Potty & crate train a Pit Bull puppy in an apartment with neighbors?

Crate training is great and definitely the way I have always house trained my dogs. Basically any time you cannot be at home to watch him he needs to be in the crate. When you get up in the morning or get home, you take him outside to a specific spot and tell him to "potty". When he does, you praise him. If he doesn't, then you put him back In his crate. The crate needs to be large enough for him to stand up and turn around but not so big that he can pee/poop on one side and sleep on the other. Also I do not recommend putting him in his crate with water as that is just setting him up for failure. If you are home on the weekend, make sure you watch when he eats and drinks and take him outside about 30-45 minutes after that. If you catch him IN THE ACTION of peeing or pooping, you can tell him "no" then take him outside to his spot and tell him to go "potty". If you don't see the pee or poop until after he has done it, it doesn't not benefit him to run his nose in it. Crate training is the best way to house train in my opinion. Just remember that he is young and it will take some time. You can also go to veterinarypartner.com and look up crate training to find some more reliable information. I hope this helps!

Great question! I will give you the method I typically recommend for house training a dog. Crating training is a great way to do it, but it's also important to put Bambi on a schedule. Start by keeping him on a regular feeding schedule, and taking away his food between meals. Take him out to potty first thing every morning, and once every two to three hours at first. Once he gets better at holding his bladder, you can stretch it out but he can never go longer than eight hours without a bathroom break.. Always make sure he goes out after meals, first thing when he wakes up from a nap, last thing before bedtime at night, and right before you leave the house. Take him to the same spot each time to go potty. His scent there will encourage him to go. Stay with him outside each time he goes to potty, at least until he is fully house trained. When he goes outside, praise him and give him a treat. In terms of the crate, it needs to be big enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lie down, but it should not be big enough for him to go potty in. You will have to slowly train him to get used to a crate. Start putting him in it when you are home and sitting nearby so he doesn't think you are abandoning him, and slowly increase the time he is in it. He can have toys in the crate, and puzzle toys with treats in it that he has to figure out how to get the treats out. You can put a tablespoon of peanut butter in a Kong toy and freeze it in the freezer overnight, then give it to him in the crate. That will keep him occupied for a while. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using PetCoach! A couple ideas: try something like FreshPatch which essentially sends you a patch of real grass in a cardboard container. Or, try crate training since most pups will not pee in their “house”. Here is a good link for crate training. http://www.aahneenah.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/crate-training-your-puppy.pdf As far as the aggression, you’ll need to get that under control as soon as possible. Any form of aggression toward humans should be met with a firm “no” and stopping all play/walking. Practice just walking by and touching his back end frequently so that it’s normal and no big deal. Neutering often helps with aggression so keep that in mind. Finally, some dog require more intensive care so talk with your vet about anti anxiety medication or professional training.

I would keep him in his crate when you aren't there to supervise him. If he gets into your closet and decides to eat one of your items of clothing, and it gets stuck in his GI tract, he'll need surgery. Ideally, if someone can come during the time you're gone to take him out to potty and play a bit, it'll go a long way toward making separation easier for him. Getting him a Kong toy you can put some peanut butter in for him to lick and chew on will also help him pass the time and be less anxious. While you are home, make sure he gets loads of time with you. Play with him, go for walks, runs, take him with you wherever you can take him, get him out to play with other dogs, anything and everything you can to make sure he is tired both physically and mentally. A tired dog is a happy dog. Obedience training is another great way for the two of you to bond, and for him to learn how to behave correctly under different circumstances. PetsMart has puppy kindergarten classes that he is at a great age to start.

Congratulations on your new puppy! It is always best to feed your new puppy, puppy dog food. Ideally, Science diet, Iams, Eukanuba, Nutro, etc. These food companies do a lot of research and testing to make sure the foods have the correct nutrients in it for them. Here are two websites for training: http://pawbark.com/potty-training-puppies-use-crate/ http://pawbark.com/9-tips-training-dog/ If you would like to know any other information just submit the question in the forum and we can always help answer your question as quickly as possible. Thank you for using PetCoach.

Steps to take when you are away from home: •Take your puppy outside to eliminate before you leave •Keep your puppy in a confined area. By keeping your puppy in a small area, he will refrain from eliminating where he has to lie down or stay close to the accident. The area needs to be roomy enough for your puppy to stand, lie down and turn around. A great way to do this is to crate train your puppy (see crate training handout). However, if you puppy is going to be alone for an extended period of time, he should have a bigger place than just a crate. •Avoid leaving your puppy alone for extended hours. Although a young puppy of 8 – 9 weeks of age can go about 7 hours controlling his/her bladder, it is important to give your puppy ample opportunities to do the right behavior and eliminate outside. The more times your puppy goes where it is supposed to, the faster your puppy will learn where you want them to go. It is a general rule to let a puppy go outside at least every 4 hours. •Remember to take your puppy outside as soon as you come home. Do not to let your puppy play or eat before it has gotten a chance to go to the bathroom. Puppies can be very unpredictable and can even eliminate right in the middle of playing fetch! What if your puppy has an accident? •Housetraining a puppy can take weeks to months, and accidents will happen. When your puppy has an accident, it is very important that you do not punish your puppy! •All accidents must be immediately & fastidiously cleaned up, as odors of past accidents will draw your pup into voiding in the same places. We recommend cleaning with an enzymatic cleaner, such as Anti-Icky Poo ® or Nature’s Miracle ®. •It is very important to refrain from verbally or physically punishing your puppy for eliminating in the house. Punishment creates fear and hiding or avoidance of human contact, and your puppy may even become fearful of eliminating in your presence. Furthermore, if your puppy is being punished after he eliminates in an inappropriate spot, he will not know what he is being punished for. So punishing your puppy can do more harm than good. •If you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating indoors, distract him, pick him up and take him outside to his bathroom spot. If your puppy finishes eliminating outside, immediately praise and reward him for doing the right thing. Common mistakes when housetraining: •Not taking your puppy outside often enough •Not supervising your puppy as closely as you should •Missing “clues” from your puppy that he needs to eliminate •Giving your puppy free run to the entire house before he is fully housetrained •Verbally or physically punishing your puppy for improperly eliminating in the house •Not cleaning up properly and immediately after an accident Lastly, remember that although housetraining may be time consuming and frustrating, it is very rewarding and a great bonding experience for you and your new puppy! If you have questions or concerns about your puppy, do not hesitate to call or visit your veterinarian.

Here is a great website that can give you information on crate training. http://www.thejerseymoms.com/potty-train-your-puppy/ Crate training is a great way to potty train Bella. Just remember she is still a baby so it will take time. Thank you for using PetCoach.