and timing is important. at 4 1/2 months, she's still very little, so setting up a rigid schedual is important, you gotta train yourself to get her outside. for example when alex was a puppy..... alex eats breakfast at 6:30. i get up at 6:10, pull on my sweats, take him out of his crate, dry, lotsa good doggies as we walk outside. we're out 6:15-6:25, he does a little whiz lotsa good doggies, on a few things, we're back in, i visit the bathroom, then he eats. back outside for a short potty time, he does his business, lotsa good doggies, back in so i can do morning things. he stays in the kitchen with me, as i drink my coffee, eat my breakfast, we do a walk(a tired puppy is a good puppy) then into the crate with a safe chewy as i shower for work. a short potty break right before i leave at 9. he's had at least 3 trips out in 3 hours in the am, a dogs' digestive system is very active in the am and eating, play and nap. the next door neighbor, a dog lover, lets him out at 12:30 ish, potty time then back to the crate. i'm home between 5 and 5:10. immediate outside. if the crate is clean good doggy, if not, i just clean it up. dinner for both of us, a post dinner stroll, plastic bags in my pocket for the inevitable. evening time, a potty break around 8:30, final play and outies around 10. nighty night in the bedroom crate. i keep a pair of sweats for a quick pull on if needed, and a pair of clogs near the door if we need a late night visit.
when the puppy is little, it's like an infant, losta time and attention to their needs, cause they go first for those 4-5 months. i learned his body language, when he was looking for a place to potty, and just sniffing around for fun, i never hit alex for a mistake, i just cleaned it up with simple solution and a little green machine. i really believe there aren't any bad dogs just stupid human behavior.
there are a lot of training books and videos through the library, so you can choose. good luck, enjoy these baby days.
joyce who has princess peanut, spokesdog for the catpack, mojo, magic, kira and squirty, members of the catpack, angel duke, a good dog who is missed and angel alex the wonder dog, handsome prince.
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