House Training Puppy?
05 Mar 2010
I have a miniature schnauzer who is around 3 months old. He goes to the bathroom outside, but only if I let him outside fairly often. If I don’t, he goes on the carpet. I give him treats, and praise him when he goes outside, and I make him sit before I open the door, but he just can’t get the hang of going to the door when he needs to. If he goes on the carpet, I scold him, and put him outside right away. It especially happens when I’m sleeping at night, and am not awake to put him outside. I’ve tried puppy pads, but he doesn’t use them. He’ll go right beside the pad. Is there anything I can do to help him understand that he needs to go to the door if he has to go to the bathroom?
Thanks so much!
On thing I learned when in the potty training phase is don’t scold the bad behavor..dogs don’t respond well to that.
Instead OVER reward the good behavor..not just with treats but with tons of praise and petting..act kinda silly for awhile but it works.
As far as having him notify you about needing to go out in the middle of the night I would recomend the following:
1st: be patient this will only last a few months as they are still "training" their bladder.
2nd: Make sure to take him out as the last thing you do right before bed..he will start to make this a habbit
3rd: No water after the last potty..put it up on the counter for the night(he might be drinking thru out the night causing more potty time)
4th:If you can, tie a bell to a long string and tie it to the door handle that you take him out to potty. Before you take him out make sure the door is closed.
Take him over to the door and have him sit..ring the bell and tell him good dog..then ring it again a few more times..and repeat this a few times b4 taking him outside for the night. After a few nights go to the door and then wait for him to ring the bell himself then reward..
We did this with our pups and now they know if they need to go potty and the door is shut this will get our attention to go up and go open it.
5th:As for the potty pads they were such a mess for our pups. They would go on them and then just drag them around the kitchen making even more of a mess(we had to tape em down).
As a puppy I would suggest crate training for the night. Most puppies will not mess in their own crates. If he does need to go he will start whinning(this is only after he’s calmed down and stopped whinning from being trapped in a crate at night). This will also help save your carpet. The crates are plastic and can be wiped down with a cleaning cloth. You can even throw in a blanket that smells like you to help them be comfortable. As well give him a treat for being in their and eventually you’ll say "bed" and he will go right into the crate.
I hope this helps and remember patients above all else!!
Good luck!!
3 Responses
2010 Mar 05
Just keep up the good work. You may want to cutoff the drinking water a few hours before bedtime, and make sure you take him out right before you go to sleep( a 10 min walk). You may not like this idea but get up in the middle of the night and let the puppy out no play just business. Good luck and enjoy the new dog.
References :
2010 Mar 05
On thing I learned when in the potty training phase is don’t scold the bad behavor..dogs don’t respond well to that.
Instead OVER reward the good behavor..not just with treats but with tons of praise and petting..act kinda silly for awhile but it works.
As far as having him notify you about needing to go out in the middle of the night I would recomend the following:
1st: be patient this will only last a few months as they are still "training" their bladder.
2nd: Make sure to take him out as the last thing you do right before bed..he will start to make this a habbit
3rd: No water after the last potty..put it up on the counter for the night(he might be drinking thru out the night causing more potty time)
4th:If you can, tie a bell to a long string and tie it to the door handle that you take him out to potty. Before you take him out make sure the door is closed.
Take him over to the door and have him sit..ring the bell and tell him good dog..then ring it again a few more times..and repeat this a few times b4 taking him outside for the night. After a few nights go to the door and then wait for him to ring the bell himself then reward..
We did this with our pups and now they know if they need to go potty and the door is shut this will get our attention to go up and go open it.
5th:As for the potty pads they were such a mess for our pups. They would go on them and then just drag them around the kitchen making even more of a mess(we had to tape em down).
As a puppy I would suggest crate training for the night. Most puppies will not mess in their own crates. If he does need to go he will start whinning(this is only after he’s calmed down and stopped whinning from being trapped in a crate at night). This will also help save your carpet. The crates are plastic and can be wiped down with a cleaning cloth. You can even throw in a blanket that smells like you to help them be comfortable. As well give him a treat for being in their and eventually you’ll say "bed" and he will go right into the crate.
I hope this helps and remember patients above all else!!
Good luck!!
References :
2010 Mar 05
If he’s only 3 months old, he’s doing really well already!! I would suggest crating him at night. Dogs won’t go where they sleep (as long as the crate isn’t too big) and he’ll whine or bark to get out. Then you’ll wake up and you can take him out. I know…that’s the fun part of having a dog…the 3 AM potty break. It’s really hard for a pup his age to hold it all night yet. But he’ll get there. You’re doing a good job so far…
References :