Help please...need advice on housebreaking a puppy

[ikojo]

My mom bought a puppy in July and is having a difficult time housebreaking it. Seems she can put him outside and he will whimper and whine but not DO anything..if you know what I mean. As soon as she lets him in he goes to the bathroom.

My mom is 68 and does not get around easily (she broke her hip and leg in 2001 and still doesn't walk well).

I am going to visit her over Labor Day weekend and thought I'd try to housebreak the puppy myself. I know it probably means getting up every few hours but I think it's important. I don't want my mom's place smelling like a kennel.

I have heard of this spray you can use. It repels the dog and makes it so that he wont "go" there anymore. Has anyone else heard of this spray? Does it work?

Thanks for your help. Another reason CATS RULE!!!


Pardon the gratuitous cat praise!

[ChoralScholar]

anything you can do to neutralize the ammonia

where they've 'been' will help.

We used to clean 'accidents' with vinegar so they wouldn't go looking for the same spot to go again.

[donco6]

1. Look up Crate Training on the web

Works best of any method I've tried.

Also, during the day, when you take him out, you have to go with him. He doesn't know what you're wanting him to do out there. Take him to a grassy spot and let him sniff around. Nature will take over in a minute. LAVISH praise when he does his thing. NO TREATS, though.

At night, he goes in the crate. When he whimpers, take him out and directly outside. Go through the potty routine. Lather, rinse repeat.

[MissB]

2. Or look up the book "Good Dogs, Great Owners"

which also addresses crate training. I love that book.

[Lefta Dissenter]

5. everything donco said,

plus, when you have him hanging out with you during the day, consider using a leash to tie him to your beltloop. That way, he learns to hang out with his humans, and he won't be able to wander off unobserved to sniff around and pee on the carpet. As soon as he acts a little restless, take him outside ala donco's instructions.

ANY time he is going to be unobserved, he should be in his crate. Dogs readily learn to love their crate, it is like a cozy little den that they instinctively keep clean whenever possible. It also prevents accidents such as eating poisonous stuff and chewing on electrical cords.

[madmax]

3. Get this book... you will housebreak that puppy in no time.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671541854/104-0929016-1791114?v=glance

Good Luck to you :hug:

[annxburns]

4. Okay, I just got two puppies ...

and had to housebreak them at the same time.

I would recommend crate training. Some people think it is cruel, but it's not. Dogs naturally have an affinity for building a den. The crate provides that and they will not mess in their den.

What I would tell your mom to do is buy a crate - put the puppy in there and every few hours let him out to do his business. You should cue him by saying "go potty or do your business" and encourage him. Once he goes, praise him. You can then slowly increase the time you can leave the puppy in his crate.

If the puppy is really young, then you may want to lay paper in one half of the crate first and encourage him to go there before you transition to the outside.

Dogs are naturally very clean animals. My eskies are 8 months, and they last from 10PM to 6AM in the crate at night and have not made a mess in the house in 3 or 4 months. They were crate trained and they are really well behaved. I leave the crate door open when I am home and they go in there when they want to rest or be alone.

[LWolf]

8. This is all good; I just have one thing to add.

If you want the puppy to learn to do his/her business outdoors, you have to take him out there, and stay with him. You can't just put him outside. Being with his "mom" is a much bigger priority for him than where he goes. If the human stays outside with him until he is done, and praises him, he will soon associate going out with "going," and won't worry that he'll be left out there alone.

[napi21]

6. Patience, patience & more patience.

I never tried the sprays, so I don't have an opinion on them. One thing you must do though is make sure when you clean up a "spot in the house" you never use anything that contains ammonia. Urine has an ammonia odor after it sits for a while, and animals will go back to that spot because it smells familiar. I bought a spot cleaner at the supermarket that works pretty well. There are several different brands, and I think they are all fine. Look in the section where the spray cleaners like Fantastic are. The label will say something about pet odor remover or eradicator. They are usually on the bottom shelf.

After that, that the little doggie out and go out with him. I know it's a pain, but he probably always wants back in because he doesn't want to be alone. Whe he goes potty, PRAISE, PRAISE & PRAISE him. Then go back inside the house. Try to watch him very closely. All dogs show some indication before they "go". Some aren't very obvious, so you'll have to pay close attention. As soon as you suspect he's planing...take him outside. It's also a good idea to take him out as soon as he finishes eating.

I would also suggest taking him out on a set schedule at first. Maybe every 2 hours (if he's very young). Every 3 hours if he's 6 months or more.

It's truely the praise that does the best. Dogs really do want to please you, and as soon as they understand what you want, they'll be happy to oblidge.

I shouldn't take too long. A couple of days, to a week should do it.

Good Luck

[Lefty48197]

7. Dogs won't "go" where they sleep, so chain the puppy up in it's

sleeping area. When you unchain him, take him right outside, and if he does go, then praise the hell out of him. If he doesn't, then take him back in and chain him up in his bed again. Repeat until he's housebroken. It's that easy (usually).

[Toby109]

9. Just to add one more thing

If you catch him in the act, scold him and then pick him up and take him to where you want him to pee. Then praise him. Lots of praise when he does right.