Puppy Training 101 - Housebreaking

[dolmod]

DOL Training Guide for puppies: Housebreaking


No debating which technique is better or worse, just simple step by step guides from members for members.

[drscholl14]

Well guys we got our puppy yesterday and you'll be happy to know I switched to a regular day shift so I can be with the pup until she is older and better trained. She is doing pretty well so far. Cried quite a bit last night but most of the time would tire out after about a half hour and fall asleep and when she didn't I knew she needed to go out. We went 24 hrs without an accident until this morning right after I had been out with her. I think we are doing pretty well after the first day. The info on here has been very helpful.

[oshagcj914]

I know it's isn't ideal but I would bet the majority of dog owners can't leave work during their shift to let their puppy out. i don't like it anymore than anyone else, but I can't imagine it's that uncommon. It will only be every once in a while.

I'm sure people do stuff like that all the time, but that doesn't mean it's ok, and leaving a puppy in a crate for 8 hours isn't going to be well-received here. You can do a search for alternatives to leaving a baby crated that long using the search bar at the top. This topic has come up multiple times.

[Hiraeth]

I know it's isn't ideal but I would bet the majority of dog owners can't leave work during their shift to let their puppy out. i don't like it anymore than anyone else, but I can't imagine it's that uncommon. It will only be every once in a while.

If you can't make it work on your own, hire a dog walker, or a relative, or someone else you trust in your house, to come let your puppy out. An 8 week old puppy left in a crate for 8 hours at a time is GOING to urinate. And then, when they're stuck in a small crate in their own urine, they're going to become conditioned to sleeping in urine.

Then, suddenly, you're going to have a puppy who will pee in their crate and on bedding and has urine scald issues because they're sleeping in urine, who is ten times harder to potty train than a puppy who is properly cared for.

It's really unfair to a puppy to expect it to hold it that long. If you absolutely insist on leaving your puppy for 8 hours without anyone else to let him out, you should x-pen him with a pee pad, not crate him. You want to go to great lengths to avoid teaching a puppy that peeing in a crate is okay. Pee pad training means that potty training will take longer, and that regression will most likely occur when you remove the pee pads, but it's better than a puppy who is okay with sleeping in urine.

ETA: And honestly, a majority of dog owners who plan ahead and consider what it takes to raise a puppy DO drive home on lunch, or find someone else who can take care of the puppy. I have a 35 minute one way commute and I make it twice a day to let my puppy out.

[drscholl14]

I really don't think it's feasible. There's no way a puppy will be able to hold it for 8 hours right away. I personally wouldn't do it unless I had someone to come over to let the puppy out at least once. My breeder wouldn't even sell to someone who intended to keep an 8 week old puppy crated that long. Have you looked into having someone come over to let the puppy out? Or potentially into getting an older Dane?

I know it's isn't ideal but I would bet the majority of dog owners can't leave work during their shift to let their puppy out. i don't like it anymore than anyone else, but I can't imagine it's that uncommon. It will only be every once in a while.

[oshagcj914]

My wife and I both work nights but we aren't always working on the same nights (medical field). We are getting a puppy at the beginning of April and I'm wondering how feasible it is to keep a new puppy in a crate for an 8 hour period of time. Guess I'm just looking for the best tactics while at work.

I really don't think it's feasible. There's no way a puppy will be able to hold it for 8 hours right away. I personally wouldn't do it unless I had someone to come over to let the puppy out at least once. My breeder wouldn't even sell to someone who intended to keep an 8 week old puppy crated that long. Have you looked into having someone come over to let the puppy out? Or potentially into getting an older Dane?

[drscholl14]

My wife and I both work nights but we aren't always working on the same nights (medical field). We are getting a puppy at the beginning of April and I'm wondering how feasible it is to keep a new puppy in a crate for an 8 hour period of time. Guess I'm just looking for the best tactics while at work.

[hdpartsman0032]

I didn't use a divider for either of my girls and I have the biggest Midwest crate. I only had a few poop messes in it, and a month or so of wet blankets. But I have a habit of taking them outside to potty as soon as they'd stand up from their naps. So I really didn't get the whining and barking.

[SuzanneRM82]

This thread has been extremely helpful and from reading this information I have 2 questions.

1. I have the XXL crate and even with the divider, it will initially (if only for a couple of weeks) still be too wide for the puppy.

Has anyone else had this issue and how did you deal with it?

2. To let your pup out of crate to potty when crying or to ignore?

You can scoot the divider up far enough that it should be fine as far as size. And don't open the door if puppy is crying. You may have a very short window in which to get him out, but at least wait for a short break.

[kshrew]

This thread has been extremely helpful and from reading this information I have 2 questions.

1. I have the XXL crate and even with the divider, it will initially (if only for a couple of weeks) still be too wide for the puppy.

Has anyone else had this issue and how did you deal with it?

2. To let your pup out of crate to potty when crying or to ignore?

[frozenmama]

1 step forward....

So today I learned that 45 mins was too long a time between bathroom breaks. Then I learned than 35 was also too long. Both my fault as I missed his cues, but frig.. I can't wait for this stage to be over.

[KECM]

We are having a time with our 4 month old and potty training. He came to us using pee pads. We have a doggie door that he uses wonderfully...he has not put two & two together. He goes all weekend with no accidents, but during the work week he goes everywhere. We are in the rainy season right now and he HATES damp grass. I have started putting the pee pads back down during the day so at least it is somewhat contained to an area. No, we do not crate. He and my 12 yr old dog have free range of the kitchen, living room and a large fenced in back yard. Any advice? I'm tired of mopping daily!

[VanessaS]

I also have a 14 year old son and it has definitely been my experience the past few months that our dane responds to us, if we are calm (or mostly) then he will be but if were up making noise and horse playing then he wants to get rowdy too

[olamina]

I have an almost 4 and an almost 2 year old humans and my dane is 6 months old and the kids have gotten more use out of that bell than my dane has. he basically just looks at me then looks at the door then back at me or gives me a warning squirt which i hope he grows out of eventually

lol yeah that's what I am thinking will happen on my end. We should talk because my other son just turned 5, my 3 little boys keep me busy and sounds like you can relate! I have 3 daughters (13,11, & 9) that do great with the puppy and are helping with his training which is nice. I am amazed how gentle the puppy is with my toddler. But he goes crazy with my 5 year old (he is really loud) so we are working on not getting pup so riled up. It is getting better.

[VanessaS]

I had a question about using the bells. I have an 18 month old toddler that I worry will play with the bells at the back door thus confusing our puppy. Should I not use them because of that and just hope he eventually will run to the back door/bark at the back door?

Housebreaking has been going great with our now 10 week old. For the last 2 weeks he averages about 1 accident per day, all but 2 of those were stopped mid-pee and he was brought out. The accidents I am guessing have to do with him being so young still and not being able to hold it great. I take him out every 15 - 20 minutes when he is active, after meals, after being in crate and naps. Maybe 3 or 4 times ever has he run to the back door though to let me know he has to go and those were for pooping. That's why I thought using the bells would teach him how to let me know. Just worry about toddler playing with the bells, too. The accidents he has usually have no signals as well. No sniffing, circling. He just goes suddenly and sometimes it is 10 minutes after I just let him out. Again guessing that is because he is under 12 weeks.

I have an almost 4 and an almost 2 year old humans and my dane is 6 months old and the kids have gotten more use out of that bell than my dane has. he basically just looks at me then looks at the door then back at me or gives me a warning squirt which i hope he grows out of eventually