Thread: Puppy Training Help?

All right you seasoned dog owners, I need your advice.
Mighty Angus, our eight week old English Bulldog came home and I'm trying to potty train him via the crate method.
I've used this technique with other dogs and it works.
Angus does not poop in his crate and wakes me up to go out.
But he does urinate in the crate.
I don't understand this as dogs aren't suppose to dirty their living space.
Is this common with young pups?
Suggestions?

How would you feel if your master (the wife) made your shit in an old crate?
;D

Send Freya a pm, she's the resident expert.

"BloodyHorns82" wrote:

How would you feel if your master (the wife) made your shit in an old crate?

;D

ROTFLMFAO!
Don't give her ideas...
;D

"Prophet" wrote:

Send Freya a pm, she's the resident expert.

Will do.
Thanks Proph

It really depends on how much time is on your hands and how consistent the training is.

I have found the best method is to let them outside A LOT!
If you don't have time to take them outside a lot, I would suggest that as soon as you let them out of the crate, take them outside and give them a treat for doing what you ask of them, to pooh and pee.

Use consistent word for pooh and pee and give them a treat when you say pooh or pee and they go where they are suppose to.
The reward has to be immediately after/during the bodily function.

With that said, I would hate to have to do this in an apt or any place without a yard.

My dogs were fully trained in 4 weeks.
Even then, the accidents were as expected at first and after a couple of weeks, I could take them outside and get them to go on command.
I trained 2 puppies at once.
They were also around 8-10 weeks when we brought them home.
Also, I would give them water and then 5-10 minutes later, take them outside and ask them to do their business, saves them the hassle of trying to keep it in and is a good chance to reward them positively.

Important Word:
Outside
Pooh (use your own regionally accepted word LOL)
Pee (use your own regionally accepted word LOL)

Never had my dogs in a crate.
I did use a large card board box at night for the first week or two until they got use to the schedule.
Schedule is important too, routine.

I am not an expert, didn't read any books on the subject, just had lots of patience and liked the challenge.
Puppy pads and crates just seemed like they were too confusing.
I have seen too many dogs trained that way that were really messed up.

Caesar Millan, the dog guy, says, "there is no such thing as a bad pet, just bad owners."

He proves it every show he does.
It is usually the people that don't believe that they can get the dog to do what they ask it to do.
Dogs need a strong pack leader, which is the owner.

"snowinapril" wrote:

It really depends on how much time is on your hands and how consistent the training is.

I have found the best method is to let them outside A LOT!
If you don't have time to take them outside a lot, I would suggest that as soon as you let them out of the crate, take them outside and give them a treat for doing what you ask of them, to pooh and pee.

Use consistent word for pooh and pee and give them a treat when you say pooh or pee and they go where they are suppose to.
The reward has to be immediately after/during the bodily function.

With that said, I would hate to have to do this in an apt or any place without a yard.

My dogs were fully trained in 4 weeks.
Even then, the accidents were as expected at first and after a couple of weeks, I could take them outside and get them to go on command.
I trained 2 puppies at once.
They were also around 8-10 weeks when we brought them home.
Also, I would give them water and then 5-10 minutes later, take them outside and ask them to do their business, saves them the hassle of trying to keep it in and is a good chance to reward them positively.

Important Word:
Outside
Pooh (use your own regionally accepted word LOL)
Pee (use your own regionally accepted word LOL)

Never had my dogs in a crate.
I did use a large card board box at night for the first week or two until they got use to the schedule.
Schedule is important too, routine.

I am not an expert, didn't read any books on the subject, just had lots of patience and liked the challenge.
Puppy pads and crates just seemed like they were too confusing.
I have seen too many dogs trained that way that were really messed up.

Good points!
The crate is perceived as a safe haven by the puppy.
I noticed he almost immediately went inside the crate and curled up to sleep.
We keep him in the crate at night and when we go to work.
As you pointed out, consistency is critical, and I do take him out a lot, regardless of the hour.
He hasn't pooped in the house since the first day accident.
He was eating, and I wandered off to the kitchen "just for a second" to get a cup of coffee.
30 second...
I turned and looked to see the little guy squatting in the family room pinching a loaf!
That was my fault, as I always take him out after eating, drinking heavily or when he starts sniffing around.
But the urinating in the crate strikes me as odd...
Thanks!

http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/tips/addition_starting.php

Proactive Training attitude.....

The most important thing you can do is become your puppy’s pack leader. This role doesn’t begin when your dog is six months old or when he’s bad. For your puppy to grow into a healthy, balanced dog, you must demonstrate leadership from day one!

I also don't like the crate thing/idea/concept.

As SIA did, I kept them in a large cardboard box at first (just tall enough that they couldn't get out) with puppy pads in it.

I then graduated them to the kitchen (no carpet) shortly after they started to eat the boxes.
They now have the run of the house when we are there but are still relagated to Wildmans room at night or outside at night.

Routine is very important (especially when it comes to food/water).
Figure out how long it takes to digest the food and take them out shortly after you water them.
Our beagles go outside for the last time at 11:00 pm and either stay out all night or come in after taking care of business.

Key words for me were Outside and potty.
Never tried to do the pee, poooh idea but it does make sense.

Additionally, I never wait for the dogs to ask to go outside but ask them on regular intervals as well to ensure I am not missing thier signals.

Good luck with your new family member.
;D