Housebreaking / toilet training

[AmyPC]

I just wanted to ask how long it took you all to housebreak your puppy or dog, from when you first got him/her.

We are about halfway there with Rory (if that), but have had her almost four weeks, and it seems like we should be a little further along by now. However, she did have a urinary tract infection that the vet treated her for, and I think that put her back a little while.

I have read on the net that some puppies can't be housebroken until somewhere between 12 - 16 weeks - one person I know said her puppy was housebroken by 9 weeks. Any opinions on this timeframe?

 

[Lynne]

Amy, I think a lot depends on how vigilant the family is about watching for the signs that the pup has to go out. And I think you're right that Rory's UTI set her back. I've heard a lot of people have good luck with training the pup to ring a bell hanging on the door, and I'm planning to try it with my terrors. Christmas is a great time to find something like that. With this method, you don't have a pup having accidents in front of the door, waiting for someone to notice they have to go out.
Lynne

 

[GAD]

We trained Cozy to use bells - it's FANTASIC!

It took her quite a while for her to get it. You have to ring the bells EVERY time you open the door where she can see you doing it.

One day like magic, you'll hear the bells ring, wonder why they're ringing while you're not there

then RUN to the door to let her out praising like mad.

The only downside (if you can call it that), is that now the bells ring if she FEELS like going out. Some days, she feels like going out the minute she comes in!

-GAD-

 

[Lynne]

Aaaah, that wonderful Newfie warped sense of humor!!

Gotta love it!!
Lynne

 

[AmyPC]

Clarification on the bell method:

Say Rory is sitting in the lounge room and there is someone in the kitchen going out the door to the garden but the bell is ringing when they are doing this, would this matter? Or is it only supposed to ring when SHE goes outside? Would you put the bell slightly to the side of the door, and just bump it when you take her out, or in front of the door so it rings every time anyone opens the door?

 

[GAD]

Out bell was n the sliding door, so it rang every time the door opened.

HTH,

GAD

 

[Jeannie]

Bell ringing. I love the idea. I got Samantha on Dec 5 (her first birthday--she had no house training before) and her last accident in the house was Dec 24. I am home all the time so I was able to watch her very closely. (I am a groomer and I work out of my home) I think I am going to train her to ring a bell. Sounds like fun.