Re: Potty training outside vs. inside

In Reply to: Potty training outside vs. inside
Category:   House Breaking
Posted by:  Curtis
Posted on:  May 29, 2002 at 12:34:58

: Ive been reading your forum and its been very helpful,I started training my JR to go outside, he is currently 3 mo. I am currently home all day and dont leave him crated for more than two hours, getting him to go outside has been successful with a couple of accidents. However pretty soon I am going to be working and wont be home for 8 hours, and I am wondering would it be best to litter train him indoors and place him in the kitchen when I am not home,that way I wont have to crate him all day. Would it be possible to teach him to go outside when the crate is removed and in the crate when its there ?

Response:

Hi Curtis,

You will be sending mixed signals to your dog and that will be very confusing.

All of the reps here recommend housebreaking as opposed to litter or paper training. Litter and paper training tells the dog it's okay to eliminate in the house. You could end up having problems with the dog missing the litter box or papers. It wouldn't be surprising because I believe JRTs are just too big for this type of housebreaking method. I would leave indoor elimination to the toy poodles, chihuahuas and tea-cup yorkies, which I think these litter boxes are more geared to.

You will probably end up with more indoor accidents if you chose this route because now he's confused about where to go.

I strongly suggest to keep him on course, you seem to be having good success with it. If you can try and find someone to come in and take him out during the day while you are gone, at least until he's old enough to hold it for longer periods of time.

BTW, you should always make his crate available to him. Many dogs find their crates to be "their place" and look at is as a source of comfort.