[kal74]

We have a 14 week old Maltipoo puppy and we've been working hard on housetraining since bring him home at 8 weeks, he was trained on pads from the breeder and we started with them and going out very often but in the last few weeks have gotten rid of the pads and were just doing outside (every 2 hrs or more if eating/drinking after naps).
We have a very open house floor plan with carpet in most rooms so he's either in his playpen area (hardwood floor) or on a leash in the kitchen area which is also hardwood. After he goes bathroom outside we either continue to play outside or bring him in to play on the carpet (no accidents) with us for 20-30 min before putting him back in his playpen or kitchen area till his next bathroom break.

My question is when and how should I go about giving him more supervised freedom, he does bark or whine at times when he needs to go out but it's hard to tell at times if its because he really needs to go out or he just wants to come out of this playpen and play with us, there's been times I assumed he just wanted to play but then he went pee on the floor after being out 30 min prior. I'm feeling bad he's confined more then not, from what I read most dogs are not good at telling you they need to go till 6 months, is it better to continue this routine till then? He does great in his crate overnight since day 1 and sleeps from 10pm-630/7am without a peep, should I be crating him more during the day vs using the playpen? My husband works from home so is able to take him out often and he doesn't like the idea of a crate during the day but could that be keeping him from learning to "hold it" longer? Thanks!

 

[Dawnben]

My question is when and how should I go about giving him more supervised freedom, he does bark or whine at times when he needs to go out but it's hard to tell at times if its because he really needs to go out or he just wants to come out of this playpen and play with us, there's been times I assumed he just wanted to play but then he went pee on the floor after being out 30 min prior. I'm feeling bad he's confined more then not, from what I read most dogs are not good at telling you they need to go till 6 months, is it better to continue this routine till then? He does great in his crate overnight since day 1 and sleeps from 10pm-630/7am without a peep, should I be crating him more during the day vs using the playpen? My husband works from home so is able to take him out often and he doesn't like the idea of a crate during the day but could that be keeping him from learning to "hold it" longer? Thanks!

I would take him out every time you take him out of the pen. If you think he may be playing you to get out of the pen just put him back after the bathroom break. Stay out side long enough to make sure he is done. At this age I would keep him penned if no one has their eyes on him. You want to prevent accidents. I agree with your husband, I would not kennel during the day. Small confined area is enough.

 

[Naira]

He is 14 weeks old? If you are 100000% sure he won't have an accident in the playpen (which I highly doubt--bc it's a 14 week old toy breed puppy) then use the playpen. If there is any chance he will....it will seriously set you back in house training.

I would crate. Or use the playpen and make sure your husband religiously takes the dog out on a strict schedule so the dog never has an accident. And when I say never I mean never.

I would give your dog "freedom" in small increments. Like first try 20 minutes, then 40, then an hour than 2 hours etc...potty training **TO COMPLETION** is so important in tiny dogs, or it can become a lifelong problem. So do everything you can to prevent accidents from happening now so your dog can enjoy freedom later. That might mean freedoms *with restrictions* for 1-2 years.

I don't personally know any toy breed dogs that don't have accidents from time to time or even regularly. And that's because their owners rushed to give them freedoms they didn't earn yet

 

[redstreetglide]

I have a 15 week old maltipoo and sounds like we are pretty much on same schedule. I am crate and bell training. My concern is he never gives any indication (turning, whining, barking, going to the door, ringing his bell) he needs to go out. Will that eventually happen as he gets older? The problem may be I take him out about every hour and a half or two hours so he never has to tell me because I take him out so frequently??? If he drinks or eats more, I take him out more. After all, what goes in must come out. I certainly hope he will eventually give me a sign.

 

[Naira]

Some dogs will NEVER signal that they want to go out. Ever. You can try teaching them a signal or just gaming them out on a schedule.

 

[Dia]

I have a 15 week old maltipoo and sounds like we are pretty much on same schedule. I am crate and bell training. My concern is he never gives any indication (turning, whining, barking, going to the door, ringing his bell) he needs to go out. Will that eventually happen as he gets older? The problem may be I take him out about every hour and a half or two hours so he never has to tell me because I take him out so frequently??? If he drinks or eats more, I take him out more. After all, what goes in must come out. I certainly hope he will eventually give me a sign.

15 weeks is pretty young, he may not be fully aware yet of when he does have to go. Or he may not have enough warning to let you know. A GENERAL rule of thumb is that a dog can go his age in months, plus one hour - so for your puppy, that would be about 4 hours. However, he is a smaller dog, with smaller capacity, so more often would be a good idea. Maybe add to the current time between potty breaks in 15 minute increments, and see how that works.

I think six months is a reasonable expectation for having a dog housetrained reliably, although there's a lot of individual variance.