Getting a puppy - house training tricks

[Trunk Monkey]

So, we're about a month out from our plan to get the first family dog. We're planning on a lab. I'm perfectly comfortable training a dog on just about everything, but the house breaking thing has me concerned. I want this to be a good experience for the fam, not one where they're stepping in dog doo in the house.

What tips and tricks does Mud have for training. Somethings I've read:

- only discipline if you catch the dog in the act, not afterwards
- be consistent about taking them out, rewarding doing their business outside, feeding them x times per day at a certain time, no water at night, etc.
- keep puppies in a crate, they won't crap where they sleep

Guy I work with said for his German Shepherd if she had an accident or chewed on something, he'd yell at the pee stain or chair leg, making the dog not want to associate with it.

Anyway, give me some pointers.

 

[Liam]

hit it......hard

 

[cruiser88]

gross

hit it......hard

 

[Cuerno Largo]

We have had good success with crate training our labs.
Physically pick them up when they are done eating and place them outside to take advantage of the gastro-colic reflex. Do not come back in until they have done their business.
When you remove them from the crate, take them immediately outside to void/defecate.
When you can't be monitoring them 100%, put them in the crate.

There will still be a few accidents.

 

[Adrift]

If they do mess in the crate, clean it immediatly, with something that will remove all trace of the urine/poo, just the smell of it can make the puppy need to go. They can get in a habit of going in their crate even while being locked inside it eventually becoming comfortable with it, this will defeat the purpose of crate training.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

hit it......hard

Your wife said that it's not working with you, you're still dooking in her shoes.

 

[NorCal Cruiser]

Get a big jug of Nature's Miracle and use it to clean up every accident they have in the house- Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Remover - Stain & Odor Removers - Clean Up/Stain & Odor Control - PetSmart. When the pup goes where you want them to give them praise and a reward. We found it really helped us to set a timer by the back door for 15- 30 minutes (however long your pup can hold it when they're playing) so we would remember to take her out- this really helped when we would take her to my in laws' house and she was playing with their dog.

 

[fsusteve]

until you get the dog fixed accidents will happen, cuts his nuts off and he'll never crap in the house again.

 

[nat]

I have successfully house broken every one of my dogs in less than 2 weeks. Be patient, don't get angry, don't hit.

Watch the pup like a hawk, when they seem like they need to go, take them out to where they should go. If they have an accident, immediately take them out to where they should go. Be patient and consistent.

Pups are awesome

 

[Doc]

Just cover it up with newspaper and go on about your day....

 

[inthewall]

Only if you are renting your house.

 

[Atticus]

Labs are the best. Here's my advice:

1. crate train lab puppies;
2. no hitting;
3. be consistent about discipline;
4. have a routine;
5. read the book Water Dog;
6. read the book How to be Your Dog's Best Friend, by the Monks of New Skete;
7. lots of exercise for the puppy;
8. always always stop retriever training when the dog is the most excited about it - don't wear the dog down and then stop.
9. don't use food to train a lab. They will get fat. Use affection and positive enforcement.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

don't ever use food rewards.
makes dogs (and horses) into spoiled motherfxxxers. leftovers are ok, just as long as they don't know where they came from (they just magically appear in their dish).
i always make them sit and stay, if only for a few seconds, before letting them tear into their food. then they get the idea that i'm giving it to them, not them taking it from me.
atticus pretty much got it summed up. patientce+consistency.

 

[decavo]

We have had good success with crate training our labs.
Physically pick them up when they are done eating and place them outside to take advantage of the gastro-colic reflex. Do not come back in until they have done their business.
When you remove them from the crate, take them immediately outside to void/defecate.
When you can't be monitoring them 100%, put them in the crate.

There will still be a few accidents.

best advice right there

If they do mess in the crate, clean it immediatly, with something that will remove all trace of the urine/poo, just the smell of it can make the puppy need to go. They can get in a habit of going in their crate even while being locked inside it eventually becoming comfortable with it, this will defeat the purpose of crate training.

you need a small crate ro one big enough for the adult dog. with dividers for the puppy. there should be enough room for the dog to sleep and not much more..

as an adult dog they will go in their crate for comfort and safety. as an adult my dog still slept in his crate with the door always open.

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Labs are the best.

Whatever ended up happening with yours? Not trying to dredge if it was a bad diagnosis.

These Monks . . . they spend a lot of time with dogs?

 

[MaddBaggins]

Just cover it up with newspaper and go on about your day....

Is that how you trained little Doc?

 

[Spike Strip]

hit it......hard

... cut his nuts off and he'll never crap in the house again.

I suspect the same should be done to Liam... Hard.





Yes, twice.

 

[PhilC64]

A Taser works well.

 

[rabid]

our pup's breeder had a great piece of advice. He suggested as an 8 week old pup to put some warm water in the food while housebreaking. Just enough to moisten it, not a soup. The dog WILL crap within 10 minutes after being done.

We had our St Bernard trained in under 10 days. The lab took longer. No idea why. Same routine, even more more supervision, just a little harder headed.

Our lab is the most affectionate and sweetest dog I have ever had. He is unreal with my 4 year old boy, who has had an active role in training him (sit/stay command and the like) to assure pack order.

He is 5 months and still has a ways to go, but is overall a very good dog.