HOUSEBREAKING YOUR PUPPY

Some of the techniques on this page require leaving the leash and collar on your puppy while he is in his crate.  This should only be done when you are there to supervise your puppy.  If you have to walk away, remove the leash and collar before you leave to avoid hanging accidents.

YOU WILL NEED:

Nylon Leash And Collar

Potty Time Chime And Video Covering Housebreaking - http://www.pottytimechimes.com

Wire Crate With Movable Divider - http://www.precisionpet.com

Safe Chew Toys (ones that cannot be chewed and ingested)

Enzyme Cleaner

Spray Bottle With Water

Bitter Apple Brand Spray (available at pet supply stores)

Long Line To Attach To Leash

Crate training is one of the best ways to successfully house break your new puppy.  Look for a wire crate, with a movable divider.  Weimaraners and Standard Goldendoodles will need a crate that is at least 34" high so that their head will not hit the top of the crate. Mini Goldendoodles will need a crate a size larger than would be needed to fit a 35 - 45 lb. dog.  This will give your dog plenty of head room and room enough to be comfortable while they are confined.  Move the divider to allow just enough room for your puppy to lay comfortably, otherwise he will go to the back of the crate to relieve himself.  Avoid using any kind of bedding in the bottom of the crate until your puppy has learned to not relieve himself, otherwise he will learn to go potty on blankets, etc. 

Expect for your puppy to have to go potty every 1 1/2 - 3 hours at eight weeks of age.  When you hear him moving around or whining in his crate, it's time to take the puppy outside.   He will have to go out several times the first few nights, in the morning, after times of hard play, after eating or drinking or after a nap.  Feeding and watering at the same times each day and withdrawing that food and water at 6:00 in the evening will help with timing your puppy's potty breaks.

Start off by introducing your puppy to his new crate.  Keep the door open and lure him in with toys or treats, tell him "in here" or "kennel up" when he goes in on his own.  Lure him back out and reward again, keep this positive!  Once he is comfortable with going in to receive the treat, close the gate and count to five.  Open and have him come back out.  Do this again, leaving the door closed for longer and longer periods each time.  

Once you have your puppy in the crate for a longer amount of time, expect him to cry until he gets used to your routine. Having safe chewy toys to keep him occupied will help out, also, leaving a radio playing soothing music is a big help as well.

When you first receive your puppy, I would recommend putting the leash and collar on after you open the crate, then pick your puppy up and carry him outside to the same spot every time.   Trying to get him to walk on the leash to the door is too much to handle in his small mind right now and he will probably stop to go potty on the floor.  Once he gets used to the routine, you can start teaching him to walk to the door that has a bell hanging from the handle.  Have him bump the bell with his nose or foot and at the same time say "do you have to go out?"  Puppies learn to use the bell very quickly, we have one at our front and back door so that we can hear the bell when they are older.

http://www.pottytimechimes.com

Once outside, let him sniff around and keep him moving if you can.  You can train him to urinate and defecate on demand by simply say "hurry up" right when he starts to urinate and "go" right when he starts to have a bowel movement.  Say these commands every time and he will soon learn what you mean.  Sometimes it takes  time for them to have a bowel movement.  Give plenty of time for your puppy to finish, when he comes back to you to play, he is probably done with his business.  Reward with treats and praise for doing well!

Take your pup back into the house.

If it is daytime, now is the safe time for him to play outside of his crate (leave the leash on and supervise at all times!)  I would keep him on a tile floor at this point, just in case there is an accident.  Make this a happy time but keep a close watch, if you see him sniffing and going in circles, head back outside to his potty spot.  If he starts to go and you can't catch him fast enough to stop him, snap the leash several times, say "ah ah", pick him up and head back outside.  This is all the punishment that is needed, praise him when he finishes outside.

If it is night time, put him back into his crate with a treat.

Your puppy will learn to whine or bark when they have to go out, which is good.  If there is unnecessary barking and whining after they have gone potty and are now back in their crate, try this.  During the day, keep a spray bottle of water on top of the crate.  Every time your puppy whines or barks unnecessarily, spray him in the face, saying "ah ah" at the same time.  This works excellent if done consistently!

At night, there might be a fight at first, but don't worry, he will learn! When I am house-breaking a puppy, I put the crate beside the couch, and sleep there for the first few nights (so that my husband can get some sleep!) Remember that this is a big adjustment for your new puppy, expect some crying.  After taking him out to relieve himself, bring your puppy in, and put him immediately into the crate with the treat. Because you know that he has used the bathroom, you will know that he just wants out if he cries. Get everything you need, turn the lights off, then do not talk to your puppy, not even for reassuring! Talking will only encourage him to make a fuss. Give him a chance to settle on his own first!  If constant crying continues, try these following methods.  Every time he makes a noise, shake a can that has some coins in it. The noise will startle and quiet the puppy, and stop the whining. If that doesn't work, you can use this next technique, but with caution! Remember that he/she is just a baby. Attach the leash to the collar and thread it through one of the slots in the crate. Keep this in hand with the lights out, never speaking. Right when the puppy whines or barks, snap and release the leash. I had one particularly noisy puppy that this worked great on, just be careful you don't snap it too hard! You will be able to tell when he is settled. Expect him to get up and move around or cry to go out every few hours the first few nights. These times will grow longer and longer, until he is in the crate all night long, and only has to go out in the morning.

Just as a note, some pups and older dogs will actually chew their bedding, socks, or articles of clothing, and ingest it. Two dog owners have now told me about the huge vet bills they had when their dogs did that. We recommend that nothing be inside the crate except safe toys to keep that from happening!

Authored And Copyrighted By Janet Wright

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