Training a Paper Trained Puppy to Go Outside

By

kimhis

I used the crate at night, and during the day I took her outside once an hour. Never had a single accident in the house. They instinctively know not to soil 'the cave', so they don't mess in the crate unless it's torture. Soon they understand that the whole house is 'the cave'.

By

catastrofy

Place the paper by the door. This teaches him to go to the door when he has to go "pottie". Keep some paper outside and when he runs to the door to go "pottie", scoop him up and take him outside to the paper out there. Lots of praise when he's done!

By

busdrivr

You might try taking the paper outside with you.

By Kathleen (Guest Post)

Years ago my daughter only wanted a puppy for Christmas. And sure enough, it was the worse snowy winter for Chicago. Our puppy was paper trained until April! Within a few days, she was trained to go outside. Take the newspaper outside with you. The scent of the paper will alert him to do his business. Good luck.

By SAMEOLEME (Guest Post)

10 weeks old is still a baby. He is going to make mistakes, but with patience and love, he will learn.

By

Natalie from Rhode Island

You just found out the problem with paper training - you now have to "un-train" your puppy.

When I trained my large breed puppy I decided to skip the whole paper training step (he is now a 90 lb lab) since picking up his substantial poops was not pleasant. I relied on taking him out LOTS of times and using a crate. His crate was lined with a comfy cushion and he treated it like his den or "safe place" long after we needed to use it. He never, ever soiled his crate.

My suggestion to you - crate or no crate - is to now be very conscious of your puppy's body language when he needs to "go". Start by taking him out every single time he eats, plus at regular intervals throughout the day. Pay attention when he seems fidgety or overly interested in how it smells behind that chair.... Take him to the same spot each time, if possible. You may need to bring out some newspaper for him to use outdoors until he's more comfortable. I know a number of people who have also taught their dog a "cue" word to make them go - pick one word or phrase, repeat it every time they go, over and over, and eventually the dog connects the word with the act.

Good luck, be patient, and enjoy your puppy!

By Natalie from Rhode Island (Guest Post)

You've discovered the one problem with paper training - you now have to "un-train" your puppy. I chose to skip the whole paper thing since my puppy was a large breed (now a 90 lb lab), and it was NOT very nice to pick up his poop in the house. I relied on a crate while he was young, which was lined with a comfy cushion and treated as his den and "safe place". He never, ever soiled his crate.

The most important thing now is to bring your puppy outside IMMEDIATELY after he eats, and at regular intervals during the day. Your job is to pay real attenttion to his body language and learn what he does when he needs to go. Using the same place every time often helps. I know a number of people who have also taught their dog a cue word to make them "go" - say it when they poop, repeat yourself each time, and over many times the dog connects the word with the act. It honestly works!

Good luck, be patient, and enjoy your puppy!