Housebreaking

What has worked best for you all? Ours is about 8 months, he's fully crate trained, and for the most part, does not have an accident in the home if we take him out within 45 minutes after he drinks water. However, sometimes, he has a tiny little accident (we usually catch him and bring him right outside) and it happens maybe 2-3 times a week maximum. He's always praised for peeing outside, but want to get his body to be able to hold it in when he's NOT in the crate. Crate is no issue, he can hold it in for a good 4-5 hours.

Housebreaking

Sounds like it's a small dog. They are harder to housebreak. Especially male dogs. I am assuming he is neutered? If not, I'd be neutering him ASAP. Small male dogs can take a good year or more to housebreak. If he has a small bladder he might have to go out more than you are putting him out. At his age 4 hours when awake is about what he can do. If you are lucky, I wouldn't push it to no more than 6 hours. Sleeping dogs can hold it longer than awake dogs.

Basically going out every 3 hours during the day, then 8 hours crated over night. Out in the house after he has made and then only supervised while loose. If you catch him in the act of making yell "No, OUTSIDE" and hopefully that will distract him and stop him mid pee. When you take him out and he makes, praise and treat.

Mostly just keep doing what you are doing :o)

Re: Housebreaking

Thanks! He's young, but is already close to 50 lbs :) He's a lab/shepherd mix, so definitely opposite of small although he's definitely still a puppy.

We'll continue doing what we're doing and hoping in a few weeks or months all will be fine :)

Housebreaking

Oh wow, usually large dogs HB really quickly, in the 10-16 week range... Unless it's a timing thing... you forgetting to put him out... or when he goes out he gets distracted and isn't really going. Do you see him make every time? He may not be emptying his bladder when he goes. Is he lifting his leg or squatting?

Re: Housebreaking

The accidents have definitely calmed down, but if he stayed out of the crate for 3 hours without being taken out, he would definitely have an accident. We adopted him when he was around 6 months or so, and he was not crate trained or anything, so it's definately taken some time and Im sure in a few weeks he'll get there