Housebreaking A 5 Month-old Standard Poodle

Housebreaking a dog proves to be a pain for most dog owners as they're usually not aware of the important tips and tricks that guarantee success or failure of their housebreaking efforts. If you want to know what these tips are just read professional dog trainer Adam G. Katz's advice:

Housebreaking A 5 Month-Old Standard Poodle...

By Adam G. Katz

Dear Adam:

I purchased and read your book and it as helped me immensely in a number of areas.

[ To read more about the book he's referring to, please see: Secrets Book ]

However there is one problem I am having with my 5 month-old Standard Poodle: I realize he is still a pup and I may be jumping the gun but I did want to check it out to make sure I am doing everything correctly. I realize dogs are different and go at their own pace, but this is unusual for me since normally I would have my dog housebroken by now. FYI he has responded well to the other training tips in your book and is well on his way to being a well trained dog. Thanks for your help.

From the day we brought him home at 9 weeks, we have been feeding him on a schedule and taking him out of the same door to his spot in a dog run. Our house has a doggie door that leads outside. Once outside we give him his command to eliminate- he goes and we praise him. He will consistently go out there once he is there and I am sure he knows this is his place to eliminate.

However he will not go outside on his own. He has had a couple accidents in the house- both when I was away and my daughter was watching him and I know that sets us back. However we have been consistent otherwise from July until now. Here are my questions:

1. How do we get him to go outside on his own? (when we take him out, he waits for us to go out first and will not go through the doggie door on his own)

[Adam responds]: Just be consistent. At 5 months of age, the dog is too young to expect him to start going out on his own. I take a dog out at regular intervals until he is at least 1 year-old.

2. How do we get him to go on command when we are outside?

[Adam responds]: Just like I mention in the book, repeat the phrase, "Get busy", every time you go out to the elimination area, and continue saying it, as he eliminates. However, the dog (obviously) is not a robot, so we cannot expect him to eliminate on command as such every time. The most important piece of the puzzle is that the dog receives a negative association every time he tries to eliminate in the house.

3. How do we get him to go on different surfaces?

[Adam replies]: I'm not sure why it would be so important to teach the dog this, but you basically need to figure out when the dog needs to eliminate, and then take him to the area repeatedly until he does. But for housebreaking, I recommend you only use one area. Keep it simple for the dog: This is where I eliminate, and everywhere else, I don't. He'll figure out on his own, for example, when you travel... that it's okay to eliminate outside as long as it's on the grass.

4. How do you know when he is housebroken- just let him go and watch him? (I do not want to allow him another accident- that would set us back again)

[Adam responds]: Accidents don't set you back. They are just more learning experiences and opportunities for the dog. What sets you back is not attaching the desired association with said behavior.

5. Would electronic training collars be helpful or harmful in housebreaking?

[Adam replies]: Definitely not. You've got a puppy. He's still young. Be patient and be consistent.

Thanks again for your help and I will await your response.
-- Alfred

Adam G. Katz warns : Do Not Attempt To Train Your Dog, Or Even Think About Hiring A Dog Trainer Until You Read this Dog Trainer Web Page!

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