Puppy Pen/Kennel ?

[anchor man]

My buddy got a new puppy and built a 6x6 pen for it. He also has put the kennel in the pen for him to use when he wants. I'm trying to help him with some initial potty training tips and have a question. Of course the goal is to do his business outside, but he also wants to train him to use the newspapers while in the pen. Would that be sending mixed signals to the dog that it's ok to go indoors, while also trying to train to go outside. Any advice?

Thanks

[Ralph Wiggum]

You'll get varying opinions, but I believe that if you want the dog to pee outside, always make it pee outside. Crate the pup when it's unsupervised and it won't go unless it's an absolute emergency. When someone is home with the dog, take it out to pee a lot. It should learn in a hurry. I think allowing it to pee on newspapers in the house will confuse it.

As far as "training" the dog, it only works if you catch it in the act. If it's peed and you missed it, don't even bother punishing the dog. If you catch it in the act, give it a firm "NO", pick the dog up, and put it outside. Also, remember to praise the heck out of it everytime it pees outside.

[Harmonica Bear]

I agreee with RW. Skip the newspaper business. Outside, outside, outside.

[bigdog]

I have a floor wetter right now and I agree with the above. I do not use the newspapers.

[ironrangegemneye]

I never used any pads or newspaper either. I did get my puppy last April when there was still a ton of snow on the ground. Once it got warm and the snow melted, he had to venture into the woods to find snow to pee and dump on. It was hilarious to see him take off for the woods to do his business on the remaining snow.

After all the snow melted, he continued to relieve himself in the woods. He no longer does his duty in my yard; just in the woods. However, other dogs seem to enjoy doing their duty to give me something to pick up come spring time.

My male lab is 11 months old now and has never peed in his kennel(crate)....he did have one other "helicopter" rear-end accident though that covered the carpet and wall in a bedroom.

I think the big thing with house breaking is making sure you have them go outside to the bathroom on short intervals and then increase those intervals. That way, you can tell them to go and they will follow your command in the future.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Another tip: Hang a bell near the door and ring it every time you take the pup out. Soon, it will learn to ring the bell when it needs to go out. Ours took less than two full weeks before he'd do it on his own. To help the process, I would take his muzzle and hit the bell with it.

You'll feel like the dog's not even paying attention to if for a while, but all of the sudden, it will surprise you and ring the bell

[anchor man]

Good tips guys thanks. My dog learned that pawing the sliding glass door made a pretty demanding "tink" sound when her toe nails hit it. I once counted 13 rapid succession paws hits to the door to go out when she was a pup. Still makes me laugh when I picture it...must have really had to do her business that time.