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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

tips for house training my lab

8 replies

OnlyWantsOne · 15/09/2010 09:31

Lab puppy is lovely, very good - but we are being told so many ways of how to house train her - we dont know what to do, and obviously we wont get instant results so its hard to know whats right

She has a crate, recommended by vet, which she loves - and snuggles down in of her own accord - and we take her out straight away and she wee's and poos outside - but if she comes back in, she wees on the floor, and cant be left out of her crate?

OP posts:

Bella32 · 15/09/2010 09:38

Yes, you can leave her out of her crate

You have to be totally pro-active. Take her out every hour, plus when she wakes up, has had a meal, or has been running around getting very excited. Stay with her until she does a wee or poo: she'll spend a lot of time at this stage jsut marvelling at The Great Wide World but it will speed up, honest. If she wees when you bring her back in it simply means she wasn't outside for long enough. Patience and 100% vigilance are the name of the game at this stage.

When she wees or poos outside make much fuss of her and give her a little treat. Wees and poos indoors are jsut ignored. She wil lwant to please you and will soon understand that the way to do that is to wee and poo outside.

Original poster

OnlyWantsOne · 15/09/2010 09:46

thats what we have been doing, DP gets up at 5.30am and takes her out until she wees and poos and brings her in gives her breakfast and takes her out again after, about 6.30am then I get up and take her out before I take DD to school about 8am, and I took her out when I got back, and she wees and pood then came in a weed on the floor!

OP posts:

PurpleFrog · 15/09/2010 09:56

It takes time - after 5 and a half weeks I feel we are just about getting there! It is a 2-way thing. They have to learn that they must let you know when they need to go out, and you must learn to pick-up on the tell-tale signs that they need to go out. The accidents do get fewer and further between. The last one we had was after he sat down and whined at the wrong door - I didn't realise he was wanting out - I thought he had heard something outside.

But as Bella says, you must be vigilant at taking them out regularly - it does pay off eventually.

Bella32 · 15/09/2010 10:13

Puprlefrog s right. It will take time. In the early days it can feel as if there are more wees indoors than out, but that will change. You will celebrate your first 'no accident' day, believe me

Puppies think weeing or pooing anywhere except their bed is normal. They have to learn (and remember, their brains are still developing) that we actually like them to do it outside. Be patient.

Original poster

OnlyWantsOne · 15/09/2010 10:14

ok, what about when I go out and leave her here? Or when I go back to work (flexi part time)

OP posts:

Bella32 · 15/09/2010 10:17

I wouldn't leave a puppy at this age (am guessing you've only just got her?) for more than an hour at a time, and that's when I would settle pup in the crate, with a toy and the door shut, after weeing and pooing.

I'd gradually build that time up as pup gets older and I do not leave adult dogs for more than 4 hours a day on a regular basis.

HTH

Original poster

OnlyWantsOne · 15/09/2010 10:20

she's 10 weeks

thank you for all your advice

OP posts:

Bella32 · 15/09/2010 10:21

You're welcome. I think there's a new puppy thread on here somewhere.

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