House breaking without crate - impossible?

[ashleylewis]

I posted yesterday about my baby, Oliver, having an unusual reaction to his disagreement with his crate. I wish he was like other easier dogs who got used to it and eventually saw their crate as a safe haven, but I just don't see that happening.

Last night I accidentally fell asleep with him in the bed with me, and he slept nearly through the night. Once our other dogs woke up and began roaming the house he wouldn't let me sleep anymore, but it's the first full night's sleep I've gotten since bringing him home.

In short, I think I've decided to cut the crate training. He doesn't like it and it makes me feel like I'm abusing him by leaving him by himself like that. He was very well-behaved in the bed last night so I don't see any reason not to keep him where he's happy.

My question is, is this going to hinder his house breaking? He hasn't been using his crate since about the third day (of ten, now) that we had him and he seems to be doing relatively well, but before I brought him home I studied training techniques online for days and every site I visited made it seem like crating was the only effective way to house break the dog.

Have any of you been able to house break your dogs without crating or fencing?

I have been taking him out regularly, and he does use his puppy pads for the most part. He has accidents, but I think he may be only marking because when he has his accidents, it's equivalent to a few drops whereas when he goes on his pad, it's quite a large puddle.

[Gracie2006]

I keep Holly in a small pen when I can't watch her. If I had a crate in there, she would climb on top of it and jump out of the pen. She is doing as well as can be expected for 5 months of age, given she only started potty training when I brought her home two months ago. I think as long as you have a small pen or room to confine them in when you can't watch, potty training can be accomplished. I never used the crate for that purpose for Gracie either. It's just a matter of containment so they can't make mistakes.

[patty58]

First of all...Welcome to YT. I never used a crate for Murfee...or a pen. He slept with my from the first night we go him and he has never had an accident on the bed. I watched him closely and learned his signs and would take him outside. I'm not saying he didn't have accidents, cause he did but training him was relatively easy....even without a crate!

[ldenise]

welcome to YT. I have never used the crate method of potty training. I have trained mine very successfully by just keeping a hawk eye on them and rewarding after they potty out side. I have one that I trained to the pee pad and can't seem to change her mind about using it. even in the middle of play time Archie will stop and go to the door and prance to go out then contunue the play after he has pottied out side.

[yogisdad]

I didnt use the crate method either. It takes so darn long and they hate it. I use a human baby playpen for my two yorkies and they are both housebroken, one is almost a year old and the other is 17 weeks old.

i find it much easier putting a peepad in the pen and training them to go potty outside.

[paulapoo]

I never crated mine. At my previous job I had long hours so I trained them to potty pads and outside. If I had it to do over I would only do outside. They both mistake area rugs for potty pads and 1 of them marks furniture and doorways!

[hevnsntsophie]

I didn't crate my baby either. Just learned her signs and outside we went.

[Potter]

I think I got lucky...mine was pretty much potty trained when we brought him home at 12 weeks old. My condo was very small. All in all, it was about 500 square feet so it may be only the size of a big xpen lol. I spent a lot of time watching him though and just praise him like crazy and give him some yummy treat when he does his pee/poo correctly. He does have his poo accident from time to time in the morning because he has to go to the second floor to check on my mother-in-law first thing in the morning while he has to go and then he usually couldn't make it down to poop so he does it there Talking about being nosy.

[lulababy]

i did crate training with my first dog and it seemed to take forever and even now he still marks on things. its very annoying.

so this time around i didnt do that. no crate. she was on the bed the night we got her at 9 weeks.. she slept through the night. I took her to potty on the pad in the mornig when she wakes up and about every 2 or 3 hours after that... mainly after naps or a roudy play session or eating alot and before bed. it seems they go like clockwork after these things. oh and I also praise her like crazy and give her a nice little treat. anyway, its been 2 weeks and she is about 80% potty trained. she never pees on anything except the pad. I dont need to take her myself anymore. only before bed. as far as pooping goes.. she has just got the hang of it and it is just so awesome to see her taking the long walk to the potty pad to go take a poop or pee. i am like yesssss!!!

i too think the crate is kinda mean... so im glad not using it is working.