Crate training new puppy.

Trax416 · 06-18-2008, 08:48 AM

I have a question for some experienced dog owners who have had their animals since they were puppies.

I have been around and trained dogs since I was a kid. The dogs my family have had, were always rescues from homes where they were abused, neglected or used for fighting. What I have never had expirence with is puppies, and oh man is it difficult.

Some background.

I recently purchased an Olde English Bulldogge mixed with a Boston Terrier from a woman advertising on a personal ad site. We drove up, saw the animals and purchased one. They came with all the vet papers, first shots and "de-wormed", and a 30 day health guarantee (that basically said if the dog is sick, we will give you a new one and put down the old one). She was also suppose to be crate and paper trained as well as 8 weeks of age.

Well I got the new puppy home and found out she was not paper or crate trained. I took her to the vet and she was infested with round worms and other parasites. I was concerned about my two other dogs at first, because we have a gigantic yard and had let her go to the bathroom outside, where the feces is not picked up. However, apparently the other dogs should be fine because they are on Heart guard. I also found out she is only 7 weeks old.

Now, I am trying to Crate train and house break her. this is the first time I have ever had to house break an animal, as most rescues I have dealt with, were taught it at the shelter.

Here is what I am doing right now. When she starts to sniff around, I pick her up and put her outside and wait with her. When she is done eating I do the same, and when she finish's playing I also do the same. We also play with her outside for a good portion of the day.

At night, I put her in her crate, which is in my room to sleep. She got used to the crate almost immediately. During the night, she generally wakes up every two hours. She cry's and I put her outside, she immediatly goes to the washroom and I bring her back in and put her back to sleep. This goes on about once every two hours.

My wife said I am not really training her to go outside, because when she goes outside and we are playing, she just goes when she feels like it. She said I don't really give the dog a chance to see if it will go in the house, because I have been putting her outside so much. So when she does feel like going, it just so happens she is outside and she goes.

When we first got her she went pee in the house about five times. Thats when I was trying to train her to pads. I figured it was just better for the house if I put her out frequently and praised her for going outside, and decided to scrap pad training.

I was just wondering if what I am doing is correct, if not, what do you suggest? Also, when she wakes up and whines to go outside at night, should I put her out every single time? I have read I should put her out once, then let her whine, because it will teach her to hold it. However she is not even 7 weeks old, and I am sure she will end up going in her crate.

Sorry for the long post, thanks for any help and tips you can give me.

gingersmom · 06-18-2008, 12:28 PM

I agree, she's too young to learn to hold it all night. Generally, I think what you are doing will help her to learn to go outside.

One suggestion is to have her walk with you outside, instead of you carrying her. If you always use the same door, she may start to wait by that door when she needs to go out.

Another suggestion is to keep her on the leash when she's going out for a potty break, and chant a potty phrase ("GO potty" or "Take a break" are some I've heard) until she goes, and then praise her a great deal.)

Here's a link that might help convince your wife that this method will work: http://www.dogstardaily.com/training...-housetraining

Congrats on your new pup! Please post some pictures when you get a chance.

Trax416 · 06-18-2008, 12:31 PM

Thanks for the advice, the only problem with having her walk to the door with me is, she is too small to climb stairs properly yet, and the door is two sets of stairs below where she sleeps. (she sleeps upstairs with me). During the day she is normally in my room, or in the kitchen on the main floor, but there is still one set of stairs.

I don't really have a choice but to pick her up and take her outside.

Nargle · 06-18-2008, 12:36 PM

So far it sounds like you're doing a really good job! Don't give her a chance go in the house, because they can detect the smell on the soiled spot even after you've cleaned it, and if she can smell it, she'll want to go there again. She'll also associate going potty with being outside, so it'll make more sense to her not to go in the house. Dogs that go in the house a lot figure that this must be the place to poo, so why bother doing it outside? Also, praising her for doing the right thing is MUCH better then scolding her for doing the wrong thing! I don't think you should wait for her to go potty in the house so you've got a chance to scold her, it seems like you've got a pretty good system going!!

As for the crate thing, she IS really young, so she'll need to potty A LOT! As she gets older, though, you probably want to spread it out a little. I think the general rule of thumb is, for every month she's been alive, she can hold her pee for that many hours. I think that's it, if anyone needs to correct me, please do so!
But of course there's a cut off, like 8 months or something, otherwise if you had a 10 year old dog it could hold it for weeks!!

rosemaryninja · 06-18-2008, 01:55 PM

You're on the right track. She will understand that pottying outside is the right thing to do if you make sure to praise her like crazy and give her a nice treat every time she does it.

It's also a good idea to keep her on a leash while you guys are outside waiting for her to potty. She needs to learn that potty time is potty time, not play time, otherwise she will start making you take her out just to play in the yard, or you will end up waiting fifteen minutes for her to pee.