House Training Instructions from CPR - Poodle Forum - Standard Poodle, Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle Forum ALL Poodle owners too!

Rowan · 11-17-2011, 04:46 AM

From Carolina Poodle Rescue's November newsletter (ETA: Posting with hope it might help some new puppy/rescue owners):
Carolina Poodle Rescue Newsletter

Quote:

House Training Instructions
by Caroline Hair of Central Carolina Poodle Rescue

Dogs can be house trained because they are born with an instinct not to soil where they live and sleep. Most puppies begin learning to leave their bed area to relieve themselves when they are very small and this is continued when they are weaned and go to new homes.

Unfortunately, when a dog is kept in unclean surroundings, with no opportunity to go to another place to relieve itself, that instinct becomes repressed. When that happens, before the dog can be house trained, it is necessary to reteach this instinct.

Step one of these instructions is for dogs who have been kept in such small and/or dirty surroundings that the instinct to be clean has been repressed to the point that the dog wets or soils a crate. Dogs that are already clean for at least four hours or overnight in a crate may begin with step two. Your newly adopted poodle, _______________ should begin on step _________.

STEP ONE
First the dog is taught to be clean in a crate. This is done by being sure the dog is taken outdoors every hour, and praised and rewarded for relieving itself. No bedding is kept in the crate, so that if he soils it, he will be very uncomfortable. If this happens, he is bathed, the crate washed, and he gets another chance to learn that it is possible to "hold it", and that clean is better than dirty. This is repeated as long and as often as necessary. As the dog learns to control bowel and bladder functions, the time between 'potty trips' is gradually lengthened, and the dog is introduced to the house.

STEP TWO
When an unhousetrained dog first is allowed in the house, it is essential that he NEVER be placed in a position in which he could make a mistake. Prevention is the key to successful house training, and that is YOUR job. To do this, he is kept at all times on a six foot leash for a large dog and a four foot leash for a small one, and the leash fastened to a person. A large safety pin can be used to fasten the leash to the person's clothing. In this manner, the person will always be aware of what the dog is doing and can quickly take him outside when necessary. Set a timer to remind you to take the dog outside, first every thirty minutes, then every hour, so that the dog gets ample opportunity to "do the right thing" and be praised and rewarded for it. Every time he relieves himself outside, he should be praised and given a treat. If you are unable to keep the dog on leash with you, he should be crated to prevent accidents. After several weeks of this, the dog can be allowed off the leash inside.

STEP THREE
When first taken off leash inside, the dog must be kept within sight of a responsible person (not a child) at ALL times. He still doesn't know the difference between another room and outdoors, and if allowed to wander off, he will make a mistake, and set the training back. Start by allowing the dog to be loose in the room with you only after he has just relieved himself outside. Use closed doors and/or baby gates to keep the dog in the same room with you, and watch him constantly. If you are too busy to watch him, he should be put in his crate. Again, set a timer first for thirty minutes, then an hour, gradually lengthening the time between outside visits. Only after the dog has been reliable in your sight for several weeks, should he be allowed more freedom. If there is a relapse in training, go back a step and try again.

If at any time the dog soils the floor, take him outside, then clean the spot so that no odor is left there. White vinegar, Odo-Ban, or OxyClean are all good for this, as well as products designed to remove pet odors. Do not scold the dog; instead, fold a newspaper, and hit yourself over the head with it three times, while chanting "I will watch the dog more closely."

Remember that prevention of mistakes is essential. If you allow the dog to have free run of the house too soon, he will go into another room to relieve himself. Every such accident will set the training back, causing it to take much longer. Follow each step in the training carefully, and within a couple of months, you should have a house trained dog. Even after the dog is dependable in the house, it is still a good idea to crate him when you must be away from home, in order to prevent any mistakes if you are delayed in returning, as well as to keep the dog from getting into things that could be damaged or could harm him.

petitpie · 11-17-2011, 09:23 AM

Great ideas....thanks, again!

sweet viola · 12-18-2011, 07:36 AM

thank you! this was so helpful. Our 11 week old puppy has regressed and is going in her cage-this was just what I needed