>My puppy stayed in his crate almost 100% of the time when we were >crate training him.
I generally use the crate as well, or an x-pen set up in the garage with some papers when I am going to be gone longer. 13 weeks is definitely too young to be reliably housebroken in general, my dogs always seem to have more issues with pooping versus peeing as well. You definitely shouldn't expect if he's been outside all day that he will not need to go when you come home. Excitement and exercise you can always expect to get those bowels moving. ;-) It sometimes drives those of us crazy that do performance sports because you'll walk the dog for half an hour and he won't go, but as soon as you hit the ring and they start running around *then* they need to stop and go. So definitely don't use the outdoors as a crutch for training them properly (or for exercise for that matter). And I usually find that dogs that get taken to the yard specifically to go will learn faster than those that spend the bulk of their time outside. I do like to try and teach my dogs a "go potty" command as well, with lots of praise when they go, I've even give my dog a treat if he comes and whines to go out rather than just poop on the floor. If I do catch him right in the act though, I will yell enough to startle him and take him outside immediately. There's no need to rub their nose in it, but there's nothing wrong with letting him know that in the house is not acceptable. But *only* if you catch them in the middle of it (or ideally, as they start to go!) I've had dogs that were no problems at all to housebreak (my current pup for instance) and others that I still wouldn't say were 100% reliable as adults. In fact, I have a friend that is a vet and also a behavioral consultant (like the Dog Whisperer) and she once had this sheltie puppy that she just could NOT get housebroken. She said it a very humbling experience and really made her appreciate how frustrating and difficult some dogs can be, even when you follow all the rules of how to do it right. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Check out the new features and enhancements in the latest product release - download the "What's New PDF" now http://download.macromedia.com/pub/labs/coldfusion/cf8_beta_whatsnew_052907.pdf Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:240285 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
