potty training
Submitted by amos1 on February 25, 2012 - 4:45pmHey all,
we just brought amos home today... so excited! So the breeder has been training him to paper/pee pads, but how do I begin the training process? Just pick which door we want to take him out and take him to a specific spot? Continue with the pee pads? He is 4 months... take hime out every 3 hrs? We have been home only 3 hrs and he has already pooped twice back to back in the kitchen.. i'm sure we'll get the hang of it, but any advice helps.
thanks
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amos1
Potty training....
He's new to you, new to your home...everything is new, so might as well start anew with the potty training. I would use crate when you can't watch him and forget the pee pads....take him out every two hours like a new puppy and back in crate when he doesn't potty. Good luck and have fun!
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The very minute he wakes from a nap and right after they eat or drink... hustle them out side. Also if he's playing hard interrupt him and take him out. Use a command something like "lets go potty". You have to be proactive. How old is he? I personally think at this new stage you need more often then every 2 hours. You want to set him up for success, not failure. I also would stop with the peepads. IMO it teaches them it is ok to potty inside. When they are little like this in the morning I will pick them up out of their crates and carry them outside so they don't get the chance to stop and potty in the house . Lots of excited happy dances when they potty outside "Gooood Potty" And treats can be used as well. If you want to train with a bell start now. Put a bell on the door and ring it everytime you take the puppy outside, eventually he will get the hang of bell means outside and you can teach him to ring it.
sounds good
thanks for the much needed info . i agree with getting rid of the pee pads and taking him out constantly is they key. He is good about going pee constantly out side but how long should we give him to go #2? sometimes after he goes pee he just sits down or follows us around.
amos1
Exercise
is good, gets the bowels moving. Typically they say 20 minutes after they eat you can expect pooping. But with puppies it's sooner then that IMO. If he doesn't go then you have to watch him closely when you bring him back inside, then take him back outside in say 15 or 20 minutes. When they are puppies they pee alot, because they drink alot. So he should be pooping maybe 4-6 times a day depending on what you are feeding, he is going to pee every couple of hours. Then more they play, the more the drink the more then pee, LOL!
I crate at night and so they don't have water, set an alarm for around 1 or 2 pm depending on the bed time and take them out. No playing, just potty time. Then back into the crate until the 6 am alarm. Khol was an early riser and got me up at 5 am for more then a year, now it's 6am, everyday (even weekends) Ugh!
It does get better and your consistency and close monitoring is what will make a successfully potty trained dog.
only pooping 2 x per day?
The breeder was feeding him a grain free food from costco(kibble,purple bag). I am keeping with that for the next couple of days and my plan is to ween him on to something a little better quality. Maybe this food is good though, not sure. yesturday was his first day wih us, we took him out every 2 hrs, but he only pooped morning and night, peed when we took him out though. We just got home from running a few erons in which we fed him lunch inbetween running around. got home 30 after feeing him and emedietly took him outside to go to the bathroom. gave him 10 min and walked him around the yard to see if we could get his bowels moving so to speak but no pee or poop. took him emedietly in and put him in his crate to where he fell fast asleep! I guess I am expecting him to go potty within 30 min of eating but that doesnt seem to be his schedule? He eventually goes when we take him out eventually but doesnt seem to be emedietly after eating.
Hopefully we'll get the hang of this sooner or later
amos1
Food...
The Costco Kirland food is good, and if he's doing well keep him on it--fewer poops means there's less in the food that's not needed. I'd continue with that for a while. If you still feel he needs a change, it will be better after he's settled in with you longer.
At four months old, he shouldn't take too long to adapt to the schedule you are gradually getting him used to. Being new to you, he may need the middle of the night alarm. I've always been lucky having puppies that slept a good 6-7 hours in crate starting 8-10 weeks old--I'd give last walk around 11 and up and quickly out 5-6. I think your boy will do that soon. There is a rule (not for every puppy) that they can hold it for 1 hour +1 hour for each month of age, so according to this, your boy should soon be able to hold it for at least 5 hours.
Sounds like you are being patient, kind and consistent, so you should get good results.
Good luck and have fun!
Hi-it took awhile before
Hi-it took awhile before Molly had a bathroom schedule when I first brought her home. I was also told she would go 20 minutes after eating, but I think being somewhere new affected this because I would keep her out for so long and nothing! Give him some time to settle in and then you will learn exactly when he will have to go and he will also learn what is expected when you take him outside! Just my experience hope it helps!
learnig his schedule
Its true , over the last few days i am getting to know more and more how his body ticks. It seems his poop has been a little firm lately though(slightly constipated). Does he need more water? Different food? he did just have neautering done.. is it from having ansthesia in his system?
amos1
Surgery
they typically have a firm dark tar like stool after surgery so it is probably from that. Isn't he just a puppy?
he is almost 20 weeks
that makes sense, thank you for all the responses!
amos1