Potty Training Dogs

Archive for October, 2008

Question: what is the best way of potty training a dog?

i have a redbone puppy, i’ve had her for about 2 months but shes like 4 months old. shes gettin better at not peeing a pooping on the floor but she never actually lets me know when she needs to go out. i still havent tried puppy pads with her tho.

could anyone tell me the best way to do it?

Answer: I agree- don’t use potty pads unless you want a big hound peeing in your house forever 8-{

You need to stop your puppy from making the mistakes- not punish her after she has already made the mistake. I recommend “umbilical cord training”- basically, you attach the dog to you all the time with a leash:

http://www.thehousebreakingbible.com/training/umbilical-cord-training.htm

Most dogs won’t pee when they are so close to you, but if she does, tell her “no!” and use the leash to run her out the door. Take her out every hour or so to give her a chance to pee in the right place and praise her like crazy if she does

When she is not directly supervised, keep her in a crate where she will not potty or out in the yard where she is allowed to potty. Don’t let her make any mistakes!!!

After a day or two you should start to notice when she needs to go. If you start taking her out when she whines or paces or stares at you, she will start to learn how to tell you she needs to go. Once she gets good at this, she won’t be likely to make any mistakes, as she’ll be able to tell you to take her out.

Good Luck!

Dog Training Pads-Potty Train in 7 Days

Question: Best way to keep a dog in an apartment?

What do you do with your dogs / puppies if you live in an apartment and work? How do you potty train them in this environment?

Answer: Any sized dog can be kept in an apartment with proper care. I live in a spacious 2 bedroom apartment with my husband, roommate, 2 cats and my 13 month old German Shepherd. Anyone who thinks that you can’t keep a large dog in an apartment isn’t properly caring for their large dog in the first place.

You potty train a puppy in an apartment the same way you would in a house. Keep them confined to one room when you can’t immediately watch them, give them a potty break at least every two hours and praise them when they pee outside on the grass. Never scold your dog for going to the washroom in the house UNLESS you catch them in the act. You cannot show a dog it’s “mess” and scold it. It doesn’t understand what you’re angry about. If you DO catch him in the act, a firm “NO!” works well, then take him directly outside to where he is supposed to use the washroom.
My dog had 3 accidents his first month here, last year, and has never gone to the washroom in the house since then. He even pees on command.

There are two major components to having a dog in an apartment; proper training and adequate exercise.
Take your puppy to obedience lessons and create a dominant/submissive relationship with him. A submissive dog is a confident and happy dog who will follow your lead and be easier to control. Invest in a crate and a mat and teach your dog to go to and lie down in/on them. The crate is for over-night confinement or for a few hours during the day when you can’t be home. The mat is for when you are home. The dog can play with toys and relax on his mat. This command cuts down on aimless wandering.

Exercise your dog according to their breed/size. With a German Shepherd, I know that I have an animal that requires a MINIMUM of an hour of exercise per day. And that doesn’t just mean I can walk him for an hour daily. We play fetch, go for runs, bike rides, rollerblading and several hour hikes. He goes to the dog park to play with other dogs. Get him exercise, daily – and vary what you do from day to day. A tired dog is a calm dog. If you cannot commit to exercising your dog properly, don’t get one. Period.

‘Solution’ TVC by Pup-Pee Solutions – Adver 1 of 4 in the series

Question: Is okay to leave the lights out when training your dog to use potty pads or litter boxes at night.?

First of all, I am a Dog section veteran and I know how this is going to go. Half of you are going to say “Dogs shouldn’t use litter boxes or potty pads and should only go outside.” Well, I live on the 10th floor and that just aint happening. Also, I don’t care if you think that my dogs should go outside. If you want my dogs to go outside so bad then you come here and train them. Nowfor my question. I’ve Potty Trained Dogs before but I always left the light on in the kitchen so that the dogs would be able to find the potty pads and litterboxes. Has anyone else litterbox trained orwee pad trained a dog and not left a light on? Was the dog able to find the pads easily? Or should I get a nightlight or something.

Answer: I had a Yorkie and a maltese that were trained to the litter box.
Regardless of what anyone says, it was wonderful.
I now have three tiny maltese, and they are all trained to the pad.
However, they do miss it once in awhile.
I noticed when I left a night light on for them, that it seemed to work better. They are in a tiled area with a gate across the door, when I am not at home. That makes for easier clean up, just in case they miss their target.
Good luck, I am on your side, and glad to see that someone else uses a litter box.

Dog Potty Training – Back Yard Buddy