Got a new puppy. Could use some puppy training/housebreaking tips.

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
Well, he pooped in the crate. We're 0-1 on the crate so far, but hopefully it'll go better in the coming days. We're taking him out very often, we tried about 8 times this morning in the two hours between when I got up and left for work. He finally pee'd outside for the first time. We praised him and gave him a treat, hopefully this will start him in the right direction.

Good for you.

#1 - His crate is his home, HIS safe spot. He'll learn this eventually. The last thing they want to do is poop/pee in their safe spot. Would you want to pee in your bed?

#2 - Do NOT use the crate as punishment. That defeats the purpose of #1.

#3 - Lots of good advice in this thread. You can scold your pup, they will understand. But dogs normally aim to please - so taking him outside and providing positive reinforcement is a good thing when he does something right.

#4 - No, don't leave food out all day. YES, do leave water out.

#5 - Make sure you buy GOOD food. Seriously, if you're going with dry kibble, make sure it's something worth while and balanced like something for California Natural. If the ingredient list starts with corn meal, rice, or "byproduct", that food is junk. Also, a good healthy diet will also mean your dog will need less water.

#6 - Run run run! Lots of exercise, especially for a pup. Plus, if they have lots of fun and exercise, they'll be mellow(er) in the house, and be less apt to be destructive.

#7 - Be social! Find a local puppy social or kindergarten, or go to the local dog park (if you have one). Animals are social too!

#8 - Work with your pup lots. Most dogs thrive on attention. They like to learn things, and they love to please you. Start with the basics, sit, stay, down, etc. Then continue with the harder stuff, and finally tricks. Little rewards OCCASIONALLY, lots of praise ALL THE TIME. You don't want to make it about the food.

#9 - Obedience class. #1, first, foremost must have for any dog. They need to understand there are rules, and they have to listen to you. I highly suggest classes in a group setting, but not at your local PetSmart or whatnot. Lots of breeders that have show dogs will normally do classes once or twice a year. This is a GREAT way to socialize, train and develop your pup.

#10 - If you're not planning on breeding yourself, get the pup fixed. Please... it's for the pup's sake, your sake, and everyone else's.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
Well, he pooped in the crate. We're 0-1 on the crate so far, but hopefully it'll go better in the coming days. We're taking him out very often, we tried about 8 times this morning in the two hours between when I got up and left for work. He finally pee'd outside for the first time. We praised him and gave him a treat, hopefully this will start him in the right direction.

Good for you.

#1 - His crate is his home, HIS safe spot. He'll learn this eventually. The last thing they want to do is poop/pee in their safe spot. Would you want to pee in your bed?

#2 - Do NOT use the crate as punishment. That defeats the purpose of #1.

#3 - Lots of good advice in this thread. You can scold your pup, they will understand. But dogs normally aim to please - so taking him outside and providing positive reinforcement is a good thing when he does something right.

#4 - No, don't leave food out all day. YES, do leave water out.

#5 - Make sure you buy GOOD food. Seriously, if you're going with dry kibble, make sure it's something worth while and balanced like something for California Natural. If the ingredient list starts with corn meal, rice, or "byproduct", that food is junk. Also, a good healthy diet will also mean your dog will need less water.

#6 - Run run run! Lots of exercise, especially for a pup. Plus, if they have lots of fun and exercise, they'll be mellow(er) in the house, and be less apt to be destructive.

#7 - Be social! Find a local puppy social or kindergarten, or go to the local dog park (if you have one). Animals are social too!

#8 - Work with your pup lots. Most dogs thrive on attention. They like to learn things, and they love to please you. Start with the basics, sit, stay, down, etc. Then continue with the harder stuff, and finally tricks. Little rewards OCCASIONALLY, lots of praise ALL THE TIME. You don't want to make it about the food.

#9 - Obedience class. #1, first, foremost must have for any dog. They need to understand there are rules, and they have to listen to you. I highly suggest classes in a group setting, but not at your local PetSmart or whatnot. Lots of breeders that have show dogs will normally do classes once or twice a year. This is a GREAT way to socialize, train and develop your pup.

#10 - If you're not planning on breeding yourself, get the pup fixed. Please... it's for the pup's sake, your sake, and everyone else's.

We are certainly getting him fixed, we were told that around 6 months would be a good time to have that done.

Thanks for the other tips, there is a PetCo near us, I am pretty sure they offer obedience classes/puppy kindergarten.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder

Originally posted by: Codewiz

Originally posted by: SlowSpyder
Well, he pooped in the crate. We're 0-1 on the crate so far, but hopefully it'll go better in the coming days. We're taking him out very often, we tried about 8 times this morning in the two hours between when I got up and left for work. He finally pee'd outside for the first time. We praised him and gave him a treat, hopefully this will start him in the right direction.

Good rule of thumb.

He can hold it for this long:

2 months old= 2 hours
4 months old= 4 hours

So don't expect him to be able to hold it for 8 hours until he is 8 months old. Of course you could get lucky, my female dog could hold it for 8 hours at 12 weeks old.

Do you think I should get up every few hours to try and take him out for a few weeks? He was born Dec. 13th, btw... so about 2 months old. Thanks!

You're going to have to til he can hold it longer. I used to have to wake up 2-3 times a night when one of my dogs was a puppy. I carried her crate up to the bedroom at night and she'd let me know when she had to get out.

Make sure not to provide too much room in the crate or he'll just do his business in it. Possible make and put a divider in it to give him just enough room to walk a little bit and turn around in it.

The crate we got is about twice as wide/long as him at most, but not more then that. Is that too much room do you think?

No, that sounds like a good size. It's really early, it takes time.

 

[Mxylplyx]

When puppy pees or shits in house, you snatch him up, rub his nose in it, beat it's ass, and then take it to where it's supposed to go.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
When puppy pees or shits in house, you snatch him up, rub his nose in it, beat it's ass, and then take it to where it's supposed to go.

Shut-up troll

 

[ManyBeers]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
When puppy pees or shits in house, you snatch him up, and then take it to where it's supposed to go.

FYP

 

[0roo0roo]

2 months old= 2 hours
4 months old= 4 hours

think its longer if sleeping. keep a disposal pad or litter box near the dog area and hope he figures it out heh

#7 - Be social! Find a local puppy social or kindergarten, or go to the local dog park (if you have one). Animals are social too!

yea development is rather fast, socialization periods come and go fast. if you don't want a social retard dog, don't miss it

 

[djheater]

Take a puppy class and practice what they say.

Don't buy a retracting collar, you're working against the dogs instincts.

Make certain he knows his place in the pack.

Don't let him go in or out of doors before you for a while, after he knows the release command you can let him go out to your fenced yard with a word.

Keep a pocketful of treats for the next year and reward good behavior.

Punishment is often less effective than rewards. A dog wants to know his place in the pack and praise above all things.

Don't forget he's an animal, not a person, treating him like a person is a certain way to confuse him and result in undesirable behaviors.

Every dog will have one or two undesirable characteristics which will take a lot of time and energy to retrain. Nearly every dog is completely trainable with enough time and energy.

 

[50cent1228]

nice puppy