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                      Apr 3, 2005, 01:16 PM
                  
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        Use the crate only when you must  I have a short length of chain fastened toMy computer desk.  With more mats around the chair mat, this gives a place
 Where the puppy is with me, but about as controlled as in the crate, while
 Still allowing me to get some work done, or at least answer AskMe questions.
 
 Still there are times when you must push the puppy in the crate, close the
 Door, and let it cry.  As it gets a little older, it will accept the crate
 Much better.  At bed time, with a new puppy, I have found lying down in front
 Of the crate like you were going to sleep and speaking softly to it, or
 Singing, until it settles down and goes to sleep works very well.  Follow the
 Pattern, a period of active play, outside to eliminate, and then into the
 Crate.
 
 Much of housebreaking is not training the puppy, but making it easier for your
 Puppy, you, and your carpet while its body to catches up to its instincts.  At
 Around 8 weeks when the puppy goes to its new home, the time from when it
 Realizes it has to go, and when it can't wait any longer is a matter of
 Seconds.  Only time will fix that.  You can hardly be expected to be attentive
 Enough to avoid all accidents  There is no sense punishing the puppy for your
 Inattention.  It is not fair to punish you either, but you still have to clean
 It up if you didn't have the puppy outside in time.
 
 Housebreaking starts before you get home with the new puppy. If you don't have
 A crate, buy one. I prefer the more enclosed, den like plastic ones. Skip the
 Bedding.  At first it gets wet, and later it can be chewed into choking
 Hazards.  A wire rack in the bottom will help keep the puppy up out of
 Accidents at first. They are available with the crates, but a piece of closely
 Spaced wire closet shelving from a home supply place is cheaper. If you
 Already have a metal crate, covering it may help. Just make sure you use
 Something the puppy can't pull in and chew. Dogs that start in crates as
 Little puppies, accept them very well.  Never leave an unattended puppy loose
 In the house.  If nobody can watch it, put it in the crate.  I suggest letting
 The dog have its crate all its life.
 
 Choose a command and spot you want it to use. The less accessible to strays,
 The less chance of serious disease.   If it is a female, choosing a
 Non grassy spot will avoid brown spots later. When you bring it home, take it
 To the spot and give it the command in a firm, but friendly voice. Keep
 Repeating the command and let the puppy sniff around. If it does anything,
 Praise it. Really let it know what a good dog it is and how much you love it,
 And maybe a treat.  Note, being out there not only means you can praise it,
 But it also keeps it from being snatched by a hawk. If it doesn't go, take it
 Inside and give it a drink and any meals scheduled. A young puppy will need to
 Go out immediately afterward. Go to the spot and follow the above routine.
 Praising it if it goes is extremely important. If it doesn't go, take it back
 Inside and put it in its crate and try again soon. Do not let it loose in the
 House until it does go.
 
 At first it is your responsibility to know and take the puppy out when it
 Needs to go. It needs to go out the first thing in the morning, after eating,
 Drinking, and sleeping. If it quits playing, and starts running around
 Sniffing, it is looking for a place to go. Take it out quickly. You will just
 Have to be what I call puppy broke until it is a little older.
 
 By the time most dogs are about 3 months old, they have figured out that if
 They go to the door and stand, you will let them out. The praise slowly shifts
 To going to the door. Some people hang a bell there for the dog to paw. If
 Your dog doesn't figure this out, try praising it and putting it out if it
 Even gets near the door. A stern "Bad dog!" is all the punishment that is
 Effective, and only when you catch it in the act and are sure you didn't miss
 It going to the door. Clean up accidents promptly. I mostly keep the little
 Puppies out of the carpeted rooms. Still I need the can of carpet foam
 Sometimes.  First blot up all the urine you can with a dry towel.  Keep moving
 It and stepping on it until a fresh area stays dry.  A couple big putty knives
 Work well on bowel movements.  Just slide one under it while holding it with
 The other.  This gets it up with a minimum of pushing it down into the carpet.
 This works with even relatively soft ones, vomit, dirt from over turned house
 Plants, or anything else from solids to thick liquids.  Finish up with a good
 Shot of carpet foam.  Note, do not let the puppy lick up the carpet foam.
 Once the dog is reliably housebroken, your carpet may need a good steam cleaning.
 
 Many people strongly strongly push cleaning up all evidence of past accidents.  I am slower to suggest that.  Dogs will return top the same spot if they can find it.  When you see one sniffing the spot, that is your clue to run it out.
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