Housetraining 101 - Please Read this Thread in its Entirety

[kian]

Excellent tip Bogies mom! To often we baby our puppies too much. I gave this same advice to my parents when thier pom was a puppy and it paid off. Thanks for adding to the thread.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

What a fantastic tip. I never even thought about people doing that, but I suppose they do.

[sly85]

When I first got Maya, I had a hard time learning her cues, which led to accidents inside. These were completely my fault, but I just had a hard time figuring out what to look for. One second she was playing, the next I was cleaning something up.

To make it easier, I taught her to give a cue I couldn't miss -- ringing a bell. I got a little bell and hung it on the door. Every time I took her outside to potty (not to play or go for a walk), I rang the bell and said "potty." Within a week, she was hitting the bell on her own whenever she wanted to go out (to play or walk mainly). It took about another week to make the "potty" connection, not just the "outside" connection. As an added bonus, I can't miss it if I'm in another room.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

While the bell has worked well for others, it is a promise YOU have to keep. One of our members discovered, after a short while, that her sweet Cavalier would ring the bell just because he wanted to go out, for no reason, and then come right back in. He would do this over and over. Of course, once committed to always letting the dog out when the bell rings, meant this member, with a very bad back, had to constantly get up and down. Needless to say, the time came when there was no more bell.

It has its advantages and disadvantages, but can be a useful tool in early housetraining.

[kian]

If the bell works for you, fantastic!! I did this with Allie and she viewed it as a fun toy and destroyed it. Yes there are factors to consider when choosing that method just as Deb said. Good for Maya!

[sly85]

Needless to say, the time came when there was no more bell.

LOL! So true! The bell only works at my place. I left her with my parents once, and left them the bell as well. She rang it the first time about 10 minutes after I left, and kept ringing it every 10 - 15 minutes after; she just wanted to get outside to look for me. It didn't take long for that bell to end up in a drawer.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

[LesNDirk]

Hi all! New puppy owner here!

I have a few questions/concerns!
The first is that my puppy, Dirk, when put in kennel chews and bites and scratches at door! Very violently actually. We are having to put him in the laundry room in the kennel because it is the farthest room from our bedroom. I can still hear him but thankfully my honey starts snoring quickly and can't hear him. The vet stated I should periodically put him in it throughout the day also. And that is when I noticed what he is doing when he is in crate. He screamed for about 30 minutes and then I let him out! I guess I just don't know what is acceptable time in the crate during the day when I am home. I have foregoed my working out for now which I do to the Wii Fit Plus. But with him in the kennel screaming I just won't be able to do it! And, I am so scared that he will hurt himself on the metal door!
I spent the last few days trying to nap when he naps cause I am so exhausted of being up with him at night. I am getting a bit cranky too!
Anyways, any advice would be great!
Dirk's Mom,
Les

[kian]

Les, go back to page one of this thread where Lynners covered this exact thing quite well and see if your questions have been answered there. If not, then do by all means come back so we can further help. BTW love the Wii Fit Plus, I would like to have one.

[LesNDirk]

Thanks Kian! I had read that already and it was helpful, I guess some questions I have that are not answered there are..
1. I cannot put kennel in high traffic area yet due to the amount of noise puppy makes at night, we cannot sleep. So, he is in the laundry room with door closed. Is that okay?
2. Should I turn on light or leave it off?
3. Is it ok if I do it during the day while I work out and he can hear me?
4. Or should I move kennel into living room for day and laundry for night?
5. Is there any other way to stop him from biting on kennel to the point that his face and paws are wet from his saliva?
6. Why is this good and it's breaking my heart?
7. What's wrong with him sleeping in bed with me anyway? I trained my fiancees dog to sleep in kennel after a year of him sleeping in the bed with him!
8. Please discount 6 7 and 8..lol..I know the answers to them..just wanted to reiterate that this is HARD! Especially when your puppy is almost hurting himself against the metal in the kennel..I mean that can't be good either!
LOL..I am trying everyone...it is hard..but I love my Dirk and want to do what is right for HIM and not ME!

P.S. He has been in there 30 minutes and still is howling, crying, and screaming!
P.S.S. Thank you for this awesome website where I can come and discuss all things puppy!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

You have a very young puppy I suspect, that perhaps needed more time with its Mum and littermates. Trying to teach this puppy to go in the crate for 30 minutes at a time, to start, is asking too much!

