AboutPatti Expertise To date, I've owned 7 dogs, all of which have lived into old age.
Having cared for them in all stages of life, I feel I can offer sound advice to other pet owners, and people considering getting a dog.
I am knowledgeable about the AKC (American Kennel Club) dog breeds, training and exercise, caring for sick and elderly pets, feeding, as well as many holistic treatments pets can benefit from.
My only request is that you write me using standard English and punctuation.
Experience My life experience in this field is more like "on the job training" rather than an actual degree in animal welfare. You may benefit from my experiences over the past 30 years.
Aside from the dogs I've owned, I'm also involved in "breed rescue" and have fostered several dogs, all of which have been adopted to wonderful "forever homes".
I find helping people who want a dog very rewarding.
Question hi
my 17 week old yorkshire terrier milly keeps weeing all over the house and its not ok my mom is going mad and said she'll have to go if i don't do something about it fast can you sand my step by step training!!!
thank you so much
PS. please no crates and I've bought mats and have layed them out around the house!!!
thank you so much
Jessica H
Answer Hi Jessica,
Those house training mats you're laying out all over your house may be part of the problem! To a puppy, there isn't much of a difference between going on the mat, or behind your couch, they're both located inside your home, and your dog doesn't know or care where she goes in your home. Those mats are only confusing your puppy.
First, throw away the mats. Second, crating a puppy when she isn't being supervised is not cruel, it's based on the fact that a puppy doesn't like to soil where it sleeps. If you don't want to crate your puppy, you MUST contain her in another way. Using a child gate or two and keeping her in part of a room when you're not able to supervise her is an alternative to crateing. If you use the child gate option, lay a thick layer of newspaper down over the ENTIRE containment area. As the weeks go by, you may notice a preference developing of where your puppy goes to the bathroom. If you see one spot being used, you can start removing the paper from the other areas, leaving the preferred potty area as the only papered spot. This is rocket science, your dog may still have an accident on an un-papered area, if this happens, go back to papering the entire containment area.
House training is a very simple concept. It's all about praise, reward, prevention, and containment.
Anytime you aren't able to watch your puppy like a hawk (when you're not home, busy cooking or watching TV, or sleeping, etc.) your puppy needs to be in her containment area. She should never have the run of your home, until she's reliably house trained.
You need to prevent accidents, that means taking your puppy outside on a leash. It's only when you walk your puppy (not let her outside by herself in a yard!) that you can praise and reward her the INSTANT she's finished going to the bathroom outside.
When you reach the toilet area walk back and forth or circle around and around. At the same time say and repeat a cue word you would like to attach to the act of your puppy eliminating. Something like "hurry up", or "Go Potty", but just pick out a cue word or short phrase and stick with it. In your puppy's mind you are building an association between the cue "hurry up!" and her emptying out. If your pup does eliminate continue to repeat your cue word and the instant your dog finishes doing her business enthusiastically praise and reward her. Lavish her with praise and offer a "high value" treat she'll remember, such as a tiny bit of hot dog or a little cheese. She'll remember these extra special treats, and the actions that lead to them!
Immediately after a successful toilet trip outside you can allow your puppy some free play time (under supervision) in the house. Just spend some time enjoying the company of your puppy, then place her back in her crate or pen area.
If you take your puppy outside and she doesn't do "all that she should", take her home and put her in her containment area. You KNOW she has to "go", so don't set her up to have an accident in the house!
After 15 minutes take her outside and give her another chance.
When your puppy isn't in her containment area keep the leash on her. Keep the end of the leash around your wrist, or tie it to a belt loop. When your puppy is literally attached to you, she won't have any opportunities to sneak off and have an accident. If you see her sniffing around, or walking in circles, that's a sign she needs to be dashed outside! Offer praise and a reward when she does as she should outside.
Because oyur puppy is just a little more than 4 months old, she only fairly recently gained control over her bowel and bladder. It's unrealistic to expect a puppy younger than 4 months to be house trained. It's not fair to expect a puppy to hold it longer than she is physically able, and you need provide some appropriate elimination opportunities. Your puppy needs to be taken outside every 3-4 hours!
When accidents occur, don't yell at your puppy or punish her. For one thing, unless you catch her right in the act, she won't have a clue why you're yelling at her. Yelling only makes her want to avoid you (she's not stupid after all!) it won't train her into anything, expect to avoid you when she needs to go outside. If you discover an accident, blame yourself for not getting your puppy outside in time, or for not supervising her closely enough. Accidents aren't the puppy's fault, she's not trained after all! Accidents are YOUR fault.
Clean the mess up with an enzymatic cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution, so your puppy won't be attracted back to the spot to have another accident. Promise yourself you'll keep a close eye on your dog in the future.
There isn't such a thing as "fast house training". It goes as fast as you allow it. If your puppy has been having accidents in your home (it's your fault, remember?) then you're preventing house training from progressing. With your constant supervision and preventing accidents by taking your dog outside frequently, you will see progress in a few weeks time.
