Any Advice on Potty Training Puppy?

Here is a link to a good article on crate/potty training....

http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html

I noted in the article it says."A Note About Crating Puppies
Puppies under 4 months of age have little bladder or sphincter control. Puppies under 3 months have even less. Very young puppies under 9 weeks should not be crated, as they need to eliminate very frequently (usually 8-12 times or more daily)." I don't recommend rubbing them in it, as it just makes a bigger mess for you to clean up, and they have no clue why you are doing it. Sorry girl but 4 months is about the magic number. Puppies are a lot of work, including potty trips outside. If you have kids in the same yard, training them to one spot is a good idea. My parents used pea gravel where they wanted their dog to go and trained her to that spot. Made very easy cleanup and we didn't have to worry about stepping in poo in the yard.
Good luck!
C. Livingston

Its important to make sure that the crate is small. I know it sounds mean, but if the crate is small then if they do go to the bathroom in it, they have to lay in it and they don't like that. it worked really well for our beagle pup. She was only in the crate when we were gone or sleeping. We also made sure to take our pup outside every 2 hours, even at night so she learned that was where to do her business. We put bells on our back door also and would put her paw on them every time we took her outside. Now she rings the bells when she has to go out and I can't remember the last time she had an accident. Good luck

H. it's no different than potty training a child. YOU have to be like one step ahead of the game. When you CATCH her doing bad, then you can stick her nose close to it and scold her. After the fact doesn't do much good; they don't understand what they're being punished for.

When you sense she needs to go out, GO with her and when she does it---BEST IN A CERTAIN AREA----then you load her down with praise and a treat.

Keeping her in her crate until she whines to go out...sorry I don't agree with that at all. Maybe I missed something in the concept, but I would think she'd whine just to get out of the crate period. You can get a can of REPEL or Boundary to spray where you don't want them to go. That might help. Or set up a cat box.

Hi H.,
When crate training a puppy, if you make the crate smaller while they are puppies there is less room and they are even less likely to mess in the crate. I think they have a section you can get at the pet store that is like a crate wall that will make it half the size. Small is good anyway when they are small..makes them feel more secure.
Also, I read that you are in the same situation as my daughter (with 2 children w/o a spouse)If you have interest in making additional money from a home business please email me) My daughter is selling a natural product and the people from the company (a friend of mine) are working with her..helping her for as long as she needs the help..wonderful, caring people. She lives in Muskegon. Blessings to you and your boys!
C.

9 weeks is still really young. Most likely her bladder hasn't developed enough to hold a lot yet. You might want to try and let her out a bit more often, especially at least once during the night. You need to treat a puppy a lot like an infant. It takes time for them to learn. I would put paper at one end for her to use until she gets a bit older and can control it better if you are unable to let her out more often (such as for a work day). She will hold it as long as she can then eventually go and then lay down as far away from it as possible. Give her time to learn. It will eventually stop. Sticking her nose in it and telling her "no" doesn't help much in my opinion, you just have to be proactive and have her go out more often. When she has to go she has to go. Good luck and congratulations on the new addition to your family! S.

How many hours are you leaving her in a crate at one time? Remember that her bladder is not mature yet. She's only 9 WEEKS old! Having a puppy is such a huge responsibility and takes so much time and priority. If your dog pees/poops in the house or chews up anything, remember that it is YOUR FAULT for not supervising the puppy or for giving the puppy too much freedom too soon. Yes, she will eventually stop peeing and pooping in her crate when her bladder is mature enough for her to be able to hold it long enough. Will there be accidents? Yes. Will you come home to diarrhea some times? Yes. All over the crate and all over her.

I was told when I bought my first puppy that same thing. It was a huge lie. I have now owned 6 dogs since then and have crate trained all of them. They all pee and poop in their crates in the beginning and will occasionally when they either aren't feeling well or have held it as long as they possibly can.

Best of luck. House training is not fun nor is it easy when you have a job, kids and a life. I now only rescue dogs who have already gone thru this whole house training thing. It's just too time consuming.

Best of luck@

Potty training a puppy is similiar to potty training a child with a few variances. Be consistent. With the puppy, put the puppy on a shorter leash that is anchored to a heavy piece of furniture, like the leg of a sofa. The shorter leash allows the puppy moving room, enough room to place food and water, access to the family surroundings and noise and you can still cuddle and love the puppy. Since the puppy has limited space they will not potty. Every two hours, and be consistent with this even at night, take the puppy outside with the explanation, yes talk to the puppy and let it know what is happening, that they should try to go to the potty. The puppy will go to the bathroom and then you should praise the puppy with love and encouraging words. I know its a lot of work and time consuming but the puppy should be potty trained in two weeks and it is worth it. I did this many years ago with my puppy and it worked like a charm. The puppy aged into a beautiful loving family pet that lived 18+ years. Enjoy your puppy and good luck.

Hi H. ~
I've house trained a couple of dogs, and here's what worked for me. One I was able to crate train, but the other one has seperation anxiety issues, so I couldn't crate her.
As soon as I got up I carried them outside (walking they can get distracted an go on the way). Lots of praise when they go outside. If they sniffed around at all, out they went. After eating or drinking, out again. Or if it had been awhile, out. If I caught them going in the house, I said "no", picked them up and took them out. Even if they were finished, that way they would associate going with going outside. I had read once that outside time is potty time, not play time (although in this weather, probably not so much of a problem!). How long is she in the crate for? Maybe it's too long for her at this time. One other thing that I did, because I worked nights, is that I put the puppies in bed with me when I slept. They were too small to jump off, and neither one went on the bed. The 2nd one actually used to get in my face and wake me up every couple of hours when she wanted out! Both dogs were trained within a couple of weeks (they were both about 10 weeks old when I got them).
I have heard, though, that beagles are really hard to train.
Stay consistent, and everyone has to help (watching for the sniffing).
good luck!
D.

