Originally Posted by
mastercaster
Do yourself a BIG favour! Don't try to house break a pup using newspaper! That is so VERY VERY old school. You're teaching the pup that's it's okay to pee inside a building. Crate train your pup instead. Anytime your pup is outside the crate watch him/her like a hawk! Can't stress this enough. If the pup exhibits any sign at all that it has to go to the bathroom pick it up and take her/him outside.
EVERY time the pup comes out of the crate, has a nap, or after it eats or drinks take her/him outside. Try to pick one place where you want your pup to go. If she/he doesn't pee put him/her back into the crate and try it again 10 minutes later. If you just bring the pup back inside you'll likely find a puddle on the floor the second you take your eyes off him/her.
No need to praise your pup for peeing or giving it a treat,,,,, otherwise the pup will start training you to provide one and will want you take them out every 15 minutes so they can get one. That being said, once the pup has gone to the bathroom definitely spend a little time playing with him/her as its reward.
FYI,,,, your pup may balk at being in a crate at first but soon it will learn that it's their safe place. If your pup is outside the crate and you can't watch it closely then tether him/her to your side with its leash. BTW, the crate should be no larger than what it can just turn around in. Dogs/pups will not pee/poop where they sleep.
If you only buy one crate and it's larger then partition it off with something to make it smaller inside. I'd recommend using a plastic one, not a wire type. I always had two on the go,,,,one for inside and one in the vehicle. My dogs have never travelled in anything but a crate even if it was just to the corner store for safety reasons.
Crate the pup at night in your room so it doesn't feel abandoned in the early going. Eventually you can move him/her to the room you want them to sleep. Once again, the first few nights your pup will cry. That's a given.
As far as house breaking a pup goes it should be fait du complete in about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks depending on the breed,,,,some take less time while others with weaker bladders may take more. Limit the amount of water you give your pup in the evening. Cut them off early in the evening so you're only have to get up once or twice in the middle of the night.
Just stick to it! You'll be through it in no time~