Potty training?!?

[chicago]

So, we don't wanna kennel train for the life of our dog, but when we leave for work and have the new pup, I don't see anyway around putting him in the kennel.

Is this about right???

It's been a while since we went through this, so I need some ideas!!

Any tips and tricks will be appreciated!!

Keith

 

[Trollhole]

Kennel. Always worked for me.

 

[Jacket]

Yup. Kennel until they are closer to 1 year, then migrate to a larger (but enclosed) space until he/she proves he won't destroy the house. Some dogs actually prefer the kennel as a "safe zone" over other options.

Our Bernese just turned a year, and she now stays in the laundry room when we're gone. She chews on the door mat on occasion, but that's about it.

 

[chicago]

How about at night???
Whaddya guys do during sleep time!

 

[Jacket]

We kenneled her at night as well. It's kinda brutal at first because she'll yelp and bark, but it got better over time. You may opt to put the kennel in your room so that she can see you (and maybe not cry as much), or as far away as you can so that you don't hear her.

At about 8 or 9 months we caved and now she sleeps on or next to the bed....

 

[chicago]

Lol... That was the same thing we did w/ gunner!!! The wife got tired of listening to him rustle around in the kennel that she let him out and set him on his bed.
Don't recall how old he was then...

 

[2020 Rocks]

I recently gut a coonhound/lab pup and we are going through the same thing. I have a large Rubbermade tub next to my side of the bed that he sleeps in. He wakes me up around 5:00AM like clock work and I let him out to do his bizznezz. We use the kennel when we are out of the house. A lot of it is picking up on their body language. If I am watching tv and the pup gets up and leaves the room for no apparent reason 9 times out of 10 he needs to do some bizznezz. The nest next to the bed is more to keep him quiet at night than anything since my son is only 5 months old and has a hard time going back to sleep once awakened. Good luck.

 

[Liam]

Use the kennel for night sleeping or if you are running out for an hour or two. I would give the pup more room to frolic around during the day when you have to leave them. You can pick up a play area for pretty cheap. When i had my pup he never used the bathroom in his kennel and only once pissed on the new paper i put down in his play area. I would come home at lunch and let him out but he would hold it for 4 hours pretty easy.
the key is to make sure they know that using the bathroom is an outside activity. Get up with the pup each night and open the crate door, pick him up and take him directly outside to piss. Once he does pick him up and put him straight back in his crate. Do the same in the morning.

 

[chicago]

I like the rubber made "nest" idea.....interesting!!

 

[patride71]

Kennel, kennel, kennel...only way to go.

Kennel if you are not home.
Kennel at night.

Get ready to clean up messes for a while, but eventually the dog will learn and be capable of holding it.

At this point our dogs are "grown" (6&3) so we don't even bother or need to kennel anymore, but it was crucial to get to this point.

 

[chicago]

Kennel, kennel, kennel...only way to go.

Kennel if you are not home.
Kennel at night.

Get ready to clean up messes for a while, but eventually the dog will learn and be capable of holding it.

At this point our dogs are "grown" (6&3) so we don't even bother or need to kennel anymore, but it was crucial to get to this point.

10-4 on the kennel.
Well do that. Like I said, were gonna try and get him to go in ONE spot in the back yard, and that'll be some work on our part, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run.
I do recall, the first few mos. Were trying, but I'm really looking forward to it!!

 

[patride71]

10-4 on the kennel.
Well do that. Like I said, were gonna try and get him to go in ONE spot in the back yard, and that'll be some work on our part, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run.
I do recall, the first few mos. Were trying, but I'm really looking forward to it!!

Yeah, IIRC you are supposed to take them to the same spot outside etc.

Regarding the crate/kennel, make sure you make it a positive for the dog to go in there. Leave it open at first, put treats in there, so it is like a reward. One of our dogs loved the crate and it kind of was like her cave. There are some good dog training books (those books for dummys etc) that were real helpful to us.

Ha..the first few months will suck and seem like the longest months ever. Its like having a baby, but at least the potty training doesn't last as long!

 

[chicago]

My dad told me when I was bitching about the puppy phase w gunner (he had just lost his golden to the dog food poisoning, a few years back) to "enjoy every minute of it, cuz you'll wish you had that back later on!" I know now what he meant!!
I have a whole different perspective this time around, knowing what I know now.
These are the two pups were looking at!
Our breeder actually begins the potty training process, but I do still plan for a lot of work on that.

 

[2020 Rocks]

I like the rubber made "nest" idea.....interesting!!

The last three nights he has not woken me up between 4 and 5 am. Last night he hopped in the box on his own and looked at me like, come on it's time for bed, it was pretty funny. It's getting better. I am lucky in the sense that my wife is a homemaker so we do not have to kennel him all day. You could place his kennel in your room just as easily as using the rubber maid box. I can say that the pup has a very strong bond with me now and we have only had him for 2 1/2 weeks. Lot of great suggestions provided, just tweek them to what will suit your needs and go from there. Good luck!

 

[Trollhole]

Have a 12 week old for the past couple weeks. Kennel in the bathroom works great. My other golden sleeps at the foot of our bed normally but I've been making her sleep in the bathroom beside the pup in the kennel. Keeps him from barking.

 

[JayMilla]

Another crate advocate here. This is how we have been doing it, working great so far.
Potty Training Your DK or GSP from Covey Run Kennels Deutsch Kurzhaars
The first week we fed every meal in the crate with the door open. Then my kids put 4 or 5 pieces of kibble in there every time he is out of it.
Now every time he is in the same room as his crate he goes and looks in it for treats.