New puppy, house breaking difficulties

[Heter]

Hi. 3 days ago we adopted a 6 week old male Lab/boxer mix named Tiger. We need some help on house breaking him. What we have done so far is set up a section for him to go on in the kitchen using news papers. We havent had much progress. Whenever he goes poo or pee in the wrong place I yell stop and immediately, grab him and put him on the news papers. Most of the time he will releive himself when i plop him down on the news papers, however sometimes it is too late and he has already releived himself by the time I get there. When he does releive himself in the wrong place i grab him, show him the mess and yell no then I bring him to the correct spot. He has yet to walk to the news papers and go on his own. Is it too early to be worrying? Is there anything I can be doing better?

Here is a picture of Tiger: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/heter/Picture011.jpg

Any help would really be appreciated.

 

[Fran27]

He's adorable!

Puppies are most of the time not housebroken until they are 6 months old, sometimes more. I don't feel like typing everything again, but just browse this forum a bit and you will find lots of good advice on how to housetrain a puppy.

Just one thing though, showing them the mess is useless, they don't even remember doing it...

 

[Heter]

Thanks for the reply, I'll look around. My sister has a few other questions to ask.

1. Whenver Tiger is sleeping or soon after he wakes up, a bubble forms on his nose and pops. Does this mean he is sick or is this normal?

2. I was wondering when i could walk him. he has not yet had all his vaccinations and so I was worried about taking him out. is it ok to take him out when he reaches two months old on the 26th of this month?

3. I'm trying to teach him to fetch. So far, when he's feeling particularly energetic, he will chase the ball a short distance and only if it's moving very slowly. How can I get him to full out chase the ball and bring it back?

4.This is how I have been dealing with his biting, when he bites and it hurts I yell "ow" and walk away for a bit, completely ignoring him. Is this a good method to use?

 

[shepluvr]

1. Whenver Tiger is sleeping or soon after he wakes up, a bubble forms on his nose and pops. Does this mean he is sick or is this normal?

If is just clear and not thick mucous you are probably ok...you should take him to the vet for a check up if you have not done so already..

2. I was wondering when i could walk him. he has not yet had all his vaccinations and so I was worried about taking him out. is it ok to take him out when he reaches two months old on the 26th of this month?

He is adorable by the way!
Depends on where you live...if you have a yard and no other animals go in there your chances of him picking up diseases is reduced. You really should not expose him to other dogs or the public street until he has had at least 3 vaccines and some vets reccomend not until vaccines are completed at 16 wks.

3. I'm trying to teach him to fetch. So far, when he's feeling particularly energetic, he will chase the ball a short distance and only if it's moving very slowly. How can I get him to full out chase the ball and bring it back?

there are more knowledgeable people here for that one!

4.This is how I have been dealing with his biting, when he bites and it hurts I yell "ow" and walk away for a bit, completely ignoring him. Is this a good method to use?

Yes it is.

 

[Gempress]

He is a doll!

Do you plan on having him always using newspapers? Or do you want him eventually pottying outside? If you want him to potty outside, get rid of the newspapers. Start taking him outside to do his business. If you get him used to the newspapers and then try to get him going outside, it'll be much harder for him and cause a lot of confusion.

Don't yell at him when he goes in the wrong spot. Dogs don't always make the association that you're yelling because going on the carpet is bad. Instead, Tiger will probably think that you're yelling at him for pottying. And if he does that, he'll start hiding from you whenever he has to pee. That will slow the housebreaking process even more. Just watch Tiger like a hawk, and if he starts sniffing and acting like he needs to go, quickly take him to the newspapers or outside. The yelling isn't necessary. He'll figure out what you expect him to do.

I wouldn't worry about the fetching thing. Tiger is still a baby. Since he's a lab/boxer mix, I definately don't think you'll have to teach him. Once he gets longer legs and more stamina, he'll be trying to shove his toys in your hand all day long.

It sounds like you're handling the biting thing perfectly. Keep at it, and he'll figure it out.

 

[Heter]

Thanks for all the help. I have one more question we are uncertain on, is it ok to bath him at his age?

 

[Fran27]

I would wait a bit for baths, but I'm no expert about it.

For walks, I would wait until he has all his shots - which is usually at 16 weeks. Some vets give the last shots at 12-14 weeks. Either way, two months is too early IMO.

Your method for biting is good, it just takes a while.

 

[bubbatd]

He's still just a baby... but I'd take away the papers too. Very cute and very young.

 

[aelizilly]

very cute puppy. I would take away the papers too, and don't fuss with the potty pads. Teach him to go outside, and decide on key words to identify his potty/poo process. I use "tee tee" and "potty". At 5 months, Bailey will now go on command, which is wonderful on cold or rainy mornings.

Go outside lots, maybe even every 20 minutes or sooner in the beginning. Identify the process, by saying "good boy" go tee tee or potty, and when he goes identify the words again. Repetition and consistency is key as well as tone of voice. It should be fun and perky. Lots of info on this site for further advice.

Good luck!

 

[Heter]

Ok I'm walking him outside now. Is this safe though? Are the chances high of him getting sick and dying without all his vaccinations?

 

[bubbatd]

At that age he doesn't need walking... do you have a yard to take him to potty ??? I wouldn't have him in an area where other dogs have gone. He's had his 1st shots hasn't he ??

 

[Heter]

At that age he doesn't need walking... do you have a yard to take him to potty ??? I wouldn't have him in an area where other dogs have gone. He's had his 1st shots hasn't he ??

He has had one shot.

 

[bubbatd]

If it's your yard ( fenced ) then take him out.

 

[stardance]

Iv'e been using those puppy pads for training my pup since he was 6wks. I watched him like a hawk at first. whenever he would start to squat I would put him on the puppy pad and he'd do his business. Then after wards I'd praise him & pet him saying "good job" ect. it worked great. but, sometimes he'll get lazy and not want to walk clear across the room to potty. So, I introduced him to small treats after every puppy pad use. he gets really excited about that. he understands the concept of puppy pad =treats. but ever so often he gets lazy. but i just keep doing what i do and hes getting better & better.

 

[aelizilly]

Puppy pads do work well for some people, especially some of the toy breeds and for people in bad weather.

Personally, I don't agree with them, b/c it can at times get confusing for the pup to say it's ok to go on this pad "in the house", but not on the carpet/floor "in the house." Outside works better for me, plus I tried them and he just shredded them (HUGE mess to clean up).