House Breaking

One of the best perks of buying a SweetPea Puppy is that they have already been introduced to using a designated potty area. When your puppy arrives to his/her new home it is critical that you instill the same skills they already know right away. They are in a new environment and will need to be taught where your “designated potty area” is.

Tips for an easy transition:

1. The first couple of days when puppy has your full attention and is out and about playing, take puppy out every half hour to an hour whether you think they need to go or not. Be ready with a treat so the second they go you can give them a treat and say good boy/girl/

2. If puppy is not supervised use a crate. Use the divider to ensure the puppy has just enough room to lay down. They have been taught not to eliminate where they sleep.

3. While puppy is out playing watch for him/her to suddenly stop playing and sniff. The second this happens call their name, pick them up and take them to their potty spot. When you set them down say “go potty” once they have finished congratulate them and give them a treat.

4. Do not leave the puppy in a crate for longer than 3-4 hours. They have small bladders and are not capable of holding it much longer until they are older.

5. Do not leave water out. Be aware of how much water they are consuming so you can be ready to take them out. Puppy will need to go out right after eating or drinking.

6. Puppy will always need to be taken out right after waking up, eating and drinking. Again, be ready with treats.


Crate Training

Crate training seems to be most families preferred method of house breaking. Here is a link to an excellent tutorial on Crate training

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/crate-training-101

Our vet highly recommends benadryl as an anti anxiety for pups. So if your pup is having a difficult time in the crate you can start with 1 mg per pound of body weight and decrease slowly until they no longer need it. I only recommend this if needed. So play with it without meds first.


CoSleeping

While Crate training is an excellent option many may find co-sleeping with their fur baby to be their preferred method. All my doggos sleep in bed with me. I enjoyed this method because I have had two dogs that just didn’t take to crates very well. Having them in bed with me allowed me to get some sleep while still being able to know when they needed out to go potty because the stirring would wake me up. Steps for co-sleeping method.

  1. Ensure pup does not have enough room to go to another area of the bed. If you have a large bed cover empty space with items they could not get on to go potty.

  2. If pups begind stirring, panting or looking like they want off the bed take them out to go potty.

  3. Be ready with a treat for going potty.