Diann's Happy Tails Obedience Training
Housetraining
They Go and Go
Puppies will want to pee and poop wherever they have done so before. Your job is to make sure your puppy knows the right place to go. A puppy can usually hold her bladder for as many hours as months of age, plus one hour. Have her on a feeding schedule is the best start. When you know when she has eaten last, you can better determine when she needs to go potty. Supervision is critical. It is very easy to forget when the last time she went out to potty, so set a timer, attach her to you, and crate her for 2 hours at a time. Any of these things will help in watching her. A puppy needs to go potty after sleeping, playing, resting, and about 15 minutes to 30 minutes after eating. Take her out to a certain spot and have some small treats with you. Watch closely to see when she goes potty. The instant she is done, praise her as you give a small treat. Put a name to the action, "Go potty" Hurry" anything to help her associate the action of going potty outside with the name and the treat. This is how to teach a dog to "Go" on command. Stay outside for a while longer. She may need to go one or two more times. Walk around, play, and encourage her to go again. When you come back in, watch her. If you see her sniffing or acting like she may need to go, scoop her up quickly and head out the door. Catching her in the action of going potty in the house and interrupting it is the best way to tell her this is not ok. Use the same door to let her go out each time. Open the door, and give her the cue, "let's go potty"; she will begin to associate the door with going potty and make it easier for her to let you know.
Crate Training, Great Training
Crate training is the best method for house training a puppy. When used right, this is not a punishment. It is a safe, secure place for a puppy to go for quite time and to teach her to hold her bladder. This is meant to be her den. Dogs do not like to go potty in their 'space' so be crating a little longer each time is teaching her to hold it longer. As soon as you open the crate door, get her outside, praise and give a treat for the proper behavior.
