Just got Bruno last Thursday. He's a 7 week old fawn. I have put him on a feeding schedule but have been allowing him to have water whenever he's not in his crate. I know puppies need a lot of water and drinking it is good for him, but he drinks and pees constantly. I follow him around the house and watch him like a hawk but everytime I take my eyes off him I find a small puddle. Actually, who am I kidding, he'll do it right in front of me too. I take him out every 15-30 minutes and I'm starting to feel neurotic. Do you think I should control his water consumption? I have read some books that say yes and others that say not to. By the way, he can already hold it for up to 5 hours at night in his crate and will wake us up to let him out. I know he's very young and this is all part of the process but I'm on the fence about limiting his water intake.
Water Consumption?
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Tulsa-Dan
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I only restricted Maggie's water intake at night. I'd take up the water about 8:30 or 9:00pm and no more until morning. That way, she'd make it through the night most of the time without having to go out. But I didn't restrict her intake during the day.
At 7 1/2 weeks, you cannot expect too much in the way of housebreaking. Boxers, especially females, do not have complete muscle control over their bladders until the age of about 5 to 6 months. You are going to have to just be patient and diligent in your watching and taking her outside for a while longer. It is frustrating, but eventually things will work just as you need them to in terms of housebreaking.
If she's peeing in the house AFTER you take her out, then keep her out longer and let her pee twice. Maggie did that too and I cured that problem by making sure we stayed out and walked at least 20 minutes each time and she would most always pee twice during that time. Also remember that puppies are trying to figure out what you want as well. They are confused because going to the bathroom is a natural thing and they don't fully understand why they can't just go when they have to go. You have to condition them so that they know that going in the house is bad behavior and going outside in the designated areas is good and is a rewarded behavior.
I had the most success with the rewards method of training and housebreaking. I can even get Maggie to pee "on command" so that we don't have to walk all over the neighborhood waiting for her to "get in the mood."
If you need more specifics on this, email me and I'll be glad to give you the details of how I trained Maggie.
Good luck. Just be patient. It takes some time.
At 7 1/2 weeks, you cannot expect too much in the way of housebreaking. Boxers, especially females, do not have complete muscle control over their bladders until the age of about 5 to 6 months. You are going to have to just be patient and diligent in your watching and taking her outside for a while longer. It is frustrating, but eventually things will work just as you need them to in terms of housebreaking.
If she's peeing in the house AFTER you take her out, then keep her out longer and let her pee twice. Maggie did that too and I cured that problem by making sure we stayed out and walked at least 20 minutes each time and she would most always pee twice during that time. Also remember that puppies are trying to figure out what you want as well. They are confused because going to the bathroom is a natural thing and they don't fully understand why they can't just go when they have to go. You have to condition them so that they know that going in the house is bad behavior and going outside in the designated areas is good and is a rewarded behavior.
I had the most success with the rewards method of training and housebreaking. I can even get Maggie to pee "on command" so that we don't have to walk all over the neighborhood waiting for her to "get in the mood."
If you need more specifics on this, email me and I'll be glad to give you the details of how I trained Maggie.
Good luck. Just be patient. It takes some time.
Thanks for the advise Brookyln Dan. Bruno's a male but I know he's just really young and doesn't understand yet. You're absolutely right I can't expect to much to soon. I've been taking the water away at night and he's up to six hours in his crate(Pretty good for 7 1/2 weeks and no accidents in the crate). We have him right next to the bed so he wakes us up when he has to go. During the day I'll let him have water whenever he wants. We will just spend a lot more time outside. I have a Min Pin and she's the same as Maggie she goes anytime I give her the command. Hopefully, Bruno will learn from her.
Tulsa-Dan
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You're absolutely right. The older dog will help in the training of the young pup. They set the example and the younger dog will usually follow the older dog's lead. It will make housetraining a little easier for you, I'm sure.
But as it is, 7 1/2 weeks is still very, very young -- even for a male -- to expect a whole lot in terms of housebreaking. We had accidents (fewer each week as I got better with the schedule and she grew older) up until she was about 5 months old. She now goes about 4 to 5 hours in between trips outside. But also at night, she's good for about 7 hours.
