Housetraining 101 - Please Read this Thread in its Entirety

[Calee]

Hi all. I'm new here. I've read through most of the posts on housetraining and have noticed people saying not to carry the puppy out to the potty spot. We have a long staircase to the garage door, then another staircase into the garage, and finally a 4 step stone stairway up into the back yard and his potty spot. I carry him most of the way and then let him down once we get to the backyard. I was wondering if this was correct.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Calee, in your situation, I think it would be wise to carry the puppy...for now. It's a long way for the pup to go just to be outside, and by carrying your pup, you are bound to have more outdoor success, which is the goal.

You didn't mention how old your puppy is. Stairs can be quite daunting for a young pup, especially when they are trying to "hold it". I'm sure you'll find as the puppy ages, you will have to do less and less carrying.

Right now (in the early months) it is more important that the pup makes it outside than worry about navigating stairs. Please let us know how old your pup is, and what type of breed or mix, if you know so we have some idea of the eventual size of your dog, as well as how far along you should be in terms of housetraining.

Remember that no rule is a hard and fast rule. Everything must be tempered with common sense and one's own situation. What we put on here are broad, basic guidelines. It's not as if you have a door that opens directly into your backyard (or wherever) that you can simply open so the pup can learn to just go in and out. Trust your instincts and thank you for reading most of the thread before posting!

Let us know if we can be more helpful to you (with a few more details supplied by you).

[Calee]

Thank you for the response. Dozer is an Australian Cattle Dog. He's about 7 weeks and we've had him for a day now so housetraining is in the very beginning stages. I have taken off a week to stay with him to help in the training process. We have a crate for him and he seems okay with being in it at night except for a couple of cries here and there when he needed to go out. We do take him out every hour and after he eats, sleeps, and plays. Yesterday he was fine and would sniff around and eventually go, but today he seems content to sit and whine when we get out there. I'm keeping at it though...every twenty minutes or so since he's eaten and hasn't gone yet.

[Calee]

turned my back for a moment and disaster. Dozer was in the crate waiting for the next 20 minute bathroom break and I was getting some water. Next thing I know he is whining and barking. I go over and find that he has done his thing in the crate and is jumping in it. So here I am with a fresh from the bath puppy and a clean crate but no closer to figuring out why he doesn't want to go outside anymore.

[Nileska]

Ok,you have only had the dog one day now...It's not time to panic yet...There will be many more mistakes and boo boos befoure you and the pup get a handle on the housetraining...If you have read this thread (which was created so that we did NOT have to keep repeating ourselves),you may notice that nothing is accomplished overnight...It takes time and consistency....the how to part is adequately explained here...Plan on spending the next year on house and OB training...

Good Luck...Richard

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

7 weeks is very young, so expect changes along the way, and you've had this puppy less than a week!

As Richard said, this is a process of many months. Despite our best efforts, there will be accidents. As long as you continue to be devoted to the training, and learning your own dog's signals, then it will improve with time. He no more wants to be trapped with his own excrement, than you wish him to be. No wonder he was crying...but it's alright as long as you take him out immediately, and then just clean the crate with no fuss.

With puppies, tomorrow is always a brand new day!

Trust yourself and don't sweat the small stuff. Give the entire thread a read. It's all good fodder.

With a puppy that young, I would shorten the time in between to every 15 minutes. If nothing else, you will learn his body rhythm, and that is really where you need to start. It is ever changing, until at least a year, but by six months, you'll both have developed a language.

[Calee]

Again, thank you for all the advice. Last night was much better as we took him out every couple of hours and we were accident free.

We do have a problem with him peeing in his crate. He doesn't seem to care if it's his sleep place. I've been trying to put him in there during the day for a few minutes at a time without leaving the room and he always pees in there even if I've just taken him out. I clean it up and take him outside again and sometimes he goes and others he doesn't. Just don't understand why he soils his crate.

[DixieDoodle]

Is his crate big or small? Dogs tend not to pee where they sleep so if you keep the crate small so that the puppy can only turn around and lay down comfortably you should be seeing next to none accidents in the crate. If your crate is too big for him, he has the options to pee in the back and sleep in the front or what ever. You can make the crate smaller by blocking sections off with some dog friendly materials which should help with your accidents.

[Calee]

He does have a large crate but it is sectioned off with the divider that came with it. He still doesn't really care as he just pees in there and then complains because it's dirty. I don't scold him. I just take him out and clean it up. Then he's fine with sleeping anywhere but in his xpen or crate during the day. I know he's young and is still learning but how do I get him to regain the den instinct that he doesn't seem to have?

