potty training new puppies?
28 Oct 2009
i have two10 week old puppies and need 2 start training them. i needed tips on how 2 potty train them. i have just been giving them a little smack on the butt and telling them ‘no’ and taking them outside 2 finish their business but it doesn’t seem 2 b working. PLEASE HELP!
i also wondered if nebody knew how 2 get them used 2 wearing a harness and being walked on a leash. we put the harness and leash on them and try 2 walk them around but they always just sit down and don’t want 2 walk.
First you have your hands full it is very difficult to train 2 pups at once unless there are 2 people to work with them at the same time. Timing can be critical and it is hard to get timing on the spot with 2.
Crate training is excellent. Use seperate crates if possible so they don’t have as much seperation anxiety when forced to be apart (like if one is taken to the vet or doesn’t feel good even better is if the crates are out of sight of each other or in different rooms). The crate should be big enough to stand up and lay down, turn around in but too large and they will potty in one end and sleep in the other. You can get the crates the full grown size they will need and block part of it off with a box while they are young. This will also help a lot to tell which pup is making the potty mistakes.
Take them out when they wake, a few minutes after they eat and after they rough house or play a bit. Take them to the same spot each time so they know why they are there. Give them a word command like potty. When they start to go, repeat the word and praise them like they just won the olympics. Give a treat or belly rubs what ever the pup likes. A pup should be able to hold it for 1 hr for each month of age. The best way is to prevent mistakes. Tethering a pup to you as you move about the house ensures you will keep them in sight but would be hard with 2 in tow.
If they make a mistake and you CATCH them in the act give a firm NO and immediantly pick the pup up (tucking the tail between the legs will stop most pups mid-stream) and take to the place to potty. Use a leash and don’t let them wander around they forget why they are there because the world is one big distraction. If you find a mistake after the fact don’t punish, especially when you can not be positive which made it. Instead clean it up (out of their sight) and tell yourself you will keep a better eye on them.
Physical punishment is not understood by them and they can become hand shy. Your pup should see you as the bringer of all good things, physically disciplining a young pup can make them fearful and untrusting.
If they fuss wanting out of the crate when you put them in it and you KNOW they do not need out you have to ignore them completely, don’t tell them to hush, don’t go look at them, they need to learn that fussing will not let them out of the crate. Get them on a feeding schedule and do not feed them for at least 2 hours before bedtime, take up water at least 1 hr before bed. Never put food or water in the crate overnight, they can do just fine without it at night. During the day when they tire out and nap, put them in the crates to nap. They will learn it is the best place to sleep and eventually go there on their own. Never allow children to disturb a pup in the crate, it needs to be thier refuge from the excitement of the house. By working on this during the day too you will also avoid a lot of the fussing at night because they get used to being crated sooner. Try to keep the crate in the same place.
On the harness.
First be aware that dogs on a harness generally pull harder.
Put the harness on both pups and tie a piece of string to both chain loops. Make a big enough knot at the end of the string for the other pup to get a good grip on. Each pup will find this knot on the other pups string and pull each other with it. If you use a flat collar, keep the string short enough that they can not reach the knot on their own string to chew on. I have had entire litters that never pull on a leash because they were done this way and will automatically follow the leader with the end of the leash (or string in this case).
6 Responses
2009 Oct 28
first of all dont smack them because it will make using the bathroom unpleasant for them. here is an article that will help
http://www.training-dogs.com/potty-training-dogs.html
References :
2009 Oct 28
Never use negative re-enforcement….ever…
Kennel or crate train them, it is the best thing you can do for them. You are building on the natural instinct to not potty where they sleep. The kennel is not cruel, it actually gives them a safe haven.
References :
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html
2009 Oct 28
First you have your hands full it is very difficult to train 2 pups at once unless there are 2 people to work with them at the same time. Timing can be critical and it is hard to get timing on the spot with 2.
Crate training is excellent. Use seperate crates if possible so they don’t have as much seperation anxiety when forced to be apart (like if one is taken to the vet or doesn’t feel good even better is if the crates are out of sight of each other or in different rooms). The crate should be big enough to stand up and lay down, turn around in but too large and they will potty in one end and sleep in the other. You can get the crates the full grown size they will need and block part of it off with a box while they are young. This will also help a lot to tell which pup is making the potty mistakes.
Take them out when they wake, a few minutes after they eat and after they rough house or play a bit. Take them to the same spot each time so they know why they are there. Give them a word command like potty. When they start to go, repeat the word and praise them like they just won the olympics. Give a treat or belly rubs what ever the pup likes. A pup should be able to hold it for 1 hr for each month of age. The best way is to prevent mistakes. Tethering a pup to you as you move about the house ensures you will keep them in sight but would be hard with 2 in tow.
If they make a mistake and you CATCH them in the act give a firm NO and immediantly pick the pup up (tucking the tail between the legs will stop most pups mid-stream) and take to the place to potty. Use a leash and don’t let them wander around they forget why they are there because the world is one big distraction. If you find a mistake after the fact don’t punish, especially when you can not be positive which made it. Instead clean it up (out of their sight) and tell yourself you will keep a better eye on them.
Physical punishment is not understood by them and they can become hand shy. Your pup should see you as the bringer of all good things, physically disciplining a young pup can make them fearful and untrusting.
If they fuss wanting out of the crate when you put them in it and you KNOW they do not need out you have to ignore them completely, don’t tell them to hush, don’t go look at them, they need to learn that fussing will not let them out of the crate. Get them on a feeding schedule and do not feed them for at least 2 hours before bedtime, take up water at least 1 hr before bed. Never put food or water in the crate overnight, they can do just fine without it at night. During the day when they tire out and nap, put them in the crates to nap. They will learn it is the best place to sleep and eventually go there on their own. Never allow children to disturb a pup in the crate, it needs to be thier refuge from the excitement of the house. By working on this during the day too you will also avoid a lot of the fussing at night because they get used to being crated sooner. Try to keep the crate in the same place.
On the harness.
First be aware that dogs on a harness generally pull harder.
Put the harness on both pups and tie a piece of string to both chain loops. Make a big enough knot at the end of the string for the other pup to get a good grip on. Each pup will find this knot on the other pups string and pull each other with it. If you use a flat collar, keep the string short enough that they can not reach the knot on their own string to chew on. I have had entire litters that never pull on a leash because they were done this way and will automatically follow the leader with the end of the leash (or string in this case).
References :
2009 Oct 28
Bring them to where you want them to relieve every few hours. It must be the same spot. Puppies usually relieve before or after eating, playing, resting, so that’s the best time you can take them to the spot. If they relieve on the spot, reward is a must! They will remember they can get a reward if they relieve on that spot after a few times. Don’t stay too long outside with the puppies, only 5-6 minutes. If they didn’t relieve, bring them back the the house, and keep an eye on them. If you think they wanna relieve in the house, say "NO!!!" and bring them to the spot again. Reward them if they potty right.
For using a leash on the puppies…I think you should train the puppies like this. If they walk with a leash, REWARD! Or try to use treats to make them walk, ie: put the treats in front of them. I hope this helps.
References :
2009 Oct 28
try getting those potty training pads at petsmart
References :
2009 Oct 28
make it drink water before walks
References :