I desperately need tips and tricks to house training a puppy, what works best?

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   roxygurl464posted 11 years ago

   I desperately need tips and tricks to house training a puppy, what works best?
   
   Please help!  I just recently got a beautiful 16 week old female boxer.  I absolutely adore her. However, the constant accidents inside my house are starting to drive me insane.  I take her outside almost every hour during the day and she does nothing.  As soon as I bring her back inside, she squats!  What do I do???
   
   

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   kumar24894posted 11 years ago

   You'll have to show her a biscuit or any snack she like and then you'll have to try to give her some orders like if you'll show your finger down then she must sit, when you'll say fetch then she must come and fetch that you're ordering and like this you can teach her anything you want.
   Best luck !

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   Ari Lamsteinposted 11 years ago

   Hi Roxy,
   
   I think that it is very difficult to learn the basics of dog training online.  Your best bet is to find a dog trainer who you can work with in person where you live.  There are group training classes specifically geared towards puppies; it sounds like you would be a good candidate for one of them. 
   
   While your puppy might be driving you crazy now, consider this: when your boxer is full grown and having accidents or having behavior problems such as jumping on people or being mouthy it will become very dangerous. 
   
   I recommend going to a site such as yelp.com and typing "dog training" and your city to find some resources.  Also, you can contact your local local animal shelter for referrals. 
   
   Good luck!

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      roxygurl464posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Ari, this is definitely one of the options we are considering.  My boyfriend and I both work full time, so I understand she's not going to be able to hold it in for nine hours, but the night time accidents are just a slap in the face.

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      Ari Lamsteinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Glad to help.  I just adopted a dog myself.  I found it overwhelming at first, but an intro training class at my local SPCA has helped immeasurably.  Training was a big investment for me, but it's paid great dividends!

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   Fawntiaposted 11 years ago

   Do you have a crate for your dog to sleep in at night? In my experience, dogs are extremely reluctant to "go" in their crate at night, so that should help with the nighttime accidents.
   
   As far as during the day, there is no substitute for keeping an eye on your dog constantly when they aren't in their crate or outside until they are house trained. You have to be paying enough attention to catch them in the act EVERY time so that you can pick them up and take them outside. The more the dog goes in your house, the harder the habit will be to break.
   
   When your dog is successful at pooping or peeing outside, give the dog a small treat (such as a piece of boiled chicken or a treat you buy from a pet store) immediately afterward.
   
   I'd suggest reading a book about dog training. Your local library should have one. The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell was helpful to me when we were training our puppy. Here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1891767135/

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      Ari Lamsteinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer Fawntia.  Crating is probably very important here.  Also, it sounds like positive reinforcement when the puppy goes outside might be helpful.

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      roxygurl464posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh we are definitely going to crate train.  I went home today on my lunch break and there were two piddles and a pile waiting for me on the kitchen floor.....ugh!  I will definitely check  out that book too!  Thanks for the suggestions!

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   ptosisposted 11 years ago

   
   
   Awwwww. What a cute puppy - and those puppy eyes!
   
   Get a video on puppy training from library.
   Crate the dog or put the dog in the bathroom - if bathroom is large then use a baby fence to keep the room small when you leave the dog alone (no more than 4 hours for a puppy, longer for an adult)
   
   While doing stuff in the house, put the dog on the leash and tie leash around your waist or just sit on top of the leash so that you will know the signs of impending poop/urine. The video will tell you want signs to look for.
   
   Do NOT yell at the dog if messes up inside. That will make the dog think that you are angry and will never go in front of you.
   
   Realize the dog will want to go when it wakes up (just like you) and also after eating. Make a routine spot to go outside because there will be days when it's cold, raining and you don't want to spend 15 minutes while the dog decides where to go. Try to set a routine time. When go outside say "Do your business" over and over spot again. When the dog does do it outside - don't go into a sing-song praise as if just laid the golden egg - it might freak out the dog.
   
   clean messes with odor killing spray ASAP after each mess.
   
   I had a dog that I gave up after a few weeks - I was the third owner. The dog must've been abused at one time. I could take that dog for an hour and a half walk and it would not do it's business. Only to do it as soon as returned inside.  So make sure you don't yell at the dog. Let everyone in the family be on the same page in training the dog. Have the whole family watch the house-training video from the library.
   
   BTW: DYK that police working dogs are not housetrained? They live in kennels all their lives and are kept separated from other dogs.

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   agilitymachposted 11 years ago

   I completely agree with Ari.  Positive reinforcement obedience classes are a must.  It will be such a huge hemp in getting your new pup going on the right track.
   
   As for potty training, I recommend "Potty Training is Possible."  Its an easy to read, small book you can get at Petsmart.  I can't write down all the steps you need to go through here (but sometime I'll write a hub), but this book will cover it.
   
   Remember, you pup is only four months old.  While some dogs potty train almost immediately, most do not, and four months is still young.  Read the above book, go to class and get some help, and once you're potty training properly, it will all start to slide into place.

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