Housebreaking a Puppy

[Icon134 0]

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So, is there anything you can do for the tiny little rat-dogs that pee when they get excited?

Edited because the previous answer was better... i.e. more complete.

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[skymama 37]

Thanks, I'm definitely going to try your suggestions!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Richards 0]

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I have been watching The Dog Whisper on the National Geographic channle and some of the stuff that he shows you to do is absolutly amazing. Even if you don't own a dog its still a good show to watch. You'll be amazed!

Gracias. I am trying to convince my wife, to let me get a dog. So far no luck.

Richards

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[livendive 8]

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Or, it's from pure excitement. Some dogs are "softer" than others and will release their bowels when excited. The rule of thumb here is to greet her VERY QUIETLY. I know she's cute, I know you're happy to see her, but the trick is to greet her as if it's no big deal. Give her a nice (low toned voice) hello and a simple pat on the way out the door. Be as mellow and matter of fact as possible.

Similarly, you can simply not greet the dog when you get home. Don't talk to it or pet it till it's had a few minutes to adjust to your presence, and then gradually increase the attention you pay it. One of my dogs had a habit of getting too excited when company would come over. I started telling people at the front door that I was training my dogs and I would ask them to please completely ignore the dogs for a minimum of 5 minutes. Once the problem dog accepted that people were there, she could take attention from them without going "NEW PEOPLE!!! NEW PEOPLE!!! OOH! OOH! NEWPEOPLE!", because, well, by that time they're not new people anymore.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[alw 0]

Some finer points:

Crate Training a puppy for house breaking is better done in a closed box with holes. Open crates can work, but they're really the outside with bars - not a den.

Routines are great, just don't do the routine at the same time of the closk. Feed a little later, earlier etc. Setting routine by the closk can create anxiety when you miss the schedule. Variation teaches that it will happen - just not always on time.

9 weeks is a good time to start training what will become a large serious dog. Think of puppy as a toddler, don't expect olympic level performance. Puppies love food - each bite needs to be "for" something. This teaches attention and reduces the dogs feeling of entitlement - performance for reward. The basics - come (food), potty (food), off (food). Training teaches pupply that they are part of your pack. Dogs don't mind soiling another pack's area.

Going outside is a treat for a house dog. Imagine that you live in a dull gray room all day and get to see color for a few minutes each day. Dogs experience the world through their nose. So puppies will signal they want to go out simply to go out. Whenever they signal, you have to let them teach you what the signal is PAY ATTENTION - LEARN YOUR LESSON. Always take them out. Reward with food only if they potty. You'll get tired of this long before they do, but recess "outsides" will pass.

Please please think of puppy as a toddler. If they make a mistake that angers you - it's your fault - you put them in a position to do it. Never leave a pupply unsupervised - if you're not watching them - crate them. Tying a light line to their collar while your working around the house teaches them so many thing I can't begin to list them, but it is a good way for you to take the responsibility for supervising and teach them to pay attention to you.

Socialize puppy with animals, dogs (other puppies at this point - not adult dogs), other things they have to get along with.

Your puppy's next 9 months are very important to bring them into your pack and teach them the rules. Go easy and be patient and consistant. The rewards are worth the effort.

P.S.

Your next post will be about chewing. Remember to supervise and be forewarned - puppy goes through two teething phases. The first is annoying, the wsecond (9 months to a year old) can be destructive. What they learn in their first phase will save time and money in the second.

Best advice I ca give a new dog owner - buy a book - a good book (I don't have a favorite). Use it. Dogs learn and Labs learn fast. You can make a lot of mistakes with techniques and the dog will still learn. What you cannot do is make the mistake of being inconsistant. That will confuse the dog and frustrate you both.

Invest this first year in your puppy and you will have a friend, companion, protector, therapist, and entertainer for the rest of it's life.

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Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.