Dog Community

Apartment Housebreaking

Posted : 6/26/2006 11:02:51 AM

Hi There,

I am looking to housebreak my lab in my apartment and am looking for advice on how to go about it.

I live in a highrise apartment on the 2nd floor. It takes about 1 minute to get from my apartment to outside if needed.

We have a male black lab who is approx. 8 weeks old.

I have read that if you paper train a dog and then try to teach him to go outside it is very hard so I am trying to stay away from paper training.

I know that crate training is the ideal way to go but I am not home for 8 hours everyday and my boyfriend is not home for at least 6 of those 8 hours as well. Due to this crate training is not really feasible.

I work 9-5 solid. He works 6-4 (changes sometimes)

I have read that it is possible to train a dog to go on command by using a key word and saying it eveytime the dog does his business.

Here is some background information:

The dog's name is Dozer

He goes for scheduled walks 3 times a day: 8:00am 5:30pm and 9:00pm
We also take him for small walks if it seems he may need to take a pee.

We feed him at 5:00 everyday and he gets water all day until 9:00pm to 7:00am.

Ideally I would like to be able to have him go on command and/or scratch at the door if he would like to pee/poop.

Karen

Posted : 6/26/2006 1:49:19 PM

I trained my Mal to go on command from a very early age. I was taking him outside as a pup at least once an hour ( I worked nights so I was home during the day, then my other half was home at nights). As soon as he woke up from a nap or after eating or having a drink. Every time we went out I would say the same thing to him, you need to decide what you want to say I used "Do Wees", when he did go we praised and told him he was a good boy so he got use to the command. This also helped with house training he learn't not to go inside.

As for crate training I dont know as my dog is outside at night to sleep but inside with us during the day so he just goes out whenever he wants to. Someone else will be able to answer those questions, but I do know people that crate their dogs for 8 hours when they are at work.

Dominique Doucet

Posted : 6/26/2006 2:11:36 PM

We got our puppy at 4 1/2 months and he wasn't housebroken. Jagger is a small breed (not sure what kind). We also live in an apartment. We had to crate train him as he was very fearful when we got him and giving him his own "home" was the best way to make him feel safe. The first few days, we were only away for a few hours at a time, so we left him in his crate. As soon as we took him out of his crate, we brought him outside.

Everytime we brought him outside, as soon as we saw him do his duty, we said a command ("fait pipi", in french). It took a few weeks for him to really get it, but now, as soon as we say it, he will go.
At first, one of us would come home at lunch time to let him out. Now, we can leave him in his crate for 8 hours and he will be fine. Usually though, we leave his crate open and let him roam in the living room while we are gone (we make sure to pick up anything he can chew). I actually think he still spends the day in his crate! haha!
I hope Dozer won't make very many messes in your home! Jagger has had a few accidents himself, but he learned fast. He jumps at the door when he wants out!
Good luck!

jones

Posted : 6/26/2006 3:39:48 PM

An 8 week old puppy can only hold its bladder for about three hours max, and that's when confined (in a crate, Xpen, or other small area). Loose, he'll probably have to go about every half hour or so. He definitely needs way more than 3 potty breaks a day. If he's going to be home alone at least from 9-4 you either need a pet sitter of some sort, or a way for him to pee somewhere every three hours. The most practical way to do it is probably to have him enclosed in one small, puppy-proof room (or an Xpen) with his bedding and chew toys at one end and newspapers at the other. It will be difficult to transition him off the paper training, especially when you are not home all day, but... well, sorry to be so blunt, but this is generally why it's not good to get a young puppy (esp a large breed) when you work all day and have to leave him at home. I also think at his age he should be eating twice a day, morning and evening meals.

glenmar

Posted : 6/26/2006 3:45:15 PM

I agree with Jones on the housetraining issues and the length of time a pup can hold it.

I strongly disagree with feeding a pup this age once per day. Three to four times a day is neccessary. Even two times a day is too few times.

Xerxes

Posted : 6/27/2006 11:42:02 AM

I agree with Glenda on the feeding. 3-4 small meals during the day is the best. If you feed 2 large meals, the food passes through and doesn't get digested thoroughly. So you end up with runny stools and a dog that gets enough food but isn't nourished enough. At this stage of life I'd expect him to urinate at least every hour to 90 minutes and defecate at least 4-5 times a day.