Floor Protection Questions

For house breaking puppies we don't take them out on a timed schedule; we take them out based upon behaviors. If we cannot watch them very closely we have them confined in a small portion of their crate (dogs, even puppies typically don't want to lay in their own mess). If we hear them stir after a nap in their crate we take them out. If we hear them whine while in their crate, we take them out (it's not uncommon for them to learn whining will lead to them getting attention and then we'll have to modify how we respond to their whining). When we get them out of their crate we first take them out. While they are loose in the room with us we watch them very closely; most puppies (and dogs) have behaviors they do when they need to go to the bathroom (these behaviors can be individual and different for pee and poop) and when they display these behaviors we immediately take them out. If they have been running around loose in the house for a while, we take them out. Overnight, we keep them in their crate and restrict access to water. When we hear them whine during the night, we get up and take them out. When we take them out they are on a lead and we say "hurry-up" when they relieve themselves and then praise them. They don't get to play outside (be off lead) until after they go to the bathroom. We will use this command when we are traveling with our dogs; bathroom breaks with 6-9 dogs walked on lead are easier when they will go on command.

Following this method we have found most of our pups will learn to go to the door we take them out through when they need to go to the bathroom.

Crowe wrote:
Hubby mentioned vinyl. We do have an xpen but aren't sure if that's what we'll use. I'd love to buy one of the professional pens-slide in tray for a floor, heavy construction, etc., but don't want to spend that kind of mine.

I've never taken a dog out every 30 minutes to pee. Every couple of hours, yes, but not every 30 minutes. That seems a bit extreme.

That's the way it is with young puppies every 30-60 minutes or you will be cleaning up pee. It also teaches them to potty outside. If they pee in the house and outside it sends mixed messages to the dog. I also brag on them when they potty outside, (that's a good dog)in a soft tone. How often and how long do you have to change diapers on a new born human? There bladders are extremely small and need relief.

I took the Collies out every 30 minutes and have had only one accident from Sawyer in the house. Sasha had about 3 on the first day and none since.

Let's see you potty train a 12 week old human in one day.

One more thought: you can buy rolls of the plastic adhesive "carpet protector" - it will stick to the floor and itself; but not leave adhesive behind when you remove it. I bought some on Amazon years ago. Being adhesive, I doubt the pup could move it or eat it?

Pawz4me wrote:
Thirty minutes is what I always shoot for with young puppies. It's a ton of work but it's well worth the payoff. Of course every thirty minutes isn't always possible, but I try for as close to that as I can, at least for the first two or three weeks.

I think a remnant piece of vinyl would be a great solution.

Agreed. Young dogs will learn FASTER if you repeat more.

Thirty minutes is what I always shoot for with young puppies. It's a ton of work but it's well worth the payoff. Of course every thirty minutes isn't always possible, but I try for as close to that as I can, at least for the first two or three weeks.

I think a remnant piece of vinyl would be a great solution.

Hubby mentioned vinyl. We do have an xpen but aren't sure if that's what we'll use. I'd love to buy one of the professional pens-slide in tray for a floor, heavy construction, etc., but don't want to spend that kind of mine.

I've never taken a dog out every 30 minutes to pee. Every couple of hours, yes, but not every 30 minutes. That seems a bit extreme.

What about a vinyl floor remnant from a home store under a pen? Be sure the pup cannot push around the sides of the pen; x-pens can collapse on a dog if it pushes the shape into a long thin pen.

I recently saw that 8-12 week old puppies need to be taken out every 30 minutes to pee. There're a lot of training videos on YouTube. The pup will probably manage to tear up any plastic you put down but I suppose it's worth a try. I suggest you virtually cover the floor with pee pads