I tend to take her out more often than that most of the time anyway so it really hasn't been a problem for me. But it is nice now that she's older and can hold it longer. I'm finally relaxing a little and feel more secure that she'll tell me when she needs to go out and that we're over the housebreaking hump now.
I'd say if you have your other dog as well trained as you do, then you will be just fine with the boxer. I don't think they are any more or less hard to housebreak than any other dog. It is a matter of persistence and patience.
Sounds to me like you're doing GREAT!
But as it is, 7 1/2 weeks is still very, very young -- even for a male -- to expect a whole lot in terms of housebreaking. We had accidents (fewer each week as I got better with the schedule and she grew older) up until she was about 5 months old. She now goes about 4 to 5 hours in between trips outside. But also at night, she's good for about 7 hours.
I tend to take her out more often than that most of the time anyway so it really hasn't been a problem for me. But it is nice now that she's older and can hold it longer. I'm finally relaxing a little and feel more secure that she'll tell me when she needs to go out and that we're over the housebreaking hump now.
I'd say if you have your other dog as well trained as you do, then you will be just fine with the boxer. I don't think they are any more or less hard to housebreak than any other dog. It is a matter of persistence and patience.
Sounds to me like you're doing GREAT!
water in the crate?
Is anyone still reading this thread?
We have two new male pups (9 1/2 weeks). I have crate trained before, but not during the day. Both my girlfriend and I work. Petey and Rollo go into their kennel at 7:45am and are let out at 10:00-10:30 by a friend of ours, and then again at 1:00-1:30 during my lunch. We get home at 5:15pm. I want them to have as much water as they require, however, should I put water in their crate during the day (I believe I wouldn't bother at night)? Wouldn't they just spill it? Or if they did consume it wouldn't it make them more likely to pee in there kennel? Both of them are staying in the same kennel for now.
Another question then arises? Should they be in separate kennels? They are brothers and we thought that it would be great to have them in the same kennel to keep company.
Any thoughts are much appreciated.
Doug
Is anyone still reading this thread?
We have two new male pups (9 1/2 weeks). I have crate trained before, but not during the day. Both my girlfriend and I work. Petey and Rollo go into their kennel at 7:45am and are let out at 10:00-10:30 by a friend of ours, and then again at 1:00-1:30 during my lunch. We get home at 5:15pm. I want them to have as much water as they require, however, should I put water in their crate during the day (I believe I wouldn't bother at night)? Wouldn't they just spill it? Or if they did consume it wouldn't it make them more likely to pee in there kennel? Both of them are staying in the same kennel for now.
Another question then arises? Should they be in separate kennels? They are brothers and we thought that it would be great to have them in the same kennel to keep company.
Any thoughts are much appreciated.
Doug
My situation is somewhat similar to yours. My pups are in the crate from 7:50pm to 1:00pm. I come home for lunch at 1:00 then I'm home again at about 5:15. I feed my dogs at 5:15am and give them water then. Also, when I come home for lunch I give them food & water again. Then, I put water out at night until about 8:30pm. I never put water in the crate. I tried it and found that they spilled it when I left any in the crate drank ALL of it when I put a bottle on the side of the crate. Both times, they peed inside the crate. So although you don't want to deprive them water I think you'll get better results if you schedule them a bit. I wouldn't put my dogs in the same crate. But that is again, just my opinion. I put my dogs right next to each other so they don't feel alone. One other thing, if you have not discovered them yet, purchase some Kongs. I fill them with some kibble and them seal the tops with peanut butter. My dogs practically fight to get in their crates and they keep them busy for a while when their alone. I feel much better leaving them when they are so into their Kongs that they don't even notice me leaving the house.
Thanks ... I think that I will get another crate. I had a Chesapeake that went through separation anxiety when left alone (after being w/ someone during the day) and it was bad. I think the same goes for these two once they get too big for their existing crate.
Kongs are great! I've used them in the past.
Regading my original question of water ... I agree and you confirmed my thoughts ...
Thanks again.
Kongs are great! I've used them in the past.
Regading my original question of water ... I agree and you confirmed my thoughts ...
Thanks again.
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