posted 08-14-2003 06:29 PM           

---

Hey My name Is Shelby and I have a puppy that is 12 months and 2 days and I need some help w/ potty training him. Any Tips?

IP: Logged

Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 08-14-2003 09:14 PM         

---

Welcome to the board! Did you just get this dog? What methods of potty training are you currently using? Is the dog crate trained?
Here are some tips:
1) keep your eye on the dog at all times; no free roam of the house unsupervised until fully potty trained
2) take the dog outside often especially after eating, drinking, upon waking from a nap and after playing
3) use a phrase such as "gotta go out?" before taking the dog out
4) stay outside with the dog until it goes to the bathroom and the second it is finished give lots of praise and a treat
5) do not punish the dog for "accidents" after the fact, especially *do not* rub the dogs nose in its accidents at anytime - this will most likely confuse the dog

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 169
From:New York, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-15-2003 06:25 AM         

---

Congrats on the new puppy! The only thing I would add to Nern's post is that puppy's can only hold their bladder as many hours as they are months old. This I learned from my search on the internet. So a 12 week puppy can only hold it for 3 hours at the most. If you are home during the day this should make housetraining much easier! I think we have gone against the norm and have not crate trained our puppy. He gets a small area blocked off by a gate that is on tile floor. This is because we can only be home every 4-4 1/2 hours and we can't expect Max to hold it that long at 13 weeks. He has been doing really well and has only had a couple accidents in his area all week. Make sure you clean the accidents up well with an odor neutralizer so he won't be lured to eliminate in that same spot again.
Good Luck and have fun with your new puppy!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 16
From:Phoenix, AZ, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-15-2003 04:15 PM         

---

Unfortunately, potty training a dog is rather time consuming. I agree with the previous post in that you have to watch them at all times, take them out after eating, drinking and naps and praise praise praise when they go. The upside to this is that it doesn't take as long to potty train a dog as it does a toddler! Watch the puppy carefully if it doesn't go potty after you've taken it outside. You'll learn to watch for the "squat" inside and be prepared to grab the pup and fly out the door!
I also agree with the verbal "time to go potty!" or some such verbage. My grandpa had 3 poodles. He'd stand in the middle of the living room and say "potty train!" and they'd all line up single file and out they'd go. Whatever works!

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)