Meet Max

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lildol
@lildol
16 Years5,000+ Posts

Comments: 334 · Posts: 8771 · Topics: 323
Don't feel guilty about crating him. It becomes their safe haven. I personally don't crate mine at night, some need to. It helps teach them boundaries. Think of him like a child! Mine will sleep in their crate at random because they are comfortable. When I have to go to work or wherever all I say is "I gotta go", they immediately just go to their crates. Give him a treat when he goes in. I always found it easy to train them on it. (I did dog rescue for a long time and even the outdoor dogs took to it like champs). Consistency is key.

Same goes for potty training. Consistency! I trained my last dog within about a week (she was an 8 week old puppy at the time). A few accidents after if I wasn't quick enough. She was ringing the bells on my door in about four weeks to tell me she had to go. I never punished either, just would say "No! Potty outside" and pick her up and carry her. Every time I let her out I would reiterate "potty outside" and then praise her when she would go telling her "good girl, you pottied outside".

I've never had a small breed dog though, so I'm not sure if that poses a greater challenge. I know some small breeds are difficult to break. You can teach them to use a litter box though...

Cute btw 🙂
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Montgomery
@Montgomery
12 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 552 · Posts: 18848 · Topics: 149
Posted by lildol

Don't feel guilty about crating him. It becomes their safe haven. I personally don't crate mine at night, some need to. It helps teach them boundaries. Think of him like a child! Mine will sleep in their crate at random because they are comfortable. When I have to go to work or wherever all I say is "I gotta go", they immediately just go to their crates. Give him a treat when he goes in. I always found it easy to train them on it. (I did dog rescue for a long time and even the outdoor dogs took to it like champs). Consistency is key.

Same goes for potty training. Consistency! I trained my last dog within about a week (she was an 8 week old puppy at the time). A few accidents after if I wasn't quick enough. She was ringing the bells on my door in about four weeks to tell me she had to go. I never punished either, just would say "No! Potty outside" and pick her up and carry her. Every time I let her out I would reiterate "potty outside" and then praise her when she would go telling her "good girl, you pottied outside".

I've never had a small breed dog though, so I'm not sure if that poses a greater challenge. I know some small breeds are difficult to break. You can teach them to use a litter box though...

Cute btw 🙂



Good advice. 🙂
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LionessKitty
@LionessKitty
12 Years

Comments: 0 · Posts: 25 · Topics: 3
Very cute...congrats on your new furry baby! To get him potty trained its about a set schedule. Have a set time to feed him...know that within 3-4 hours he will need to go potty after eating/drinking. I agree with the lildol you need to give boundaries to the dog. Crating him is not a bad thing but you need to know for him to learn you must teach him correctly. A dog is as well behaved as it was taught to be. Good luck and have fun with the cutie!