We got a little 2lb female shih tzu puppy yesterday. She is 8 weeks old and is already used to a crate so we are continuing with the crate-training. I've heard that the best way to housebreak a small-breed puppy is by only taking the puppy out of the crate to go potty and to eat (keeping a water bottle hooked to the crate for consistent water). If the puppy goes potty outside then you can also give it indoor play-time for about 15 minutes. Is there any other advice/tips on housebreaking that you have learned or heard of that helps with housebreaking? I know housebreaking a puppy takes patience and isn't accomplished overnight but any additional help would be appreciated since this is our first puppy and we'd like to raise a well-trained dog.
Marianne2011-06-13T12:34:19Z
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Try this; http://www.dogtrainingbasics.com/PottyTraining.htm this site is great for just about anything you want to teach your puppy
Give praise (and I mean PRAISE) When she goes potty outside. When she doesn't make it, don't scold her, however, don't give praise. Usually when our family's puppy goes potty on the papers, we just change the papers and get on with life. Maybe a good girl would be okay when she pees/poops on the paper, however, not as much praise as when she goes outside. If you catch your dog going potty inside the house, give a stern noise, bang your hand on a table (if possible, not needed) and pick her up and RUN outside as fast as possible. It sounds harsh, but dogs feel good knowing somebody has control and can guide them.
VERY IMPORTANT:
If you find potty on the rug 5 minutes after she already pottied on the rug, NEVER, EVER, scold her. She will not know why she is being scolded. Like I said above, scold her when you catch her in the act. If you don't catch her in the act, don't do anything. Sure, if your cleaning up the carpet and you let out a sigh, the dog will probably know why you seem upset. Nothing more then that is needed.
It's okay to be out of the crate, but you have to watch her like a hawk. Never ever let her out of your sight. If you see her about to squat, just calmly take her outside. No yelling, no swatting, etc.. ABSOLUTELY NO SCOLDING! It causes reverse housetraining. More details in the link below.
Better than a crate is a long term confinement area. See more details in the link below.
Do NOT listen to anyone who tells you to do anything mean, scary or harmful to your puppy. No yelling, no rubbing her nose in it, no shouting, no spray bottles, etc..
Some dogs have to be trained differently due to certain natural instincts. Learn here http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?n7c9
This is how I trained my dogs, hope it helps: Throw the toy, give the command "fetch" or whatever you use and have the dog bring the toy back. Don't let her know you have the treat. (If she knows, just hold it behind your back.)
Grab the toy still in her mouth and say "thank you". She should release, if not hold the treat in front of her nose. When she lets go, quickly praise her and give her the treat. Pet her alot too. Do this over and over. Then after a week or two, give her a treat one time, but not the next, giving her praise both times. If she does not bring you the toy, ignore her. When she does bring it to you, do as above.
When she plays tug of war, do the same, tell her "thank you" and put a treat under her nose and when she lets go, praise her and give treat. Give the toy back, sometimes they don't want to bring you the toy because they think you wont give it back (hence the "throwing it" part of fetch).
If she runs away with it, let her go. To her it's a game, "watch me make them chase me" is what she's thinking. If you don't show interest in it when she runs, she'll stop, but this will take time too.
Enrolling in training classes can help too. Just be consistant.
I play tug of war with my two Great Danes and there is never a problem. When I want them to let go I say "thank you" and they drop it immediately. Sometimes they win, sometimes I win when I say thank you. Its all about training and dominance. They know I am Alpha in the house, there is no question about it and I am consistant with training.
same as any puppy small breeds should be with mother till 12 weeks
take out on leash, tell potty, praise let off to play in enclosed area leash back in house, watch for signs of wanting to go, back outside crate when you can't supervise
get up at night after 2-3 hours to take out or wait until she wakes up