Good advise already, I would add that you need to NOT let them have run of the house. I mean, not even the run of a room. They should be at your side at all times, either on a lease, in an xpen (where you are watching their every move) or in a crate (when you can't watch their every move). There should be no exception. The purpose is to make sure that they have the fewest accidents in the house, as possible. In the beginning you should take then out every hour on the hour. (repetition is key! you want to constently be repeating the proper behavior. Dogs learn thru repetition, so make sure that you are repeating proper behavior more than the improper behavior of peeing in the house) Taking them out should be strickly business, no playing. Keep them on a leash for this or block off a small area using an xpen or something like it so they can concentrate on their business and not other stuff. Rewards are good. Sometimes, their reward for going potty can be to let them have some free time outside for play, but only after they have gone potty!
If you have them out for 40 minutes and they won't go pee or poo, then when you bring them in, put them in the crate, 10 -15 minutes later take them back outside. (repeat this until they go and then you can let them out of the crate for supervised free time) I would never give the dog free range if they have not gone outside when they were given the oppertunity. They have to learn that going out is for this purpose and not for play.
Puppies should stay in confined areas or on leash with you until they are house broken. Puppies should earn their freedom (and this is part of the reward system too). |