I have had this problem with a couple of different dogs the main reason I was gone to long at work. When I got my mini Dashhound I opened the create door and used a small metal exercise pen about two feet high and put pee pads in there for him to use. It doesn't have to be alot of room but these are in 2 foot wide sections that fold up I would just give him a 2 X 2 area to do his business. As he got older and could hold it longer I removed the pen. the exercise area can be used for many more things also and is a good investment. With a beagle though I would go with the one that is 36 inches high. they run 48.00 at Tractor Supply I wouldn't get a plastic one just because puppies chew everything. I have a 5 1/2 month old lab mix in my house right now and he stays in the exercise pen at night and when we are gone and does not mess in that area at all. Most dogs will not soil where they sleep. I would guess she is going by the door or in a coner where she doesn't lay.

Seams like I heard that if the crate is too big they will potty in it. Hope that helps.

S.

Im in your same boat we just got a 8wk old Rott.
Ive been doing some massive online studying and what I found out my problem was...The person I bought her from gave me a small ziplock baggy of the food she gives her so it was only enough for a couple days to mix with the food I have him on so it messed his tummy up, Ive learned that youre suppose to mix slowly for 7- 10 days otherwise they will have bowel troubles
(not permanently). Ive had him for 2 weeks now and have him on science diet puppy and he is getting way better I think it was the whole food switch that messed him up. Now when I leave at 8am I take him out then come home at noon and hes fine no accidents, so hopefully your pup will get better soon, good luck and hang in there..also I totally agree dont put any blankets,sheets or towels in him krate he would always go on that. I have his bed in there and thats it.

It's prob. a little early. I've heard that puppies can only 'hold it' as long as they are old. For instance, she is ~two months...she'll need to go out every two hours. Also, hang a bell on the door and touch it with her paw every time you take her out. This was the ONLY thing that worked with our dogs!

~L.

Hi there!

The best thing to do with puppies is get and keep them on a schedule. Feed at same time everyday and take her out same time everyday. Always make a big deal of her going out for walkies and reward her successes with a small treat and lots of praise. If going outside is not always an option. Pick a spot and put down some papers.

Also, her crate may be too big for her!! Try partitioning it off with a box or something. She only needs room to curl up and sleep.

Best of luck,
L. and co =)

First off where did you get her? Was is a breeder or a pet store? If you got her from a pet store realize she has learned the she has no choice but to potty in her crate. Now no matter what, she is a baby, and probably has not spent much time outside, because here in Michigan it has been cold and I know I wouldn't put 7 & 8 week old puppies out in this weather. You need to make sure she is going out enough and to help with training, when she gets up take her out, when she is done playing take her out, when she is done eating take her out. These are the times when her little body is going to tell her she has to go. For me I don't let any of my puppies go until about 12 weeks, they learn so much more from mom in those couple weeks and from the older dogs. Also they have had the oportuinty to actually spend some time outside.

I have had luck with putting paper by the back door and take them to that, because if you don't catch them it gives them somewhere safe to go. Also it gives you a chance to find out what their body language is like when they have to go and start going back and forth.

Crate training is a wonderful thing, but remember it is not a punishment, it is their safe space. Don't go dragging a puppy out of the crate to punish it all that will do is encourage them to not like their crate and reinforce it is a bad thing.

Beagles are hard headed little hounds, but don't think she is dumb, she will probably learn things faster than you think.

Good luck
Chelle E.

The first question is how long does she have to hold it between trips out side? Does this happen consistently? She's just a baby so her bladder is about as trained as a toddlers :-)
Try taking her out more often. Actively take her out. You must walk along with her and tell her "go poop... go pee" Nothing else. Its not play time. Pick one spot in the yard and always take her THERE... We have our dog trained to only go in the woods behind our house.. She WILL not go in our yard and even if she is on her chain we have to take her back to the woods for her to go. She just won't go on her chain either. :-)
Make sure she goes.
If she does go in her crate then rub her nose in it and firmly (not yelling) say no... Bad dog. And give her a swat. You are the mommy. YOU must establish your role as alphafemale in the dogs eyes. Keep eye contact and do not look away until the dog does. Just as with kids you scold them for doing what in our experience is wrong and applaud them for what they do right. AFTER she goes out side and your going in the house tell her that shes a good dog in the lovey tone of voice. Dogs don't understand words as much as tone of voice and body language.
You say that you just got her. Been cold much? lol Her little butt is soo close to the ground and with any amount of snow on the ground she will be having a buttcycle when she poops. Could be why she would rather go INSIDE at the moment. Just make sure she goes when you take her out and take her out regularly. If the poopin is happeing in the middle of the night try either taking her out JUST before you go to bed or wake up a bit earlier and run her out...

Good luck and happy puppying

edited: When I say rub her nose in it I don't mean get poop on her nose... Just get her nose close enough to smell the stink.

I LOVE BEAGLES!!!!! BUT- they are very stubborn. I have a 7 year old beagle (my first baby) who was very difficult to train. We have crated her from the beginning, and it has been tough. She would go in the crate all the time. We were told to put her food bowl in the crate- because they will NEVER go where they eat... ha! Our's would go #2 in the food bowl, then eat it! My advice- take her out as much as you can and reward for good behavior. Don't keep any towels or blankets in the crate- because they like to go on them. Keep up the good work- beagles are SO sweet and they, although stubborn, will reward you with their loyalty and love. ENJOY!