How To Train A Dog

Anna Walker answers:

Boy this was me about two months ago! I feel your frustration. I didn’t understand at all when I got my puppy home. I was told she was pad trained. Nope. So it takes great dedication and time but the rewards will benefit you. Everyone has their own opinion. I wll tell you each dog is different. First of all hopefully you got her after she was 8 weeks. The older you take them from their mom the better off you are. Do not let her graze. Find feed her twice a day when you can be there to take her to her potty area about 10-15 minutes after she eats. Do not let her roam around free. Little dog = little bladder. They can’t really start holding it until 4-6 months. Also if her stools are soft you may try changing her food. No table scraps since her digestive system may not be able to handle it. Also a lot of the treats can give a dog the runs. WHen you can’t be there keep her confined to one area (without carpet) Baby gate kitchen or bathroom and keep everything off the floor you don’t want shredded or potty on. Keep taking her to the potty area and tell her to potty if you want her to go outside USE the same door and I always ask Do you want to go OUTISDE and Potty. She is learning outside and potty together and is beginning to associate potty and outside. With her this seems to be working. Still having accidents but less and less. And now I don’t let her run free unless she has done both #1 and #2 outside I give her 30 minutes of free time in the house without being leashed to me. Try not to get angry or mad at her it will only teach her potty is bad. WHen you clean it up make sure she doesn’t see you do this. My dog potty’d in her crate. She quickly learned if you potty she gets attention as you take her out to clean it up. So that doesn’t always work as most claim it does. Stick to one method for a few weeks before trying something else. Hope this helps.

Anna Walker answers:

For sudden behavioral changes like this you may need a visit to a vet to check that this condition is not medically related. If not then they can often offer advice on this matter or refer you to someone who can help you with sort of condition.

Anna Walker answers:

Depends on how successfully you are trained in letting your puppy outside. My girl did not have accidents after the age of 12 weeks using the method below and a combination of training her to ring a bell a the door. Once she figured out ringing the bell got her outside, she never had another accident. Of course I was very committed to letting her out and therefore we were both trained.

House Training
House training your dog is simple if you follow a few basic rules. Remember that puppies younger than 10 to 12 weeks have little control. Accidents will always happen when teaching puppies to be clean in the house. Be kind and patient, and reward handsomely all outdoor elimination. Always remember that dogs do what works for them. Make outdoor pottying work really well for your puppy.
1) The puppy must have NO time unsupervised in your home. NONE. If you are not directly watching the puppy, it should be in the crate, or outside in a safe area. You MUST watch the puppy at ALL times when loose in the house. Use baby gates, crates, or tie the leash to your belt.
2) The puppy should sleep inside the crate by your bedside. This way you can hear if the puppy should happen to need to go out during the night.
3) You must go WITH the puppy outside for ALL trips for elimination. You must have treats with you. When the puppy is urinating, say “GO PEE PEE” in a nice praise tone of voice the entire time. When she is finished, pop the treat into her mouth at once, and praise praise praise. This should be something she gets at no other time, like tiny pieces of string cheese or boiled chicken. Same for defecation. Say “GO POOP” while she is going, and food reward and praise afterwards. You must observe and reward ALL outdoor potty time.
4) Keep a schedule. Feed at the same time, and walk outside at the same times. Your pup needs at least 4 trips outdoors each day, and 5 is probably better. Pup needs to go out at wake up time, lunch time, 4-5 PM, after dinner or any other meals, and before bed. Younger puppies may need to go out much more often.
5) Use a key word each time you go out. I say “Let’s go out!!” in a happy tone of voice each time I’m opening the door to go out with the dog.
6) If you catch the puppy IN THE ACT of eliminating in your house, CLAP YOUR HANDS, say AH AH, OUTSIDE!! And immediately rush her outside. If she finishes there, do your usual food reward and praise.
The keys to getting your dog reliably housetrained are:
SUPERVISION: NO loose time in the house if you are not watching
REWARDS: ALL outdoor elimination MUST be observed and rewarded. If you only do this ONE thing, your puppy will get housetrained.
PATIENCE: Anger and punishment have no place in dog training. Elimination is a natural and pleasurable experience for your dog. You can teach her to not soil your house, but punishment will NOT help. It will only teach the dog to hide when she needs to eliminate.
If you have applied these techniques carefully for 4 weeks and you are still finding spots or piles after the fact, it’s time for stronger measures. Roll up a newspaper and fasten both ends with a rubber band. Keep it handy. The very next time you find a spot of a pile that the dog has left behind, whip out that newspaper, and hit YOURSELF over the head firmly several times as you repeat “I FORGOT TO WATCH MY PUPPY”.
Works every time.
This article copyright 2004/2007, RedyreRottweilers. Free for unlimited distribution as long as copyright info remains intact.

Anna Walker answers:

Is there any way the breeder can keep him an extra 2 weeks until he’s had his jabs? If not..
Use the ol’ fashioned paper training. Set paper down somewhere, and gradually move it towards the door as he gets used to going on the paper. By the time this is done, he’ll be ten weeks and will know to go on the paper, so just move it outside and gradually decrease the paper

Anna Walker answers:

It can’t be done in a week. Just to clear that up right away.

If it’s a dog – then it’ll be easier than a puppy. Puppies aren’t fully house broken until around 6 months old (when they can completely “hold it.”)

I don’t know of any courses that teach house training, but you can definitely learn all you need to from the internet if you want to avoid people/ spending money. However, I highly recommend at least a puppy obedience course because it’s a big help with beginning socialization (which is a big must with a dog.)

Hop onto google and read all you can about crate training. It gives the dog a safe haven, a place to sleep, teaches them where to/not to go, etc.