Housebreaking

[Max'smum]

Max is a 51/2 mo. old mini. I also have a 3 yr old Golden Retriever. The two dogs adore each other, so I couldn't bear to separate them in different crates. What I have done is to gate off a section of a hallway, which is just big enough for a large dog bed. They stay here in their "room" when we're at work/not at home and at night. When we are at home, the dogs mostly stay in the kitchen (closed off with gates).
Max is fine during the time he spends in his "room", but cannot be trusted outside in the kitchen, or other areas of the house. He is only allowed into the living area if someone swears to keep him in their sight at all times. Should I back up the bus and crate him? Or should I continue doing what I'm doing, and just be patient. I can hold on if someone would just tell me this will take some time!

[Meemoo]

If you don't want to crate him and give him more freedom you could "tether" him. In other words, tie him to you so he goes with you whereever you do and you can keep an eye on him and for signs as if he needs to go out. Circling, pacing etc. are signs and then you can quickly get him out to potty. I would try and be consistent on the times you take him out so he can get into a routine. Once he does go outside, praise and perhaps a little treat for being so good. Consistency and patience are key.

Good luck!

[Mark]

Hi Max'smum, Max and family :waving: Welcome to DBB!

It sounds like Potty Training 101 is in order for Max. :D

Loren is right. Tethering Max to you is a sure way to keep an eye on him at all times. Just watch for the signs that he needs to *go*. :)

Another thing Loren mentioned is to take him out on a schedule and make it a fun time. Sing a made up potty-song, dance & make him know this is a *fun thing* to do. Take him out (not put him out) every 1 1/2 to 2 hours to start. When outside repeat a potty command (like, "go potty") over and over until he does it (no matter how long it takes). When he *does* go . . . reward him with lot's of praise and maybe a treat (baby carrots are great for this). One day . . . the light bulb will go on and he will "get it"! He will understand that potty is only done outdoors. It may take a while . . . but it's so worth it. Some Dachsies are just harder than others to housebreak and we've never seen this method fail when done exactly as described, but it takes your patience and determination.

There may be other aspects or suggested methods that others here have used successfully . . . if so, I hope they will share it or expand on what we have written.

Take care and please do keep us posted. :)

Again . . . Welcome! :wave: We're glad you're here. :circle:

[Molly's Mom]

We have done kind of the same thing you have. When the dogs were very young, it was just too hard to teach both of them to go to the door, especially when Molly was just fiiguring *what* to do when she was out there in the first place.

We couldn't let them roam the house, not only for the accidents, but the fact that they will put *anything* in their mouths, which was too dangerous for when we couldn't watch them.

I know crate training works for a lot of people, but personally, I don't agree with doing that. So, we gave them a very small room in the house, where they stayed when no one could be with them. We did try to keep them out of it much of the time we are home (only one of us works outside the home, so someone is always home) or to let them outside. However, if we are busy or they are too wild, back in their room they go. Honestly, they don't mind it too bad, as they seem to think of it as "theirs". We put down puppy pads for any times that they needed to go while they were in there, but took them out many times during the day, so they usually wait for that.

Now that they are both about a year old, we are finally giving them a little more room to run freely. Plus, they are beginning to understand what "let's go out means" and Sammy is even beginning to go to the door on his own. Not sure if Molly will do that since she's always been slow in the housebreaking dept., but at least one of them wants to go out. As long as Molly will go out when we make her and uses the pads when we aren't there, I'm not too concerned that she hasn't gone to the door yet. Praise is a big thing for her, so when Sammy gets more reliable and she sees he gets praise, she'll probably follow suit just to get the attention. That's how we taught her *what* she was supposed to do outside to begin with.