[Nileska]

Calee, I think it would be a good idea to clean the crate with a mixture of half vinegar and half water...Be thorough,the goal is to remove all scent indicating that this is a potty place.

..Do this each and every time the pup makes a mistake...Same drill for any spot in the house...Never punish the pup,he is not out to get you...Just give him the opportunity to succeed...All will be well.....eventually..

Enjoy your puppy....Richard

BTW: Save some high value treat and only give it to him when he goes into his crate......When crate equals goodies I guarantee he will love his crate....Remember,no crate,no special goodies.

[sly85]

Calee -- Do you know what kind of environment your pup was in before you brought him home? The reason I ask is because I had the same problem with my pup when she first came home. At the breeder's (and I use this term very loosely), she was in a big crate with her mom and littermates. One end of the crate had a grated bottom and a slide out tray. The dogs would use the bathroom there and the tray would be removed and cleaned. I don't think they ever pottied outside.

When I got her home, she thought that she was supposed to go potty in her crate. I started using her favorite treat for when she went potty outside, and nothing if she went in her crate. I also cleaned with a vinegar/water solution every time. She made the potty outside equals treat connection relatively quick (a couple of days), but it still took a good 3 weeks to completely break the habit.

BTW - I used the treat for pottied outside instead of for going in her crate because she didn't mind being in her crate, in case you were wondering.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Calee, your puppy is very, very young, so please keep your expectations realistic.

Sly made an excellent point. That may be all your pup has ever known. It's not even been a full week yet, so don't expect miracles.

Follow Richard's advice on cleaning methods as that does make a difference. I'm sure you will also notice a pattern develop when your pup is more likely to go in the crate and when he isn't.

High value treats can work both ways. Remember that every time he does go where he should, praise, praise, praise! Throw a party even and make a big deal out of it with lots of kind words and loving. If he does have an accident, ignore it but take him straight outside. He may not need to go anymore so come back in after five minutes and set about cleaning the crate. If he does go, wow wee...party time and then again, clean the crate with no fuss.

Your pup does not have the physical ability to hold it, or even understand it. The first four weeks are the hardest, so don't expect him to "learn" anything with regards to potty training prior to 12 weeks. Even then, it will be YOU who has learned and you will be able to catch the mistakes before they happen.

At 16 weeks, he will probably start to show signs of asking to go out and you must jump each and every time. To let him down during this phase will set you back to square one.

After six months, we'll talk about neutering and marking. Just focus on this most basic essential for now.

Good luck!

[Calee]

Thank you all for the advice.

I do give him high value treats every time he goes outside as well as throw a huge potty party. He actually already knows he's going to get a treat as he looks for it now. I never scold him for going inside as I know it's not his fault. When he starts to go inside I always try to distract him and then scoop him up and take him outside. Sometimes he finishes there and sometimes not. I was using the store bought spray but have switched to vinegar and water as I read somewhere else on here it was just as good if not better and definitely cheaper.

I'm not sure how the setup was at the breeder. The couple of times I visited they were all in the house in a xpen on a blanket and mostly sleeping. I was also sent a couple videos of the puppies and they were in the same setup so I'm sure they weren't taught to go outside to do anything.

I guess I just don't understand because he never does anything in his crate at night, only during the day when I put him in there for any amount of time. I have decided to make the available space in his crate smaller. He still has room to turn around and lie down so we'll see how that goes.

Don't get me wrong, I know he's little and we've only had him less than a week. I just don't want to mess him up by doing something wrong.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Calee, with your approach and attitude, you are not going to do anything SO wrong that you need to worry!

Trust yourself and your instincts, and know that you are learning right along with your puppy. It's how you discover one another, and it is all part of bonding.

You are on the right track, and whenever you need support to stay on that track, or change it up a little, we'll be here to help. Just remember to always keep your expectations of both yourself, and your pup, realistic. It makes it easier and everybody wins.

[kian]

Calee I am impressed with how you are seeking information for a great outcome and yes I do believe you are doing very good. I love ACD's and if you haven't already, please check out the Cattle Dog thread in Breed Specific. viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2782

I have owned two myself, great breed and knowledge with them is something I encourage.

Conquering the steps will come with separate training, be patient and enjoy him.

As already stated...baby steps. Remember his attention span is short and there are bound to be a few accidents along the way.