Yoko - info required to help you house train - crate train your puppy -
Typically puppies can not be housebroken before they are 12-14 weeks old, they lack the muscle control.
There are basically two methods of house breaking a puppy 1) crate training and 2) paper training. Crate training is the most effective method for housebreaking to ensure that a puppy is fully trained. Paper training risks only partial housebreaking as a puppy learns that it is acceptable to relieve itself indoors.
CRATE TRAINING
The foundation for crate training is based on the principle that puppies will avoid soiling in their immediate sleeping/living area.
It is important that the crate is the right size for your dog, if too big your puppy may soil in it. The crate should be big enough for you puppy to stand up, turn around and lie down with water bowl.
When unsupervised puppies should be restricted to their crate. Never confine your puppy to its crate for more than 2-3 hours at one time.
At regular intervals your puppy should be taken to a designated place outside to relieve itself. The owner needs to anticipate when a dog will need to relieve itself.
As an approximate guide a puppy should be taken outside after they wake up, after they eat, after playing and throughout the day at least every 3 hours.
As your puppy relieves itself use words like "hurry up" then praise them. Soon your dog will learn the command "hurry up" means to relieve itself. It is important to praise your dog after it eliminates in the designated spot so it learns that it is doing good by going in that area.
Never scold your dog for mishaps, it is not their fault but the owners fault for not supervising them close enough.
Tips:
Set an alarm to remind you to let the puppy out to relieve itself.
Exercise your puppy before confining them to their crate.
Anticipation - A puppy that suddenly sniffs the ground intensely is usually signalling that it is looking for somewhere to relieve itself.
Put the puppy crate in a busy environment such as the kitchen, so not to feel isolated.
Never confine puppy in crate for punishment.
PAPER TRAINING
Paper training a puppy is a two stage process: 1) train puppy to relieve itself on paper only 2) train puppy to go only outdoors. There is a potential risk of only partially house breaking a puppy using this method as it is trained that relieving itself indoors is acceptable.
Paper training is when the dog eliminates on the paper when indoors, but when outside it goes in a designated area.
The owner needs to monitor the dog and anticipate when the dog needs to relieve itself.
At regular intervals your puppy should be taken to the papered area or a designated place outside to relieve itself.
As your puppy relieves itself use words like "hurry up" then praise them. Soon your dog will learn the command "hurry up" means to relieve itself. It is important to praise your dog after it eliminates on the paper or outside in the designated spot so it learns that it is doing good by going in that area.
Whenever possible train your puppy to relieve itself outside in a designated area. A puppy needs to be taken outside after they wake up, after they eat and throughout the day at least every 3 hours.
Unless your puppy is to be completely an indoors dog (like a toy dog living in an apartment) then they need to be weaned off relieving themselves on the papered area. After the puppy learns that relieving itself on the papered area is ?good? then the papered area needs to be gradually diminished. As the papered area is diminished it should be moved closer towards the door and finally outside, by which time your puppy should be house broken.
I hope this helps, better late than never...