Quickest way to house-train your puppy? | FerrariChat

Quickest way to house-train your puppy?

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by Husker, Mar 10, 2005.

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  1. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    OK here's the deal: We bought an 8 week old French bulldog last week. My wife read two or three books on proper house training. Her theory is that you "crate train" and don't allow the dog opportunities to tee-tee in the house. And when you put them outside, and they go tee-tee, you give them a little treat.

    Well, we are 10 days into this and the doggie still tee-tee's wherever and whenever she sees fit. So....tonight my wife went to a dinner, and I decided to try MY method. I rolled up a "junk mail" flimsy magazine and kept it at my side while I fixed dinner for my kids. Sure enough, the puppy goes to a corner of the kitchen and pees away. I rushed for her, slapped her on the bottom hard (made a loud noise, primarily), and scared the #&#$(#!! out of that dog. I then put her outside. Her "dobber's down" a bit since then, but no more tee-teeing in the kitchen yet, either.

    It seems to me that a few loud, ferocious whacks on the butt with a bunch of scolding will house-break a dog much faster than all of this "kinder, gentler" crap. I bet I could have this dog housebroke in a day with my method. Am I out of line on this? Am I being cruel?
     
  2. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

    Nov 20, 2002
    17,673
    Tauranga, NZ
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    Pete
    Give the dog to someone else ... and take it back when it is trained!

    Pete ;)
     
  3. sduke

    sduke Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2003
    825
    The Hub City, Texas
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    Steven D
    #3 sduke, Mar 10, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,656
    The fabulous PNW
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    Han Solo
    I grew up with black Labs. The rolled up newspaper works and it isn't going to damage them "emotionally" later. When they do something bad make sure a bad "reward" occurs. When they do good then lavish with reassurances and treats. They learn quickly that way but like small children, they don't have big bladders and not much warning when they have to go so a sharp eye is required to give them the opportunity to do the "right thing".

    After a short while they just head for the door.
     
  5. Glassman

    Glassman F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    I believe the best thing is to let the dog out a lot. Try to see when the dog is getting ansy and put it outside. A smart dog will quickly figure out that it goes outside when it has to go.
     
  6. PWehmer

    PWehmer Formula 3

    Oct 15, 2002
    1,733
    Surrounded by Water
    An appropriate sized dog crate.
     
  7. Dr C

    Dr C Formula Junior

    Dec 1, 2002
    480
    Kansas City
    Full Name:
    Ed
    Keep the dog in the crate except for when you are playing with him one-on-one. When you do take him out of the crate, do it at the door so he goes outside immediately. The crate needs to be small enough that there's not much chance of him going at one end and sleeping at the other.

    The secret is to not have any occasions for him to pee in the house.

    I've house trained a number of dogs now. VERY rare to have an accident in the house. Never have had to hit one of them. If you keep him in the crate when you aren't playing with him, he shouldn't have much opportunity to pee in the house. And, you need to make sure that you have lots of good times with him - watch the tele with him next to you while you pet him. Play outside with him as much as possible. DON'T trust him not to go in the house for some time.
     
  8. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
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    As in pee pee from "T"exas?

    What, is that bigger too? :D

    DL
     
  9. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Apr 21, 2003
    15,111
    Gulf Coast
  10. Z0RR0

    Z0RR0 F1 Rookie

    Apr 11, 2004
    3,470
    Montreal, Canada
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    Julien
    For our dog we simply used some mild punishment (yelling a bit was usually enough) and drag him outside, to show him the way, and leave him out for a little while. He eventually got it, and went the extra step on his own (no #1 on the flowers and #2 only on the grass) ... go figure. Obviously, every time he did it right he got big hugs, treats or his toys pitched around for fun.

    I have personally witnessed the "good boy" method work better than yelling or slapping (gently, of course).

    It's gonna take more than 10 days anyways.:)
     
  11. GoFerrari28

    GoFerrari28 Formula 3

    Jun 16, 2004
    2,313
    Ridgemont, CA
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    Jeff Spicoli
    Stick their nose in it. Worked like a charm on a neighbor's dog
     
  12. jptyke

    jptyke Formula 3

    Sep 28, 2004
    1,411
    Manhattan, NY
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    Master P.
    Collin, is it a male or female French Bully? We have a female french bulldog. If it is female, get ready for a long time of training. Female Bulldogs are notorious for the difficulty in house breaking. If it's a male then you are in luck. The male will want to leave his scent outside. If female, I'll email you.
     
  13. MikeZ_NJ

    MikeZ_NJ Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2002
    1,533
    Southern NJ
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    Mike Z.
    We hung a bell on the back door handle low enough for the dog to reach. Everytime we took the dog out (in the morning, after she played, etc) we would have her ring the bell by touching her paw or nose to it. She VERY quickly associated the bell to going outside to go to the bathroom, and now she always rings it when she needs to go outside.

    I have a Jack Russell Terrier, and she was trained inside a week.
     
  14. ASG 86TR

    ASG 86TR Formula 3

    Aug 23, 2001
    1,474
    New Jersey
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    Adam G
    A Dog 8 weeks old is not going to be house trained right away. We have a 6 month old English Springer, that we got at 7 weeks. We crate trained her from day one, and she learned to go out to make. She still had accidents on and off, and still does not have full roam of the hose and is crated when we are not there. It takes time, and most vets will tell you that 16-18 weeks is when they are mature enough to "Get It". They will also tell you NOT TO HIT THEM OR STICK THEIR NOSE IN IT!!!! They have a very very very short memory at that age and will not even know why you are hitting them or sticking their nose into someone elses stuff. Their bladders are also not fully developed at this time, including control, so they just will not be trained right away.
     
  15. milstanselnino

    milstanselnino Formula Junior

    Jan 8, 2004
    573
    MN
    Full Name:
    Jon P.

    You're close, but not quite there. The kennel or crate is ok if it is big enough, and if you are not home. When you get home, put the dog out asap, preferably on a leash, so that you can trrain it where in the yard it is to go, and so that you can praise when it pees outside. Usually, you donn't go back in until the dog pees, but you have to use your judgment here, so the dog does not start controlling you. This is a good time, too, to begin training: come, sit, stay.

    If you are in the house and he starts peeing, , NO HITTING!!! Noise is OK , like swat the edge of a table or something, then grab by the scruff of the neck and hustle outside to the pee spot. Might help to have a leash in your pocket, to hook it on, and just wait for a bit, hopefully he'll finish soon . With regard to pooping in the house, use the same NO HITTING technique, again noise is OK, grab by the scruff of the neck, show him the poop (no nose rubbing), and hustle outside.

    I am not a big believer in treats, and have never used them: I use petting, hugs and baby talk. In that regard, do what works. You do want to reward good behavior.

    Yes it can be a pain, and some dogs catch on faster than others. You may want to look at the AKC breed standard to see if there are idiosyncrasies to the French Bulldog that might give you a training hint. For example, our miniature poodle was too high strung to yell at, or make much noise, but responded well to the hustle outside. Training went quickly, and no house accidents for years.

    Hope it works, and congrats on the new family member.
     
  16. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    UPDATE: I whipped her 100 lashes with a Newsweek Roman Style and haven't had a problem since.
     

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