You must make the crate his safe place. Put it in your bedroom, so that you know if he needs to relieve himself in the night, or so that he can lick your fingers to feel safe. If you don't wish the pup in your room, then be prepared to get up and check on him, as you would a human baby, throughout the night. Sleep for the first 4 weeks will be interrupted!

Introduce the crate to him slowly. Leave it wherever you are, and put a treat in there, with the door wide open. Allow him to go in and out at his own free will. This needs to be his "safe place"! This takes days/weeks of work.

Keep in mind as well that he has just been dewormed and will need to go to the bathroom quite a bit over the next 24 to 48 hours!!!

Your life is now reduced to 15 minute increments. The puppy, if not sleeping peacefully, will need to go out, or require redirection until he is at least 4 months old. Work with small increments and you'll start to notice a difference within a week. Build on the positive and accentuate it, and move past the negative.

It's only sleep and you'll have a chance to do that again at this same time next year, with a well trained, well behaved loving furry companion by your side.

[kian]

Hi Les,

I prefer to have my pups at night near me in their crate, so I can put my fingers in there to reassure them they are not alone. Put a cotton shirt you have slept in into the crate so Dirk has your smell, that is soothing. After a few nights he should settle down just fine. Remember this is all strange and new to him, he isn't used to being alone.

While working out, I would have him where he can see you, give him a Kong with treats or a bully stick during that time so it seems more like a reward in there.

During the day, have the kennel in a high traffic area where he can see you come and go. Remember to keep the kennel times short and never let him out when he is throwing a tantrum. Sit by the crate until he calms and then let him out. Tough love and patience at this stage is needed! Glad you know the answer to 7 as I don't recommend that at all.

My last pup is a big guy with a big crate and I logged that crate up and down the stairs every night and every morning. He adjusted to it quickly and soon I was able to leave it downstairs, but not until he felt comfy and safe in it.

I hear you frustration in your questions and in your other thread I did read, but haven't had time to respond. We have all been there and yes it the hardest time in your puppy's life. You will be tired, you will feel frustrated, it's normal. Keep your cool, make the crate a safe place to be, never use it in a angry way, be sure it is ventilated as they can get hot in there, put some ice cubes in there if needed. Please ask away if I didn't answer all your questions.

Deb we posted at the same time! GMTA!!

[LesNDirk]

Thank you sooo much for responding!
I actually got scolded at the vet today for taking him out of his kennel to pee last night! He stated that he doesn't pee in our bed for hours so why should he pee in his kennel?? Keep in mind that I am using a cat kennel right now until we can get a bigger one. Doc said that was perfect for housetraining, but as he grows in a few weeks we should upgrade to a larger kennel. I really am trying. I tried the treat but he was not intrested at all. Would love some answers to the other questions. I tried putting him in kennel in the living room where I was and re-acted the same way! Breaks my heart!!

Dirk's Mom,
Les

[LesNDirk]

Thank you Kian!
He is still screaming in there! It is breaking my heart! The option of having him in the room with us is not an option. I wish there was an easy fix for this but I know there isn't!

Thank you for the workout idea. I have tried having him in there with me right next to him and he still reacted the same way. Something about being confined is tearing him up! He sleeps peacefully for hours at my feet throughout the day. I hate that he can't do it in the kennel.

I now have tears and want to save him..It's been almost an hour! I really hope he doesn't hurt himself in there or I will never forgive myself!

[kian]

If your pup has to pee at night, take him out by all means and then back to the crate. I think I covered that on the first page. Young pups have to be taught to like the treat before the kennel. Do you have a puppy kong? Try boiling some chicken and cutting it up and freezing it. Take some and stuff into the kong, you hold him while he explores the kong, this is new to him. Add some Peanut Butter (watch for any intestinal upset by using too much), stuff it with a ice cube. When he has the hang of it, then introduce him to it in the crate while you sit on the floor near him. Watching TV is a great time to do this where you can let him lick your fingers through the crate if needed.

There are some dogs that never take to a crate, honestly, it is way too early in this process to know this. There is no magic formula for a quick solution, just lots of patience and using these tried and true methods. The idea to keep him from biting the kennel is the distraction with the filled Kong. If you must leave him in the kennel while you are gone, turn on the TV or soothing music. A drop of essential oil of lavender has been known to be soothing.

If he is still screaming now, get off the net and go lay by him.