How do I train my dog to stay housetrained when I'm gone?

[Bomgardner]

Snickers is about a year old now. He is crate trained and holds his bladder any time he is in the crate or if I am around (he free roams the house without accidents when I'm home). We follow a set feeding and bathroom schedule, etc....all of that good stuff. He holds his bladder all day while I am at work just fine. So it's time to move on and help him get more freedom, right?

SO I have been trying to let him stay out of the crate while I go to work and he won't hold it (It was an attempt at keeping him in ONLY the kitchen but he tore through the gates so he had the whole house...). How do I teach him that the house is his den too and he shouldn't potty in it EVEN when I'm not there? I just have no clue how to do that...any advice would be helpful. I would love for him to be able to play and run around while I'm gone but it's just not possible with his current potty training status. :confused:

Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you in advance~

[Xerxes]

My first step would be this: Contain him to one room only. Too much freedom too soon is a bad thing. Too many options on what to do and no supervision to provide boundaries.

Some dogs do better in a crate during the day than they do roaming.

[MafiaPrincess]

Some dogs may never be reliable home alone uncrated. Others, it takes a lot longer than a year. Cider was 2 before I started leaving her in my bedroom when I went to work. She wasn't trustworthy not to get into stuff until then.

He needs a dog proofed room with a real door if he is bouncing through gates. And it seems possibly premature for your dog right now to give that much freedom.

[malmo]

Milo has been 100% potty reliable since he was very very young, but he just did better when confined or crated. If not, he seemed to get sort of anxious in the house and would spend all day barking and whining. It's difficult for me and sometimes I wish I could let him free, but then I try it and he truly does get a little too wired. At this point, he's confined to my bedroom when I leave and he doesn't mind it as much as having free reign of the house.

[LB2007]

Mine has never been crated to hold. I contained him to the washroom and took him out soon as he woke, or after eating, and lo and behold now he is 20 weeks and actually go stands at the front door to be let out. He has not pottied in his doggie toilet for a very very long time. IF for some reason i do not notice it, I have noticed him sitting and making a tiny whining sound. He holds from say 10pm to 6 to 7am. Weeks ago, he would pee at the kiddie's door as he would jump and it would come out. Now he holds and holds. I am very proud of him. I wont let him free reign tho, not for a long while, maybe next year. But he pretty much knows his thing. He has free reign all day with me and when I noticed him tired I put him to bed in his room and he goes. Same with nights. He goes to his room. I want so much to let him sleep in our room BUT I know the consequences. So is tuff love all the way and he seems very happy with it. He knows I am Alpha :) Now I am not saying he wont have accidents, he would if I dont notice he wants out. But to say I will leave him freely roaming, nope. Even the other Pom I had he was restricted to one room when I felt he was trustworthy. I think you have to contain them, crating at that age seems a bit you know?

[luvmyswissy]

I would love for him to be able to play and run around while I'm gone but it's just not possible with his current potty training status.

That's a nice thought but did you know that dogs don't run around and play while your gone, they sleep!! At 1 year old you are asking alot of your dog, IMO. My dog wasn't reliable (even with me home) until he was 17 months old. The crate is a wonderful training tool and.. it becomes a space of security for your dog. My dog everynight at 10PM goes in his crate to go to sleep without me asking. Often, during the day when I am home I will find him in his crate sleeping.

The reason your dog holds it in his crate is becasue he will no potty where he lives. Giving him to much space, to quick will more than likely set you and him back.

Don't be in a rush to keep him uncrated at such a young age, it really dosen't make a difference to the dog. If you put a cam on him you would see all he does is sleep anyway. Dogs don't entertain themselves by running around and having a party while you are gone. If anything, he will get himself into trouble by chewing something you love, or something like wires that will harm him.

Good luck and give it time.

[Bomgardner]

Ok so it's too much too soon...

He is just so active and playful that I want him to have more freedom. He really doesn't sleep all day...he chews his toys and eats whatever bedding is in there at the time. He actually completely destroyed one of those 'indestructible' PrimoPads as well because he gets so bored in his crate. (Yes he gets exercise and yes he has things to chew on in his crate other than his bed :P).

Thanks for the advice..I guess we'll just have to wait until he gets older.

[heartdogs]

Sorry, but I think that a one year old dog that doesn't hold it in the house is really not housetrained.
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB777

[Bomgardner]

Heartdogs: Well could you lend some advice on how to get him housetrained, then? I have read about 10 books on housetraining, and none of them mention how to encourage your dog to hold it when you're not home, except by crating him. I doubt another book is the answer..I need some pearls of wisdom from those of you who have achieved success with YOUR pups! ;)