Housebreaking

Confine your new puppy to a small area that is puppy proof. A training crate is the safest most effective way to teach a puppy but you could also use a half bathroom or laundry room as long as it is small, has tile or vinyl flooring, and can be completely puppy safe. The crate or room should not be larger than 4 x 4 square and a room must have a tile or linoleum floor, NOT carpet, hardwood, or concrete, as these are porous and will stain and cause odor. Do not close the door to this area, use a childproof gate so that the puppy can see out. Provide a variety of chew toys for the puppy and a inexpensive bed or blanket for comfort. Do not put newspaper or wee wee pads on the floor unless you want to litterbox train the puppy. Having a divider in the crate will help to make house-breaking easier. Set up the divider and give the puppy enough room to sit down, lay down flat, and turn around in a complete circle. For every two weeks the puppy goes WITHOUT an accident move the divider back two spaces to give the pup more room.

It is important, especially with small toy breeds to ensure that the puppy is getting an appropriate amount of sleep/crate time. Puppies do not understand the concept of rest and will over exert themselves to the point of exhaustion so it is important that you ensure that the puppy doesn’t overdue playtime and exercise (exercise outlines are discussed on another post) As new pet owners it is up to you to make sure that the puppy has lots of rest periods throughout the day.

When the puppy has an accident (and he will), NEVER hit the puppy with your hand or other object OR stick his nose in the mess. Instead, verbally correct the puppy using the words, NO, BAD DOG in a loud, authoritative voice. When cleaning accidents, in the house do not use vinegar or ammonia products as these smell the same to the puppy as urine and will cause the puppy to repeat these mistakes. Instead, we recommend using a commercial pet product such as Natures Miracle as this will neutralize the odor. The puppy must be walked a minimum of five times per day the first couple months. FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, AFTER EACH MEAL, BEFORE EACH PLAYTIME, and LAST THING BEFORE BED, typically.

The puppy may come out of his puppy proof area only for short periods of time, only when you can supervise him, but is not allowed to run free through the house. The puppy should not be allowed on any carpets or hardwood floors in your home until he can be trusted not to have accidents in the house!

Housebreaking While working a Full Time Job

Even if you work a full time job or go to school, this is an easy schedule to adhere to since walks will only consist of 5-10 minute sessions each time you take your puppy outside for housebreaking. Wake up in the morning and take the puppy out. When you bring the puppy back inside you can feed him breakfast and let him eat while you get ready for your day. Approximately 30 minutes after eating he will need to go outside again so that is twice in the morning before you head out to start your day. As soon as you return from work/school in the afternoon/evening immediately take the puppy out. When he comes back in your can play with him for a bit and feed him dinner. Shortly after dinner he will need to go out again. The last potty break will be before you/he go to bed for the night. You can add additional potty breaks as needed prior to playtimes. It is important that you allow the puppy a potty break prior to playing with him so his bladder is empty otherwise the excitement of playing will cause him to have an accident. It is important that you stick to a consistent schedule for potty training so even on your days off it is necessary to keep your normal routine in the beginning so the puppy quickly learns what is expected of him. If you are inconsistent with your routine, the puppy will be inconsistent with his potty training!

Leash Training While Housebreaking

Since the puppy does not know how to walk on a leash, you must carry the puppy at first. Put the collar and leash on the puppy so he learns to associate the leash with going for a walk. Bring the puppy to one spot in the yard or curb. You will not take any long walks around the block and no public areas until his vaccinations are complete! If the puppy goes to the bathroom outside, praise the puppy verbally, telling him he is a GOOD puppy! (do not give dog treats as this will cause more bowel movements). If the puppy does not potty outside after about ten minutes, return him inside and wait until the next scheduled walk. You can bring some stool from inside to an outside area so the puppy smells his own scent which may encourage him to go in the area you have selected.

General Schedule

You can follow this schedule for puppies two to six months. Adapt the timeframe to fit your lifestyle and schedule. If you are not at home for lunch, skip the middle portion of the schedule.

7:00a.m.- Take puppy outside first thing when you wake up.
7:15 - Kitchen playtime.
7:30 - Feed and water. Allow 15 minutes for eating and remove bowls.
7:45 - Take puppy outside for potty break. Wait until puppy pees and poops before returning inside.
8:00 - Confine the puppy to a safe place such as a crate when you leave. Remember to provide some chew toys and a soft towel or blanket for comfort.

*For small breeds and young puppies, food and water should be provided in the crate if the puppy will be confined for more than 3 hours.

Noon - Take puppy outside for a potty break as soon as you get home.
12:15 - Feed and water.
12:30 - Take puppy outside.
12:45 - Confine to crate.
5:30 p.m. - Take puppy outside as soon as you get home.
5:45 - Kitchen playtime.
6:00 - Feed and water.
6:15 - Take puppy outside
6:30 - Supervised playtime, training.
7:00 - Confine to crate for rest
11:00 p.m. - Take puppy outside for potty break. Confine overnight.

The plan outlined above is for reference only and is not meant to be taken literally. Each puppy is an individual and will require a more personalized plan depending upon the family’s lifestyle, the breed, its age, and its individual activity level. It is important to remember that this is a puppy, a baby, be prepared to expect a some “accidents”. Be patient, as your puppy grows so will its ability to control its bowels. Your puppy is unaware of what is expected of him and will rely on you to teach him what is acceptable behavior. Always remember that consistency, patience, firmness, and kindness are the keys to training your puppy.



The crate and using it for “time-out”
You can use a crate for time-outs without causing “crate-hate”. Your puppy can like his crate even if he doesn’t want to be in there. Crates are okay for time-outs when the puppy is overstimulated or misbehaving and needs time to calm down and nap.

How long is too long?
A good rule of thumb is that a puppy can be crated overnight and for up to half the day, provided his social and physical needs are being met while not in the crate. If it’s ok to leave the puppy in the crate while you sleep your 6-8 hours, then it’s also ok to leave your puppy in the crate during the day while you are working.

What if he is whining to come out?
The only whining that should successfully elicit crate door-opening with a puppy is if the puppy needs to use the bathroom. If you aren't sure if he has to go and it has been a while since his last potty break, take puppy out of the crate very matter-of-factly and place him outside. If he goes to the bathroom, praise him, if he doesn't, he goes back in the crate until the next schedule bathroom break.

Can I cover the crate at night with a sheet or towel?
You can cover the crate at night with a sheet or thin blanket. You want to make sure the puppy cannot pull the blanket or sheet into the crate. This method may help calm new puppies down by creating a den like atmosphere that will sooth the puppy.

Where should I place the crate?
The best place for the crate should be convenient to an exit door for potty breaks. If your kitchen is large enough, this is a good placement for a crate since the pup will still be able to be part of the family activities while being safely confined.

What SHOULD I put in the crate with my new puppy?
- A chew toy ( something easy to wash ) -A small towel or blanket to cuddle with ( something easy to wash ) - Plastic double diner non-tip bowl with a little bit of food and water in it. (1st 2 weeks Only) What SHOULDN'T I put in the crate with my new puppy? - Dog bed. - A toy that cannot be washed - Remove puppy collar to prevent choking/hanging hazard