The Basics of Puppy Potty Training
14 Jun 2009
Who can resist the adorable gaze of an eight week old little puppy? They can give you such a cute stare with their little neck tilted to the side and tiny eyebrows looking at you with an excited gaze. But they also use your house as a huge permanent bathroom.
Training your puppy increases your joy of having a dog, and makes the relationship with your dog much stronger. An untrained dog is an invitation for disaster. It doesn’t matter if its a four pound Toy Poodle or a 100 pound German Shepard, a dog who doesn’t listen is always in danger.
Here is what to expect each day:
6 to 14 weeks old: 8 to 10 bathroom breaks
14 to 20 weeks old:6 to 8 bathroom breaks
20 to 30 weeks old: 4 to 6 bathroom breaks
30 weeks to a year: 3 to 4 bathroom breaks
CRATE TRAINING
Crate training works on the principle that puppies are instinctively clean animals. I recommend a crate large enough to shelter your full-size dog, and simply partition it off, moving the divider as the pup grows.At all times, the crate should be just large enough to allow the puppy to stand comfortably, turn around. and lie down. Otherwise, he just might go to the rear of the crate and do his business there.
A DAILY ROUTINE
You must make a schedule and stick to it . It doesn’t matter what your schedule is, your puppy will adapt to it as long as it is the same time EVERY day. For example: 9 to 9:30 A.M. take the puppy from the crate and immediatly outside, always to the same spot. Bring him in and feed him.Twenty to thirty minutes later, take him back outside.
Make sure to give your puppy both quality time and crate time before you rush off to work. By noon you will want to repeat this routine of food, outside time, and crate time, then again at 5 or 6 P.M.
And of course let your little friend outside before 11 P.M. and you retire for the evening. And don’t forget to get up at 3:00 A.M., thats right - three o’clock . This is important only for the first few weeks due to a tiny blatter.
A CATCHPHRASE
Each time you take your puppy out of the crate , repeat a catchphrase such as “Want go poddy?” Use the same door everytime you take your puppy outside. After just a few weeks stop carring your little dog and say “Want to go poddy?” He will make the connection, and run out the door.
SIX STEPS TO REMEMBER
1. Outside toilet time is no fun. Keep this very serious business (distiguish playing time with toilet time).
2. Don’t blame your dog. Remember they are only animals.
3. Use only one command. Then reinforce. (NO! SIT?)
4. A training collar will help you guide your dog and “check” your dog if needed.
5. Teach “STAY” ( for his protection).
6. Understanding your puppy and knowing what he needs both physically and emotionally will help a great deal.
Linda Kajda
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-basics-of-puppy-potty-training-116414.html
9 Responses
2009 Jun 14
Would a 8 week old doberman puppy be ready to start accepting basic training and potty training?
2009 Jun 14
yes, absolutely. enrollment in a puppy play group is good for socialization, too.
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2009 Jun 14
yes
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2009 Jun 14
Yes..you should start training as soon as you bring the dog home
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Doberman owner
2009 Jun 14
Yes! It's never too early to start training your puppy.
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I got my puppy at 8 weeks old.
2009 Jun 14
absolutely! i started my 6 week old pit bull the day i brought her home…was fully trained in a week! just be consistent, consistent, consistent and consistent!
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2009 Jun 14
absolutely! as long as he or she has already been weaned and you can be around a lot to take them outside. dobermans are the type of dog that LIVE for learning. our breeder started teaching my dobie, Sadie, really early on, then when we brought her home (at about 10 weeks) we just continued with the training.
Dobes are such smart dogs! Just be consistent and you'll have a great puppy!
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2009 Jun 14
Sure, I start training my pups at 3 days with ENS.
http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/articles/early_neurological_stimulation_en.html
The question isn't when to start training, it is what kind of training should be done at this time.
A puppies only motivations are food and affection, so take advantage of that and cookie train. Regardless of what you choose to teach the dog, sit, heel, lay down, whatever, what you are really teaching the pup is 'how to learn'. That and developing that all important bond.
There is plenty of time for a formal training program after the pup reaches puberty and has the cognitive development (and attention span) to properly understand. (about 6 months)
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2009 Jun 14
Yes and no. I'd wait until he's/she's been giving his second set of vaccines if you are planning on taking him/her to a training class.
For at home you can defiantly start. Don't get discouraged if he doesn't understand right away. Just be consistency and patience.
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