How do I potty train my newly adopted 3 year old boxer?

DO NOT SMACK HIM…DO NOT RUB HIS FACE IN IT!!!… That’s probably WHY he knows it’s bad, but hasn’t got a clue as to what is right!!! All you do is make your dog fearful…

These are the directions I give people who have puppies…for the most part, it is the same with an adult dog…YOU have to be responsible to teach. This dog has a habit that needs to be rehabilitated…that takes longer than the 10 days for a pup…so plan on 30 days where housebreaking this dog is ALL you’re asking from him. Get him out often…PRAISE when he goes. Since he’s a rescue, you have feel thru if he’s suffering from separation anxiety when you leave (that’ll make em go in the house)…CRATE him when you leave, so he doesn’t have the opportunity to go.

Be 100% consistant…firmness is ok, but punishment is OUT…

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The number one ingredient to have a house trained dog is…VIGILANCE. You must make housetraining your ‘mission in life’ for anywhere from 10 days to two weeks.

Keep slip-on’s by the back door, and a bathrobe or something quick to get into handy…because for this two weeks…housetraining will be your mission.

Your goal is…to beat the puppy to the punch…You’ll learn his signals just by doing all that vigilance…like they’ll start sniffing, and circling…you pick him up and take him out BEFORE he goes…Rules of thumb are also…For puppies, take him out immediately when he wakes up (do not let him follow you to the door…pick him up and carry out the door)…take out immediately after eating. During play a little puppy should be taken out every 20 minutes or so (aren’t you glad they sleep so much?? )

Crate the pup when EVER you cannot watch it (when you leave, or are ultra busy)…instinct is for them to not dirty their nest…so make sure the crate is only big enough to stand up, turn around, etc…A new puppy will need to get out once during the night…but that only lasts a week or so…You don’t want the puppy having to go so bad he dirties his nest…you do NOT want to break that instinctive barrier…once that’s happened it’s hard to undo.

When you get the pup outside…repeatedly say ‘pee pee’ or go pee…then love them up BIG when they go…this will eventually get them to go on command, and save you from having hang out and wait in the future. DO NOT bring him in until he goes…plan on cooling your heels in the beginning.

Make a promise to yourself and to your pup…there will be no punishment for accidents. If the puppy does pee or poop in the house…roll up a newspaper, and hit YOURSELF in the head, repeating the words…I didn’t watch my puppy…