OT: more puppy stuff: housebreaking??

[kathywithbirds]

OK so he's "of age" to start housebreaking, he's in the wire crate, not unhappy there but would definitely prefer to be out with us.

Here's the schedule:
AM first thing: out. pee pee. poop. If he does that he gets playtime. then breakfast. back in teh kennel.

mid AM: pee and poo break. no playtime unless there's at least pee. back in the kennel.

noonish: Pee/poo. lunch, playtime, back in kennel.

repeat for mid afternoon and dinnertime (humans eat first) and at least once after dinner, probably twice.

We're not "supposed" to let him roam the backyard freely while he's trainign but we have so far, we might be crakcing down on that this week after a few days of schedule adjustment.

Anybody have any tips? Will he just "get it" eventually? How do they learn that they're supposed to "let us know" he has to go out?

[BarbMazz]

Sounds pretty good. If you're not, always take him for another pee/poo before putting him back in the crate if he's played or eaten. Are you treating him each time he goes, and giving high, ridiculous praise? If not, start. Be sure to embarrass yourself! They love that best.

Take him to the same spot in the yard each time you take him out.

Realize you have to train him for each room in your house! They don't know that each room is "inside" unless you teach them. That's why so many dogs have accidents in other rooms.

I found that attaching them to you with a leash while inside works really well.

He's really young, he won't tell you he needs to go out for a LONG time yet. Have you thought of clicker training him? You could also hang a bell on your door and teach him to ring that when he wants to go outside.

[Stacef]

Well well well!

First of all, Male Dach's are infamous for being very difficult to potty train.

We are going through this now with our male (Buster). He is now 6 months old. But caught on pretty impressively. He still has some accidents but sometimes it's of my ignorance not noticing him at the door.

First of all--WHEN he is going, praise him like he just won the lottery. And say "potty" a lot. We always are telling him Good boy Buster for going potty outside. Now--he puts the words "outside" and "potty" together.

Now when we say have to go potty he will either sit, or get excited. When he gets excited we do it all over again, praise him like crazy, then not until he gets INSIDE, we give him a treat, once again mentioning the outside and potty.

This has seemed to work very well for us. We aren't dog trainers or anything. BUT, we do keep an area of about 3 square feet a tad bit longer than the rest, I guess dogs like to poo in the longer grass, we heard this and tried it, and waa laa! No more having to watch where we step in the yard!

Hope this all helps. Buster is very intelligant and strives to make us happy. He can sit, but hasn't quite got the lay, or shake thing down. Ahh well, if he just sits that's fine with me! Anyways, hope things are getting better!

Just please please don't hit/smack him or rub his nose in it. He does not know any better! (Although I would never think you would do that, I always have to throw that in there.)

[Octoman]

Kathy, You mentioned the "roaming" - it's very important that you limit outside time to potty time until he gets the hang of it. Otherwise it's just more confusing and it will take longer. You want him to only associate outside with potty for now. Playtime after potty should be inside for now.

Also, if he seems to go potty in the crate, then it might be too big for him. You can put a box or something else in the crate so he has just enough room to lay down comfortably.

[kathywithbirds]

OH YEAH!! I THINK WE HAVE RECOGNITION HOUSTON!!!

He's going "potty" on command, and I think he's got "poopy" down too!!! The strict caging seems to finally be taking effect, no accidents so far (except at mom's where he's out of his element)...

knock on wood...

and he's laying "down!" on command too!! smart puppy!!!

[Stacef]

Yay!!!! Congrats. I am jealous that Cargo is laying down...Buster hasn't gotten that yet!

[BarbMazz]

Goody, Kathy!! Good boy, Cargo!

Now, the important part! Keep up the strictness!
And, remember, when they get to be 6mos to about 1yr they are "teenagers" and will act as though they "forget" their training. Just be patient and keep on keepin' on. They don't forget, they're just silly! So be persistent and consistent and patient. Great rewards await you.

Good job!