Hello,

Next week I am getting a new dog, he is a 7-month old Brittany. He isn't house trained yet, never even been in a house for any length of time. He has been training as a bird dog and his been kept in a kennel. He is well crate trained and doesn't mess up his crate at all so at least I don't have to worry about making him comfortable while crated. My plan is definitely to make sure he is created when not supervised and on a leash when he is in the apartment with me. Of course I will be taking him directly out and keeping an eye on him when he is in the apartment, but I am a little worried about the time between, in the hallway and elevator. It can take up to 5 minutes to get out of the building depending on the wait for the elevator and I want to try to avoid accidents in that time. I am hoping that since he is already used to going outside and not inside, that may help, but who knows.

I would like to know if anyone thinks this would help... He has done some obedience training and is working on a good sit/stay. I am thinking if I use the time waiting for the elevator and in the elevator to work on this, it will keep his mind occupied enough to not think about going to the bathroom. In the hallway and lobby I'm thinking I can keep him moving enough to not have an issue there.

I also gave a thought to trying to pad/litter train him, but i hear it is difficult and confusing to the dog to try to do both. Plus, this dog will be taken outside plenty in any weather due to his exercise requirements so there isn't really any good reason to pad train him.

If anyone has any other ideas, I would appreciate the thoughts. I am trying to have a plan in place before I have him here so hopefully he doesn't even get a chance to associate being inside with using the bathroom.

Thank you,
Rob

I love the idea of using the hallway/elevator time for some quick obedience. That's a great idea.

Following a regular housebreaking schedule, I don't think the dog will have any trouble distinguishing between "inside" (no peeing) and "outside" (peeing allowed). He doesn't understand the idea that you own the apartment but not the hallway or elevator. It's all the same building to him. You simply live in a very, very large house and it will take a few minutes to get to the outdoors. All the more reason to go out often.

I hate those indoor pad things unless it was the very last and only possible solution. It can't be a good idea to teach a dog that it's okay to pee inside sometimes, but you'd really rather he didn't.

One other thought: you're going to be super-anxious to get in the door, get the dog and run outdoors for these potty breaks. That's natural enough. Try as much as you can NOT to create nervous scenes every time you come home. Just calmly come in, get the dog's leash, release from his crate--no need for any big to-do, and CALMLY but quickly head for the outdoors. If you're excited, he'll be excited. And you don't want excited. Not till after the peeing outside. Then throw a party.

Welcome, Rob!

Others will help too, but I can say that when I have adopted dogs who had never been house-trained, my big goal was never to have the dog inside when he had to go. This is how the habit gets planted: By taking the dog out so often that plenty of praise and partying and rewards for outdoor potty cemented that idea that "outdoor potty = great stuff" and at the same time keeps a bad habit from even starting in your house (which remember, is new to him and has no association with potty -- a little of a jump-start).

I'd have him outside to potty before he ever even came indoors. I'd try to stay out long enough to aim for a couple of potties. I'd have my rewards and my party hats ready.

Then after his next drink or play or meal I'd take him back to that spot so he'd smell the good thing he did there before.

I've trained several never-before-trained adults, and my guess is that transferring the principles to a high rise means not much more than allowing a little more time to get out (so never waiting until he is obviously in need).

I'd treat the hallway and elevator, etc., as extensions of the apartment.

I'd remember that a concerted effort the first week or so is going to pay off, because you won't be allowing any unwanted habit to get any kind of foothold.




P.S. You hear right about this: "I also gave a thought to trying to pad/litter train him, but i hear it is difficult and confusing to the dog to try to do both." That trains him to go indoors.

Well, two posters with but a single post ....