How long should housebreaking take?

Southpaw

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#1
How long does it generally take to housebreak a puppy--specifically, small breeds?

There are moments where I am so proud of Lucy and I start to think we are getting so close, and then 2 days later I'll feel as if she is not grasping the concept at all.

On a good day she will sit by the door and whine when she wants to be let out, and I'd say 98% of the time when she does this, she actually does go potty when I let her out. Sometimes, if it's been a while after she's ate/drank, I'll say to her "wanna go outside?" and if she wants to go out, she'll get excited and run to the door. She usually then does go potty.

And then...we have bad days. She actually doesn't have very many accidents in the house, but she'll come so close and we are outside a lot during the day so that helps cut them down, too. But when she's in the middle of playing with a toy and suddenly bolts to another room, we know she is up to no good and so we go after her and let her outside. Or when she starts circling in one spot, it's very clear that she is going to poop. The point is, we still have to watch her like a hawk because she does not care if she goes in the house.

I think the most annoying was one day, I was outside with her for about 45 minutes and she didn't go potty. We went back inside, and within 15 minutes she peed AND pooped. :eek:

And to end this long post--I know it's "supposed" to take longer for smaller breeds, I just want to know how much longer we're talking because I am so ready for her to be housebroken, lol.
 

bubbatd

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#2
Ain't it fun !!!! I know of small breeds that never have been housebroken... the breed or the owner ?? Maybe owners of large breeds are more dedicated as the poops are huge !!
 

Elly

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#3
Your pup sounds like she is doing really well if she is going 98% of the time outside. Just dont let her run around your house without supervision. She will catch on totally. Everything sounds great with her:) . Zoe my lab pup is I would say basically trained but once in a blue moon she will end up just going to the door and peeing so fast I cant get her to her out. I think it is just that she was so busy playing and left it too long .

bubbatd you say you have heard of some small breeds never training well you are right there. I had a Yorkie that never trained right from day one. She just never caught on even a little bit.My house was her own personal toilet. I was so crazy about her that I put up with it for TEN years. I didnt know about crate training then and I wish I had of. I think it would have helped.

But Southpaw dont worry as your pup is already doing her business outside most of the time . She sits at the door and lets you know as well which is really good. Bonnie (my yorkie) never did that. I found out much later on fromt the person that bred her that her parents were dirty as well.
 

raabenb

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#4
Housebreaking takes different amounts of time depending on your dog. Some people can housebreak their dog within months, others can take up to two years. Some dogs can never be housebroken, even if the owner follows all housebreaking guidelines. The time has to dog with dog size, breed, and personality! Bigger dogs usually take shorter, smaller dogs longer!
 

Tobysmom

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#6
We used a crate and it took four months from the time we got him. I know of other cresteds however that are over a year old and still not trained.

If you are consistant they will get it. Some more quickly than others.
 

Southpaw

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#7
Thanks guys, just want to know if this will ever be over with lol! I miss the days when I could just lie down on the couch and not have to worry about the pets. :p
 
R

RedyreRottweilers

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Southpaw, what do you do when she eliminates outdoors?

Are you going with her, or rewarding her for outdoor elimination?
 
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#9
Our Lhasa took 10 months. Huxky/Gsd took about two weeks. I think it has to do with the breed of dog and the experience the owner has. The Lhasa was the first dog I house trained and she is a small breed. She still dribbles when she's excited. (No baby talk to Cassie while indoors, lol)
 

Southpaw

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#10
RedyreRottweilers said:
Southpaw, what do you do when she eliminates outdoors?

Are you going with her, or rewarding her for outdoor elimination?
I am always with her outside. When she eliminates we usually praise her as if she has just performed a miracle lol, and give her looooots of positive attention (pets and kisses, lots of happy tone speaking). It used to be that occassionally we would give her a treat for it, but a few days ago I started carrying treats with me all the time so now she always gets one. I think she is definitely food motivated lol, so we'll see if this changes anything.

Never had to housebreak a dog before, so I'm just giving it my best. :eek:
 

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