CAGE TRAINING Your puppy has been raised in a small kennel and has been taken out several times a day for playtime and socialising. You might think keeping a dog in a kennel or cage is unkind, but you could not be more wrong. Considering that in the wild, dogs are den animals, it only makes sense that even domesticated dogs would feel secure in a small space that is familiar to them.
You must understand that a cage is not a jail, it is the safest place the puppy can be to learn to be housebroken, have its meals, sleep at night, ride in the car, and stay in hotels and motels. It will become its own portable "Den". The nature of a dog is not to foul its "Nest". This means that until you have instilled in the puppy an idea of housebreaking, a healthy puppy will not go against its natural instincts.
Have a cage the size that will fit the puppy comfortably, large enough so that the puppy may stand up, turn around and has enough space to lie down with ease. You may have to get a larger cage as the puppy grows. If the puppy is going to be large, do not buy a huge cage to begin with. It will give the puppy ideas of being able to use a portion of it as a toilet, something you do not want to happen.
Start the puppy off in its cage the first night. Put the cage with a towel or bath mat in it, in the room where the puppy is to sleep. Put the puppy in the cage with a puppy biscuit, always reward for entering the cage, and settle down for the night.
If the puppy has other ideas, do not give in –even if it howls the house down. If the puppy starts to cry, do not go and let it out – it will register with the puppy that it will be let out when it howls. Wait until the puppy has settled down, and when all is quiet, then you can open the door and let it leave the cage on its own. Do not take the puppy into your bed or allow the puppy to run free in the house.
One suggestion that does work - wear your puppy out physically before it's time to go into the cage. If you play a lot, the pup should be completely worn out, and should have emptied its bladder and bowels before you attempt to settle it for the night, and nine times out of ten, the pup will flake out pretty quickly.
The first few nights are the most difficult, but also important, to both you and the puppy. Training is a matter of patience and time. Persevere and it will get easier
There are other advantages to using a cage or kennel aside from the dog’s comfort. Using a cage can make housebreaking easier, since it is a dog’s instinct not soil the place where they sleep. Of course it will take some growing time for your puppy to gain the control necessary to keep his/her cage clean. A cage will also give you control over when and where your puppy has access to your house. The cage can be used at night, when you are away from your home, or when you have company or are otherwise unable to keep a close eye on your baby. It brings peace of mind to know your puppy is in a safe place. The cage can continue to be used right through adulthood if desired.
You absolutely CAN NOT give the dog full run of the house until that dog is proven that he is trained!!!!! I can not stress this enough. This is the worst mistake people make. It’s a matter of training YOU NOT the dog. Start all over at step one. Go back to cage training.
TOILET TRAINING
You really need to take your puppy out 20 minutes to start with. This might seem a lot, but bear in mind that the puppy is very young and, just like a kid has a short attention span and an even smaller bladder. As with kids, patience is a virtue. As the puppy grows and matures you can lengthen times between trips. It is also smart to take your puppy out as soon as it wakes up after naps and before and after meals.
It is best if you take your puppy consistently to one spot. As your puppy becomes older and you have learned to read your puppy's signs, you will be able to tell when your puppy needs to go out. Remember, once your puppy tells you he needs to go out TAKE HIM!!!
Poodles are very intelligent and easy to train. In fact, it is more a process of the puppy training you, and not you training the puppy. Please note that consistency is the KEY no matter what method of training you use. If you do not have your poodle puppy house broken in a matter of a couple of weeks then YOU are probably doing something wrong.
Another NOTE: Dog go through a certain TEENAGER phase around 6-8 months that will drive you nuts and test you in every way. Do not be surprised if during this time it seems like you have to almost start over with potty training. This phase only lasts 3-4 weeks and everything should return to normal.
