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Originally Posted by QuickSilver 
I think my new strategy is going to be to periodically crate him and refuse to grant him his freedom until he goes. |
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuickSilver How can you tell if the dog is ready to do that? Presumably you can't keep him in the crate forever. |
I had Hiro crated for probably longer than he needed to be, but I didn't want to take a chance and I wanted it strongly reinforced that he was not to potty where he lives.
After not seeing an accident while he was out of the crate for 'free time' (about an hour a few times a day after pooping and or peeing) for a whole month, I graduated him to spending all day out of the crate, but baby gated in the kitchen for three weeks. This way he had more freedom, but NOT run of the house so he could hide any mistakes.
Just within the last week I've let him run around the house (with his belly band on and under my watchful eye after he's peed and or pooped) He's been good so far, giving me little signals that he needs to go outside...
How did I know he was ready? I didn't. (I hope he is, but I still don't know for sure lol) I heard somewhere that a dog isn't trained until he/she's not messed for a month. That's what I've used to gauge his provision of freedoms.
I hope this is kinda helpful. ^^