down. At first we fed Rudy in his crate, becasue someone told me it would help him associate good things with his crate. Plus you didn't have to watch them the whole time -this is when I showered. twenty -thirty minutes later eating was done and we go back outside. He would usually take a bit longer this time and would poop. If you have your own yard -it is best to leave one stool in the potty place -it reinforces by smell and site thats the palce to go. again give the command and wait. when they squat to go, give the command again and immediately praise -go nuts! treat and more praise.

Then I would let him play in the bathroom while I finished getting ready. I watched -any sign of sniffing or circling and back out we went.

Before leaving I would take him back to the potty place for 10 minutes to see if he would go -repeat process of praise and treats if he did.

Inside into the crate.

Repeat after these steps whenever you come home and after they are fed, or at least every two hours otherwise.


WAtch for signs of needing to go -circling and sniffing. Take them out whenever you see them.

If you see them in the act. Sternly say no and scoop them up and carry them out even if they are still going. If they finish outside offer praise and treats.

Clean up any accidents with a GOOD enzymatic pet stain cleaner -I use Simple Solution, but Natures Miracle is another good one. With these cleaners do not skimp. You get what you pay for. Buy a good one, and use it generously as the lable directs. This will completely get rid of the odor -even if you can't smell it a Dog can if this is not done with the right kind of cleaner.

Hope that helps.

Do not yell if you find a mess -they won't know why youre mad. Just clean it up.

Luckily I caught Rudy in the act three times and never found an unexpected mess. I watched him so much and took him out so often he didn't have a chance to make more mistakes. With potty training the fewer accidnets from the beginning the better. Hopr that helps.

[Augie Dog]

Augie is five months old and 90% house broken.

It is not easy. Doxies give little warning before that leave you a present! Your pup will have accidents, and Aug is just getting into a pattern. We used and still put out puppy pads. At first we placed the pads under the kitchen table. At first it was rough getting him to go there. As soon as he sniffed, circled ect..... we threw him on the pad. He did have many accidents! Catch him in the act! NO NO NO, but that is it! Take him to the pad right away, it will catch on!

AFTER 5 months of a lot of love and understanding.

Morning 6:30AM Eat, 1/4 Innova pup chow. OUT THE DOOR. For the first 3 months I had to go with him. Just think for a second, pup is still new and a little scared of new things. Building pup's confidence is what helped a lot!

Crate at 8:30 home at 5:45, That's just me, Mommy sometimes is home, other times a long wait! Aug now holds it in the crate that whole time at 5 months. But as soon as one of us gets home, OUT THE DOOR! Pee a river and poop a mountain! If he messes the crate, just clean it, sometimes it WILL be bad! (bath time!)

6PM eat 3/4 cup innova or BARF. (Owen's Mom convinced me on BARF, just look at Owen)

After din din OUT THE DOOR!

9PM OUT!


Bed time OUT!


Aug wakes us around 3 - 4 AM (he sleeps with us) we have a pad out. I am not awake or fast enough but Aug makes it there every time now.

It will not happen over night! Don't give up on the furkid!

Augie's Dad