Potty Training Without a Crate

[SandyW]

Hello,

I did a search but couldn't find anything on this, so if it is out there, please bare with me as I'm a "newbie"

Belle is our 4 month old Boxer. We got her August 9th, and have been training without a crate. How many of you potty trained your Boxer without a crate or kennel? Unfortunately, I hadn't known about crate training until after we had her quite awhile. She is my first puppy, my husband's second. He was from the "old school" idea that his previous dog was not crate trained, so we didn't need to. I see that it would have been easier if we had!

Belle does very well. She does not really "signal" other then if you watch her and know her habits. She has had few accidents, and will definitely go outside. Night time we keep her locked behind a baby gate in our bathroom with a big cushy bed for her.

Any thoughts on training without a crate? Those that did, was it easy? Hard?

Thanks!
Sandy

 

[Grimmja]

we kind of did it without (he has a crate, but never acclimated to it enough to utilize it for potty training purposes). and we did just what you did, watch for signs, take out PREVENTATIVELY, and we also confined him at night. if taken out before accidents, they never associate the house with going potty/poop, just outside, and if they always go outside, they'll learn that's where they go. Riley picked up quickly that he had to go by the door and wait for us. After they get that, I think it's also important to let them wait. If you jump every time they say they have to go, they'll expect that and not learn how to hold their bladder. Of course do this ever increasingly based on how you know your puppy. FOr us it was easy, but we also had a puppy that picked it up quickly too, every puppy is different...but I would say that if you're around, this method can work just as well too.

 

[lafsalot]

I didn't use a crate only because our house is so tiny, yet managed to successfully train my three without incident. Sounds like your 4 month old is doing fairly well. As I said in another thread, puppies under 6 months have trouble holding their urine for long stretches and often have an immedite urgency to go. It will get better as she matures. - Cathy

 

[SandyW]

Thank you both for replying! For a moment I thought I was the only one that was house training without a crate! <smile> I forget sometimes that she is only four months old, and I think I expect more from her. She has had "accidents" in the house, and somewhere I read that every time they do that it sets back house training. We've only caught her "once or twice" in the act of urinating, other than that (especially when we first got her), she was a little sneakier.

However, I believe she knows that "go outside and potty" is just what it is for. What a unique breed the Boxer is! She's our first Boxer. We previously had a stubborn, but lovable Chow for 14 years.

Thank you again for your comments and experiences. It helps a lot!