Another raising puppy question - potty training. ALL thoughts welcome!!!!

[Aimeedyan]

I apologize for the recent puppy posts, we're just VERY new at this and want to do it right!

We adopted an adorable 9 week old Shih Tzu over the weekend. He is not potty trained in anyway, really, though he does poop only on hard floors (like the kitchen or wood entryway) and he doesn't mess in the crate.

I bought puppy pads, and was going to do that, but then I was told I'm adding unnecessary steps and should skip that and just do the outside bit. We take him out every couple of hours, and after he eats, and he hasn't a clue. We use the same terminology with him, too, but I don't know what else to do to get him to understand.

Am i doing it right? I've read about 10 books so far on puppy training, and they all make it sound like he'll understand immediately. Yeah right! When I see him crouch to poop, should I just take him outside? When he pees, he usually doesn't stop and it isn't much... so that is harder to catch.

I know he's so young... and that it takes time. I just want to be consistent with him.

Thanks

 

[alabamaalan]

Do a Google search or look in your puppy books for "crate training".

In general, keep the puppy in a crate and take it out on a regular schedule to potty. Give it a word, such as "busy" when you do it.

Ex. Take the puppy outside and say "Busy..busy" until it does then praise it like mad.

If the pup does not go put it back in the crate and try again. If it does go, let it play in the house for awhile, preferably in one room until you are done with training.

The idea is that the crate is seen as a den and they will not want to foul their sleeping area.

 

[H&Hmommy]

I agree with the crate training that is what we did 1 year ago with our Newfie and it took no time to get him trained. He would not go in the crate so we made to to take him out often and parise him. Good luck I know puppies are alot of work, but they are so much fun and such a great addition to the family.
Kim

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Puppy pads are a great thing.

I don't see how that could be considered an unneeded step. What we did, was teach Monty to use the pads in the house, preventing him from having accidents on the rug. He understood the point of the pads pretty quickly. Everytime he'd go on the pad, he'd get a treat and we'd praise him like he had just discovered the cure for all the worlds problems. Slowly started moving the pad to where the door he exits to the yard is.

We're in a third floor apartment, but we have our own stairway and such so this was not a problem.

When we could not supervise him we crated him. When you get a crate, and I highly recommend you do, you will feel tempted to buy a big one, thinking the dog will like having more space.

More space is not really the point of the crate though. The crate should be rather small. There should not be room for the puppy to go to the bathroom on one side of the crate, and then sleep and play comfortably in another side. If the puppy goes in the crate, he has to learn that he will be left to sit in a stinky, yucky crate until he is let out. After a few accidents in his own space like that, he will learn to hold it until he can get out of the crate and to a puppy pad, or outside.

A smaller crate will also make the puppy feel secure, and safe. Like he has his own space that is his and he is safe there.

Another important thing for housebreaking is keeping the puppy on a strict food schedule. He should only eat at certain times during the day for a limited time. He should not have his food left out all day for him while he is being trained. It is a good idea to take him outside within 15-20 minutes of eating. When he goes outside, again, praise him , praise him, praise him, and then praise him some more.

Good luck!!

 

[Cinders]

I agree the puppy pads are not a good idea. You're teaching the puppy it is ok to pee in the house then later you're teaching him its not ok to pee in the house.
We would regularly take our puppies outside to the same exact spot. Once they have started to use a particular spot keep taking them to that spot. Take the puppy out about 20 minutes after eating. If you have him loose in the house and he's been laying down and gets up and starts sniffing around immediately take him outside. If he's been sleeping as soon as he wakes up take him outside.