Training Puppies

Lesson 3: Housetraining and Manners

Housetraining Problems

With Crate Training:

Soiling the Crate
If your puppy soils his crate, most likely you are not taking him out often enough or you are are missing his cues. Occasionally a puppy who has been taken away from his mother too early to have learned doggy hygeine or has been confined and forced to soil his bed will have this problem. This can usually be corrected by stopping the crating. Place his opened crate (no bedding) in a small confined area and place papers around it. He most likely will want to sleep in the crate (den) and, given the opportunity, will soil the papers instead. Let him get accustomed to this habit again for a couple of weeks and then begin to close the crate door for short periods, perhaps twenty minutes or so, before taking him out for potty. Slowly, very slowly, increase the time the crate is closed. If he has an accident, you must start over.

Spot Wetting
Sometimes puppies will sneak away when you’re not looking and leave you a present. First of all, make sure you are giving him plenty of opportunities to potty outside. Then, clean up the mess using an odor neutralizing solution and place his food bowl or his bed there. He will not want to soil an area where he will be eating or sleeping.

Can’t Make It Through the Night
Very young puppies will probably not be able to wait all night to potty. However, there are a few things that may help. Take up his water bowl about 3 or 4 hours before his last opportunity to go out and then take him out the very last thing before you go to bed. Feeding a diet of dry food will also decrease fluid intake.

Urinating When Approached
This is a confidence problem and is called submissive urination. Punishments, corrections, or yelling will only make it worse. The best thing to do, instead of going to your dog or bending over him, is to allow him to come to you while you are squatting on his level with your eyes turned away. These submissive dogs should never be slapped or yelled at. They need you to be patient and give them extra happy times, playtimes and praise to build confidence.

Marking in the House
This can be a tough problem. Neutering and regular obedience work usually helps.

With Paper Training:

Missing the Papers
Puppies usually try to use the same spot where the scent of urine is. Try leaving a small piece of used paper underneath the center of the clean paper.

Walking Off Papers
Sometimes puppies will use their paper but will walk off the edge during potty. Try using a tray or something with a low rim. If the sides are too high, he may not use it at all.

Shredding Papers
If your puppy is tempted to chew, play with, or shred his papers, you can “booby trap” them for him. Place several small rocks in a soda can and put tape over the hole. Tie a thread around it and place it on a shelf or table nearby and tape the other end to the puppy’s papers. When he moves the papers the can will tumble down startling him. The disadvantage of this method is that a few puppies associate the surprise with the papers instead of their actions and become afraid to use the papers anymore.

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