potty training

[retorres70]

ok have about a ten week old lab and have week working on the training thing.
i put him in crate when i leave let him out when i get there and go outside. he good and goes outside when i take him. a couple questions?
1) how often when im there and hes loose should i let him out?
2) at night he sleeps next to the bed. sometime in the morning he gets up and "relieves himself" right by my door. how do i stop this?

i know he is still young and accidents do happen but i would like to start out right. he is smart. already knows how to sit and im starting to teach how to lay down. 1/2 way there. so i know he can learn. sometimes when my mom gets there b4 me i know she just opens the door and walks away. she doesn't go and work with him. so this is holding me back.
we also have a min. dauch. who isn't helping matters out. now that there is another dog he is marking and isn't really trained himself. (its my mothers dog) im working with mine. any help is usefull. thnks

 

[avenlee]

Well, a ten week old puppy will not be able to hold his bladder for long. By him going by the door, is a good sign that he tried to tell you in some way that he needed to go out. That's a good thing. I would let him out right before you go to bed. I would also pick up his water dish by at least 7:00 pm every night. If he's drinking or eating up until his bedtime, you can be sure he'll need to relieve himself in the middle of the night.

You might want to start paper training him as well. Put some papers down on the floor and teach him to go there if he needs to.

 

[retorres70]

i never thought about picking up water at the end of the day. good idea.
and i go to work at 8, come home at 12 and let him out. put him back in and out again about 5. so he isn't in there too long. thnks

 

[Saje]

Four hours might be too long for a pup to hold his bladder. Although, I guess if he's already doing it then he is learning quickly.

My pup peed every couple of hours.

Does he sleep in the crate next to your bed?

 

[candy722]

Hum....they could go potty as frequent as every 3 hours.

 

[retorres70]

Does he sleep in the crate next to your bed?

no when i get home i let him out. he actually sleeps next to or under the bed.

 

[Saje]

Well, if he slept in the crate, next to your bed, then he wouldn't be peeing by the door in the morning. You could set an alarm and wake up early and let him out to pee. The crate should be his safe place, his den so if he has positive experiences with it he will learn to like sleeping in it.

Saje

 

[stbernard]

I am also a new puppy owner. I have a 2 and half month old st. bernard. I am also new at training and want to train her the right way...first. I have been working on potty training and need more help. I have taken the advice of no water after 7pm and trying to take her out every 2hrs. Thanks for all input.

 

[Saje]

Here's some useful websites:

http://www.dogstuff.info/crate_training_schedule_riley.html

http://www.drlarrypetvet.com/unleashed_crate.htm

Renee is the QUEEN of great websites and I'm sure she'll have a great one up her sleeve when she stops by.

I think a good thing to mention with crate training is that the crate is his den/safe place. That means that when he's in there he can relax and not be bothered. Later you can leave the door open and he can go in their for a "timeout" from children... when he chooses.

Also, since you have such a big dog you'll probably need several cage sizes as your pup grows up. Just something to keep in mind. There may be a way around that.

I'm not going to pretend I know a lot about this. Just sharing what I've read.

Saje

 

[Renee750il]

It sounds like you're off to a great start. Restricting his water intake at night should help a lot.

The behaviour of your Mom's dachsund is going to be a problem, but you've already got that figured out. Is your Mom going to address this, or is it your problem to deal with too?

A source of information that will help you throughout your life with dogs (Eureka! There's the title for the story I'm working on!) is the Monks of New Skete. www.dogsbestfriend.com

They have several books and videos. I think you'll like their philosophy and outlook.

 

[stbernard]

Potty Training My Saint

Ok, Saja. I have read the crate training website and appear to be very helpful. Another question, how about if my st. doesn't finish her food, do I let her finish it or take it away after going to the bathroom? And do I let her keep water all day or limit her to only during the breaks from the crate? If anyone has input I am open to suggestions. Her crate is in the garage and during the evening she comes in the house to play w/family. I am attempting to train her to live in home and be outside during the daytime. I have a big fenced in backyard for her to run and play. Thanks All

 

[avenlee]

First off, you have to post some pics of your st. bernard! If your able of course. They are sooo adorable!

I would allow her to drink throughout the day. Just be sure you give her enough time of outside to empty out so to say, lol. Puppies are so unpredictable and its a learning process for the both of you. They will make mistakes, however, placing a routine will teach her in the long run. I wouldn't keep her food down at any part of the day. Feed her and when she's done, she's done. Like I tell my kids (human kind, lol) I'm not a restuarant, supper is now and either eat now or wait until the next one. LOL Your puppy may not be eating all of what you give her because she's full enough.

Hope this helps!

 

[stbernard]

I am planning to post pics soon. I just got started with this forum. There is nothing as cute as a st. pup and then when they get older are even more adorable. Nothing like a great big dog.. My parents had a st. when I was a child. My kids also had wanted a st. and for Christmas...surprise. I was able to locate a breeder close to be. St. are not a popular breed in Kansas. Any other tips on training? Thanks all...

 

[Renee750il]

Good advice, Avenlee, but one thing you want to consider with the Giants is that if they are allowed to learn to graze it's a much healthier way for them to eat. One of the most important things it does is keeps them from gorging quickly - one of the possible causes of bloat. You have to use some judgement; you can't give them access to unlimited food, but leaving the proper amount for each meal available to them is a good way to encourage a safer eating style. And very few large ones are reluctant eaters that have to be trained to finish their meals!

 

[stbernard]

ANyone out there who have a st. Bernard or large breed dog? Should I limit food to only 4 times a day or leave food out all day? what's everyone's input. I am going to open up a new thread to maybe get more response. Thanks all.

 

[Renee750il]

I have two Fila Brasilieros - fairly large molossoids, lol! German Shepherds and a GSD/Akita cross (110 pounds) since I was 12 - and no, I'm not telling how long that is!

You'll also find very good advice, especially for giant and large breeds at www.greatdanelady.com .

 

[avenlee]

St. ... You know, I shouldn't really talk, I've bragged about my two dogs (cocker spaniel and westie) and haven't posted any pictures yet. My computer is so outdated at home though and haven't found the time to actually sit and get the darn pics out of my digital camera yet. I haven't even figured out the camera yet. My 16 yr old daughter normally takes the pics. Thank heavens for her. Sadie is a black cocker and I can never get her to show up on the pictures. Drives me nuts! Reminds me of that commercial with the boy half way through a Cannonball into a pool and waiting for his mom to upload the pics from the camera. I'm horrible that way

Renee ... also great advice regarding the larger dogs. I can definately see your point. Now that my two smaller dogs are a bit older I do slack on that rule, however, I think as a puppy it worked on getting them into a routine. Again, though they are smaller breed of a dog and probably a whole different scenerio.

 

[Renee750il]

It's strange. Even though there is almost no presently discernable chromosomal difference, the small breeds and the large breeds have some definite differences that go far beyond size. I've run across a lot of small breed owners with finicky eaters or pups with poor appetites, but I've yet to run across a large or giant that didn't eat, as long as there were no health issues or anything unusual like grieving.