Housebreaking Your Poodle

Housebreaking begins the minute you bring your new puppy home. At first, puppies will go everywhere and anywhere. Just like human babies, puppies progress from no control at all to the ability to wait until the right place.

Try to arrange for someone to be present as much as possible, the first few days for an older dog or weeks for a puppy.

There Will Be Accidents - Don't get upset and don't punish the puppy, it can set back the housebreaking process drastically, especially if your puppy is shy or nervous.

Don't expect your puppy to be completely housebroken until six months of age.

The younger the puppy is and the smaller the breed, the more often they have to go. Puppies under 9 weeks of age need to eliminate 8-12 times or more a day. Even at 4 months old puppies have little bladder or bowel control.

Make Sure Your Puppy Is Healthy

Worms and other health problems can make housebreaking impossible, so the first thing you should do is have your puppy checked by your veterinarian.

Establish A Regular Feeding Schedule

Feed your puppy a healthy diet - in the same place and at the same times each day. During the training period, limit treats and do not let your dog have access to food at all times. What goes in on a schedule will come out on a schedule.

Limiting Access To Water

Dogs need fresh water available at all times for their well being. Restrict access to water only during the housebreaking process. Give your puppy plenty of water during feeding time and offer it to her every time before you take her out to go potty.

Establish Your Dogs Living Area

Your puppy will need a small confined space to keep her in when you are not home or cannot watch her.

Establish Your Dogs Toilet Area

Dogs need to be trained to go in a specific place. Your dog should be taken to the same area every time she has to eliminate. Until your puppy develops a strong habit of eliminating in the right area you should accompany her.

Monitor Your Puppy At All Times

You will have to invest time in watching your puppy closely and carefully, taking him out many times a day, learning his particular signals that indicate he has to go, making sure he doesn't drink a whole bowl of water before going to bed, etc.

Each dog has their own individual signals that they have to go. Some dogs will walk around in a circle, act nervous, go into another room, or start sniffing the floor. As soon as you see signals, your puppy has to go, take him out immediately.

Take your puppy to his toilet area every 45 minutes, after playing, after eating or drinking, and when he wakes up. After your puppy goes in the appropriate area, make a very big deal of it. PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE!

Older Dogs

The same methods for housebreaking a puppy can be used for an older dog as well. Establish a regular feeding time. What goes in at a regular time will come out at a regular time. Healthy adult dogs can control their bladder and bowels for several hours.

Establish your dog's sleeping, eating, and elimination area. Spend as much time with your dog as possible and be patient. Give yourself and your new adult dog time to get to know each other.

Some dogs can never be trusted with the run of the house unattended. If you think your dog is able to behave uncrated, begin testing by leaving him loose for five minutes while you walk outside, increase to ten minutes, fifteen and so on. If that doesn't work, continue using the crate.

Female Heat Cycles & Best Time to Breed a Female

How often does a female dog come into heat?
The female dog comes into heat (estrus) about every 6 months, although very large breeds of dogs may cycle every 8-10 months. The heat period lasts about 3 weeks.

What are the signs of heat?
The most notable sign of heat is vaginal bleeding. This begins about the end of the first week of estrus and lasts for about 10-14 days. Another consistent sign is swelling of the vulva. During estrus male dogs will be attracted to her.

What can I do to stop her from bleeding on the floor or on my blankets?
You can buy puppy diapers or buy baby diapers and cut a hole out for the tail. Then when you take her outside to go potty just take the diaper off and then put it back on after she is finished.

When do I know if my female is ready to breed with a male?
Do not breed a female until she is 2 years or older. If you breed a female to young it could cause serious problems or may even lead to death. When they are old enough it is best if the male is smaller than the female.

What should I do to be sure that a breeding is accomplished successfully?
Male dogs are more successful breeders when the environment is familiar. Therefore, it is preferable to take the female to the male's home for breeding. The timing for breeding is critical. The most fertile time is considered the 10th through the 14th days of estrus; however, some dogs will be fertile as early as the 3rd day and as late as the 18th day.