Can anyone tell me the best way to house train a puppy using a crate and how long it is likely to take? I know that no one knows for sure how long as no two dogs are the same but presumably it should take a little less time than paper taining. Am I right? Any help and advise appreciated or if any one knows of any sites I can go on to read up on the subject then that too would be helpful. Thanks

Both Housetraining, and the use of Crates have been discussed at length.

At the top of the page click search, and thenuse cratres to search for this topic, and houstraining for the other, the topics do overlap!

Hi Guest
The best way to house train your pup is to take (please note: take, not put) it outside as soon as it wakes up, after meals, if you see it looking at the floor, circling, sniffing, bottom starting to bulge and at least once an hour thoughout the day.

Once you are both outside gently say the word you are going to use for elimination and as soon as s/he starts to go say the word firmly and praise (but not so madly that you distract the pup from what it is doing <g>). This will result in a dog that you can, within a fairly short time tell to go to the loo and it will do it on command (if it needs to) which can save a lot of hanging around out in the rain.

If a pup needs to go to the loo it will, in my experience, "go" in a crate/its bed/etc if it cannot get outside.

Don't worry about overnight accidents - these often happen when something wakes the pup up such as a family member getting up to go to the loo or even snoring. Never tell a pup off when it goes indoors - if you catch it in the act gently take it outside (if you don't mind a trail to clear up) or then take it out and firmly say whatever word you are going to use for elimination. I generally add "outside" as well as mine have learnt what "do you want to go outside" means.

Christine

A lovely couple who had a pup from my last litter had a terrible time housetraining as they had inadvertently allowed accidents to happen. My breed is usually very quick to be clean!

Their last dog had lived to 15, they had indoor cats so couldn't leave the back door open, and their living room was at front of the house and way out right at the back,,hence the accidents. they were also concerned at the frequency of weeing.

I told them about every hour on the hour and after waiing playing or eating, and they were flabergasted. They had her checked for bladder infection (which she didn't have), as she seemed to go 20 times a day, and dash around and drink a lot! they just found that by the time they realised she needed out, she had already gone, as it took too long for them to take her out. By 5 months they had it sorted, but the carpet needed a proffesional cleaning.

For the above reason it is most sensible to limit the pups access to the house. Keep it in an area like the kitchen, when you cannot watch it like a hawk. One of my puppy owners was proud to say that from day one her Pup never did a no 2 in the house and only had the odd wee accident the first week, but it was her vigilance that created this happy situation, and the pup learnt what was required very quickly.

By contrast I helped out with the transfer of a pup of 10 months from its first home. she thought the crate was the place to go, as she had been shut in it all the time, and will go just anywhere she happens to be. I understand the person who now has her has had terrible problems in this respect!

Christine,
I also find that my dogs knowing the phrase "Do you need to take a break/go outside?" handy on lengthy car trips. It helps to tell the difference between boredom/stretching legs/hungry -- to HAVE TO STOP CAR NOWWWW please!!!! :D :D:D
toodles