[shecass]

Originally Posted by cowboy_0215

Yes, I feel like I have had a hard time. Cowboy used to go on his potty pad. Now he doesn't want to, instead he likes to shredd it into little pieces. So I thought I would try the doggie litter(He eats it, so I quit using that), in addition to going outside. I need for him to have a place if I have to be gone to work. He stays in his crate at night with no problems. I put him in a gated off bathroom if I can't watch him during the day. He does really good for weeks and then he will have an accident in the house. My husband thinks I need to just let him run around in the house all of the time and that will housebreak him faster. But I have read alot about housebreaking and that is not what they tell you to do. So how did you housebreak yours? By the way I have never housebroke a dog before, this is my first. I have always had cats and outside dogs. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I used the crate during the day. I never used the pads, to me it's like putting pull-ups on kids when you are trying to potty train them. I don't mean to make anyone mad, this is just my preference. But, I'm a housewife/student, so I have a weird schedule. I'm home some days and others I gone all day or most of the day. Mollie sleeps with us at night when she was a puppy she would wake me up licking me letting me know that she had to go out. The rest of the time I crate trained her. I would put you little one in a crate as well while I was gone during the day. Most dogs will not go to the bathroom so close to where they sleep. Then as soon as you get home let him out to go to the bathroom. Sometimes if I would catch Mollie as she was going to the bathroom before I got her housebroken I would say in a stearn voice bad dog and she would quit what she was doing and I would take her outside. Also take them out immediately after they have an accident in the house this way they will associate that with going outside and doing their business.

I hope this helps and that these are things that you haven't already tried.

How old is he? Some may just take longer than others to housebreak. Patience and consistency is the key. Just like when you potty train your children if you have any.


Godd Luck. Let me know if you have any other questions and I will help as much as I can.

Sheila