[Mantobellio]

I train my dogs a bit differently from most on here. Throughout the years, I have trained one or two puppies at a time. The age of the puppies usually ranged from two weeks apart to two months apart. No matter the age or if it was two puppies or one, there still needed to be a set of rules that were consistently abided by.

When my pups were young, I would take off two weeks from work and give them an area (usually the garage that wasn’t being used as one) where they felt safe. Training began day one when the puppy or puppies came to live with me. I immediately would start potty training, taking the dog out several times a day/night. I have never had any dog in the many years of owning dogs ever pee or poop inside the house. I don’t puppy proof my house, nor use crates. I teach the puppy what they can and cannot chew on, mess with, or what ever. Basically, the first two weeks of MY puppies or older dogs lives are the very crucial ones.

For young pups, I divided the garage into two areas, one for the pups sleeping/play area and the other (near the garage door) as their relieving area. For their relieving area, I used one of those rubber maid looking plastic boxes. The ones that were a few inches high and several feet long (sort of like a litter box, but longer and wider). I set up the box like a little garden with dirt and grass and taught the pups to use it as their waste area when I was not home.

Every time I would leave for work (10 -11 hours), the t-shirt I wore that day, I would leave it in their sleeping area so they could sense my smell at all times. As they grew bigger, I unlocked the dog door that led outside to the yard so they could use it to play and relieve themselves. The yard where they could go was sectioned off from the main yard for their safety. At around four to six months, the pups were able to access the house (when I was not there) and go in the living room if they wished. I have never had anything chewed or messed with such as computer wires, furniture, etc.

Basically, if you set up the rules early in a pups life, of if you get an older dog, those first couple weeks are crucial and sets the boundaries right off. A dog adapts to your schedule, but you have to instill in them what is acceptable and what is not.