Three puppies, struggling with housetraining, clever tips please

[mumzyof2]

We currently have a male neutered Chihuahua (Oscar) - ten months old. Female chihuahua (Lady) 5 months old. Female Pug (Molly)- 4 months old. We also have three cats. The truth is, we only got the younger two dogs because I was feeing 'motherly' or something, turns out Im pregnant. I cant get rid of the dogs really, Im a huge animal lover (veggie etc) and am a half trained vet nurse. We have tried everything from those training mats to a crate(cage). The now spend most of their time in the crate (as dogs wont 'toilet'where they sleep) and I take them into the back garden for ten minutes an hour and give them a treat each time they 'go'. But is it cruel to keep them in a crate for so long? How long should this method take? Does anyone have any 'magic' tips that worked? I have a 3 yr old ds, and another due in April. Were trying to sell the house, decorate, so this really is the last thing I need. I cant cope with it much longer and it gets me down.

I've never house-trained more than one dog at a time. I imagine that keeping on top of the smell is crucial - if they smell where they've been before they'll assume it's cool to go there again. Lots of cleaning up.

The way we trained our dog to go outside was to notice when she squatted down and make a big excited fuss and race out into the garden with her. She'd leap up mid wee and delightedly dance out with us, only to remember she still needed to go when she got out - she'd wee on the grass, we'd whoop and hollar with praise and cuddles. She was fairly bemused but got the hang of it in less than a fortnight.

I think big dogs are easier to train than little ones though.

I read that many dogs don't get full bladder/bowel control til 4 months so they perhaps aren't doing too bad. Have also read, as broccolispears says, madly praising usually works better than a treat.
Have you read 'how to housebreak puppy in 7 days' (or is called something similar)? is v cheap on amazon. I have found rather than just taking them out every ten minutes, if they 'produce' what you want outside then let them have some free (safe) time inside but out of crate, then gradually build the amount of time up. I find the time buids up with out noticing, and it gives them chance to learn how to tell you they need to go outside.

i really am no expert by the way, we are midway through training our puppy!

I've got two dogs - an 12yr old lab who was extremely easy to house train as a puppy and is so well behaved its unreal.

I've also got a Jack Russell Terrier x who is 8 months old and lives in her crate - this is her space and it is full of her toys, chews etc. She eats and sleeps in her crate and it is placed in the hall so she can hear/see everyone and so she feels part of the family. She is let out of the crate on a very regular basis - ie every hour or so to go into the garden but she is also left in her crate when we go out which can be up to 4hrs maximum. It is an excellent way of house-training because dogs don't tend to mess in their sleeping environment.

When I first got the JRT I was very against crates - I used to see them as a cage and cruel - because she was quite difficult to house-train (she'd hide behind the sofa or simply sit and wee) I decided to get one and she took to it straight away. It just means that when we're not on guard she can't chew the furniture, mess on the floor or annoy the other dog, who is in retirement and needs her peace and quiet. When we let the JRT out the crate she heads for the back door asking to be let out to relieve herself - so the crate idea must work.

I don't think there is a maximum length of time you can use a crate for - I doubt we'll ever part with ours. They're not cruel providing they're not shut in them all day long or put in there for being naughty etc.

I have chihuahuas too, do you want to know a good chihuahua site for lots of information?