Posted: 7/3/2008 3:46:07 PM EDT
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so i got a lab puppy from work, i work at an animal hospital that my grandfather owns and has operated since 1957, but anyways...how do you all house train puppys? we've had other dogs, but as far as i can remember, we've never really had to teach them to go outside, they just did. any suggestions? |
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Puppies are like babies. Expect accidents. The technique my family has used and seemed to work really well is, as soon as the pup is done eating, take them outtside. Do not come back in until the little guy has done his business. Then praise the heck out of him or her. If there is an accident in the house, do not rub thier nose in it, do not go into a rage. Pick it up put it outside and then let the pup sniff it. They will get the message eventually. It only takes me about two weeks to house train a puppy. Another thing, once the pup learns to go to the door, take iut ouutside. Do not send mixed signals. The dog heads to the door, open it. and let him out. Do not force it. Their bladders are not fully developed. They will need to pee at least once during the night. |
Werd! Loosing your cool will cause more accidents....ask me how I know. Also, get a dog crate that will be large enough for the animal. Make this their den. They will not mess in the den too many times before they learn not to. When you let them out of the den, get the animal outside quickly or else... |
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You'll have to post some pictures if you haven't already :) I have a black lab, he will be 2 in November. We didn't have too hard of a time training him at all. We used to barracade him in the kitchen during the day (we didn't want to crate him), we used pee pads for a while and he did use them but would miss them sometimes. He always went out first thing in the morning, eat then out again, went out first thing when we got home, eat and out again and out again before bed of course, plus we usually stay outside for a while after work and play. My SO did rub his nose in it a time or two and he learned quick. We were NEVER mean or lost our cool about it. It's not his fault, he is just learning. We just pointed his nose and said "NO! Outside" and brought him out. He learned fast though. He actually had an accident in the house the other night, the runs  , and poor boy was all guilty looking and we had to assure him it was alright LOL and he wasn't feeling well LOL. Good luck! I love puppies :) |
What kind of puppy are you getting? I personally hate the idea of the crate, poor pup with no room to move all day. If you have a spot where you can just barricade the dog while you are not home that would work too, that's what we did, he had the whole kitchen and that was it until he got older and was house trained and all that. Pee pads work well too. |
I did not think highly of the crate thing at first either. I won't make that mistake again. I will start with the crate from the get go and I recommend you do too. |
The "trick" is to get a crate that is big enough for the animal to move around a little, but not so big they can run around it. The will learn to not "mess" where they lay. |