If this is not the correct section to post, I apologize in advance. Also, forgive me if there are any typos..
We just recently got a 10 week old Yorkshire terrier, Osito (little bear in Spanish). I’m keeping a log of our housebreaking endeavors. This is the first time my girlfriend and I have attempted to house break a dog. If you have any suggestions, comments, constructive criticism please feel free to let us know. Osito has a kennel with an area to do his business, and we also set up a Potty Area (PA) about two feet from his kennel. This is a work in progress so some details may change through out the process.
MAY 26TH, Day 1
When the puppy arrived to the apt. we immediately setup the kennel/crate (don't know specific difference) and got him acquainted with it. We tried to get him to eat, and fed him some Nutra-cal (food supplement). The intended potty area is in the living room near where his kennel.
We bring the kennel into the bedroom, with the excuse that we need to here him to keep him quite and not wake the neighbors.
Day Two
Osito woke us up around 6:30 am, with whining and crying. We must remember to close the blinds, it can get very bright. I tried to comfort him by extending my hand and petting him. I let him out into the bedroom, which proved to be a mistake. My intention was to have him follow me an area with newspaper. Osito did not get the memo and decided to lay down a small gift at the doorway. Well, this was my error. I placed him back in the kennel, he whined for a bit but went back to sleep. We really should just focus on one potty area (PA).
Let just say there were many accidents.
Day Three
He wakes us up around 5:30 am; I’m really hoping this is not an everyday thing. We did want to go potty; he hasn’t gone in his kennel. He went but necessarily where I wished. I had to play with him for about 10min and then took him back to his kennel.
Later, we kept working on the paper, he did not immediately go on the newspaper after I brought him out in the morning, and I waited five minutes. I got up to make coffee and let him roam around thinking he didn’t want to go. Not even a minute goes by and I see him squatting down and reliving himself. I seize him, scold him, and take him back to the PA; he kind of finishes on the paper, so I reward him with a little treat. I play with him and let him explore for about 30 min. Leaving him alone to go down stairs to take out the trash out, along with the evidence of our accidents. I come back in and he scurries away form the “potty area.” I look around and notice the edge of a newspaper is wet! I missed it! I pick him up take him to the potty area and praise him, I hope it wasn’t too late.
I leave for work later. Janet comes home and has about the same success with him. At the end of the day we have about ¼ success to every accident. We bathed him for the first time; this was a slightly terrifying experience for him. I also decided not to leave any food with him during the night, but left the water.
Day Four
He whined a little in early morning but eventually went back to sleep. Around 8:20 I brought him out of the kennel. He may have peed during the night, but no signs of anything else. I picked him up and moved him to the potty area. Amazingly he immediately pees on the paper. I am overjoyed and praise and reward him. Yes, it seems bit weird to be happy about this sort of thing. He walks around and show signs of needing to go again, he leaks a bit on the carpet, scold him and take him to the paper. Then he starts to have another accident on hardwood, number two. He is picked up, scolded and moved to the potty area. He manages to finish on the paper, so I praise him. We are 2 for 2 at the moment. We play for a while and he is free to explore the living room. About an hour later he goes into his kennel, I shut the door and let him take a nap.
I am keeping reams of newspaper in the apartment, cleaning supplies at the ready, and treats at hand. One a side note, I learned that one should not use any chemicals with ammonia as this may confuse the dog to go where he smells it. Vinegar diluted in water works well apparently. I have also found it useful not to fully clean the PA. Using slightly soiled papers helps him recognize the area he is supposed to go on.
About 3 hours later I let him out of the kennel. Again, I carried him to the PA, he wasn’t right on the mark, but still praised him for a doing it in the general area. I have increased the size of the PA since it was rather small originally. I played with him for a few minutes and the placed him back in his kennel. I can hear him playing and tearing at the paper inside his kennel; debating whether or not to leaving the paper in there.
Janet returned home and let him out. He had 3 mishaps, 2 of which where on the area rug. She sternly and very obviously scolded him. He quickly understood that she was not at all pleased with him. She completely removed the area rug, Osito watched as she put the rug away, and let out a questioning bark. He loves to roll around and play on this rug, which now has been deemed off limits from him. He isolated himself near his kennel for several minutes, with the doggy in the mirror as his companion.
About an hour later, Osito redeemed himself to Janet. While they were playing, he suddenly stopped, scurried to the middle of the PA and peed. Janet was exceptionally excited to praise Osito, and it put them both a joyous mode. I think this is the first legitimate time he did it on his own and completely correct. They both went back to continue their game of throwing and chasing the stuffed mouse. I guess her tough love really worked on him. I believe she is more effective at scolding in general yet remaing very loving.
Sidenote: I left the dog unattended for a while when he was on the sofa. I jumped down and he let out a loud yelp, followed by some crying. I held him and checked to see if there was any serious damage. He was mostly shocked by the fall and was able to resume play soon after. The lesson, don’t leave the dog alone where he can hurt himself. Opps!
-Gio