Cross Breeds

I have a new four month old Shih Tzu Puppy from a pet store. Any tips on housebreaking?

I recently brought home a four month old Shih Tzu puppy from a pet store. I am having a very difficult time housebreaking her because she has been allowed to eliminate in her crate for so long. She refuses to eliminate outside but goes within minutes of coming in regardless of the amount of time spent in the yard. I wanted to try to crate train her, but she has no problem eliminating in it. Does anyone have any advice?

Public Comments

1. Dogs from petstores are usually from puppy mills. They have spent every waking hour in a crate or confined. This sets them back on most social and training issues... Never buy while great dogs die!
2. You are in for a long haul. You need to "undo" all the poor dog has ever known. You've got to keep her outside until she does her thing--it will be a test of will & patience. When she does go, PARTY!!! WHOOOHOOO! GOOOD GIRL! I rescued a 7 mo old maltese last year from a )@&^(_$ PET STORE, my dad has him now. It took him a lonnnnng time to learn to go outside. Good luck.
3. I would try the puppy pee pads. I had great luck with them with my puppy before I switched to crating. They're treated with something that attracts them to go on the pads. Put them in a common area in your home, and if she has an accident, move what you wiped up onto the pad, so she learns to go there. As time progresses, move the pads closer to the door and then outside. Eventually, she won't need the pads at all. Hope that helps! : )
4. Typically dogs don't pee where they sleep, so if you start the crate training process eventually she will not do it anymore. Don't punish her when she goes in the house because at this point she doesn't know its bad. Just watch her like a hawk and if she gets in business position then scoop her up and take her outside and wait until she goes and say go potty over and over until she does then say good girl and give treat or pet or something good. You absolutley have to be consistant this is the most important part of the whole thing. I would reccomend taking her out every 30 min to 1hr for a while until she starts to catch on. Good luck, im sure it will all work out and when its all done, you will think how easy it was. I wouldn't reccomend getting the pads, dogs are suppose to pee outside, if they think they can go inside pad or no pad they will. Its not an easy thing to break when they are older. Train her to go outside while she is still a baby
5. Train it .Train it.It is very important it can save you life or your dog's live
6. Put her in a crate just big enough for her to stand and turn around in. She will not want to lay in her feces. Try hanging a bell on the door for her to let you know when she has to go, She will enjoy ringing it also. Praise her and treat her when she does go outside. I have a pitbull who after 3 monthes of trying, took 3 days to understand the bell and now holds it for 8-10 hours at a time. No accidents in over 12 months.
7. First, using puppy pee pads will only teach the puppy to potty in the house -- exactly what you don't want. So, I don't recommend them. Here are a few things to note: 1. Put your puppy on a feeding schedule. 2. Take your puppy out at routine times -- regularly. 3. How big is your crate? The crate should only be big enough for the puppy to turn around and lay down in. If it's bigger than that, then the puppy will go to one end and potty and sleep in the other end. The problem is, they almost always have no choice but to walk in it. If your crate is too big, I recommend partitioning it off so it's smaller. 4. Remember, your puppy is just a baby and housebreaking takes time. If you can't watch her - put her in the crate and/or put her on a leash so you know what she's doing at all times. Is your puppy treat motivated? If so, when you take her out and she potties outside praise her lavishly and give her a treat. Each time you do this, she will learn that this is the behavior you want.
8. The one suggustion that I have for you is consistancy. I have a 12 week old shih tzu and even the vet agrees that they are hard to housebreak. We try to take him out every 20 min. and keep snacks right outside so that we don't forget.
9. that is great that you are trying to train in a crate. one of the things i would do,and it is going to take awhile, is to set times to go out. if you start on a set time and praise the puppy, so or later the puppy is going to get the idea that it is doing good. do not punish the puppy if it goes in the crate. if it does go bring it outside and wait. you and the puppy are going to learn from each other. some people never can do the waiting game and end up giving the puppy up. they have to learn. they are not going to know better. even the ones that you get from a pet store. they are in cages going when they want to.they only get taking out when someone wants to see them. do not give up. god is with you and learn with the puppy. good luck and your new family member. and have fun.
10. make her stay out side for a longe time i mean like till night time