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Originally Posted by LaPeque  Hi there ... I know how frustrating house training can be ... I'm right in the middle of it as well.
I read a fantastic step-by-step guide online (can't find the link now!) and have been following it to the letter ... Oscar hasn't had an accident in a few days and I'm thrilled with the results ... I'll try to briefly summarize below.
First off, crate training is key. Get a crate that is just big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lay down. Anything larger will encourage him to potty on one side and sleep on the other.
Starting first thing in the morning, take your puppy from the crate outside on a leash. Give him enough room to sniff around, but be boring ... don't move and don't play with him ... he needs to understand that the purpose of going outside is to eliminate. Give the command "go potty." (Or whatever you use). Once your dog goes, immediately reward with a treat. Then reward him by letting him off the leash for a short outdoor play period, and give him 30 minutes off the leash in the house. (It would probably be a good idea to put him in your blocked off kitchen during this time, just in case.) Then he goes back in the crate.
Approximately every hour, (and after feeding) repeat the same scenario. Once he goes, reward with a treat and off leash play time. If you take him out and he doesn't go, put him back in the crate. Take him out about 20 minutes later and try again. Repeat crate - outside - crate - outside until he goes. Then, treat & off leash play time.
Once your puppy has gone a couple weeks without accidents, begin to increase the off-leash play time by 10 or 15 minute increments. If he has an accident, slightly reduce the play time until he's able to go a week again with no accidents. Eventually he will be spending more and more time out of the crate until you have established a pottying routine, and he doesn't need to be crated. I've tweaked the times based on my own puppy's schedule and intestinal needs, and you can be flexible.
It takes a ton of energy, but it so worth it! In the beginning I tried to keep my puppy in a controlled area kind of like yours instead of using the crate, and even watching him like a hawk I was probably cleaning up 5-7 accidents a day.
Hang in there and good luck! |
I will give this a try. I will have to use a timer so I dont lose track of the time. The only thing I cant do yet is give outdoor off leash time. We will be installing a chain link soon though. We are just waiting for the materials to go on sale at Menards.
So potty/reward, 30 min kitchen, 30 min crate or xpen, repeat. Got it.
(I also take her for a daily walk, have a 'trick training' session, and a few play sessions every day. Her and my kitty like to bat kibble peices around on the floor together.)