How to Train a Dachshund Puppy to Potty Outside

Hello Hannah, I recommend a combination of the Crate Training method and Tether method to limit pup's freedom when their bladder isn't completely empty to help them learn to associate your home with cleanliness. You can find those methods in this article. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

July 11, 2022

Hello David, I would see if there is a G.R.O.W.L. class you can attend with pup to help desensitize them to other dogs, to reduce the stress around other dogs. I would spend time sitting outside with pup to desensitize pup to that environment. Take treats and pup's favorite toys, and in a pesticide/car fluid free area you can also play treat hiding games. At first, simply sit outside with pup for an hour at a time and read or do a similar calm activity - pup probably won't be interested in treats or games at first but don't give up on those. As pup gets used to just hanging outside regularly with you their desire for those things should increase, and the use of those things make the training speed up even more. Do this for 30-60 minutes as often as you can, with at least an hour break back inside between. If there are several family members who can manage pup, take turns doing this. Once pup is interested in treats after spending time outside chilling, then also reward pup for any curious, friendly, or calm responses to new things around you. Start this in as calm an area as you can find, and gradually move areas to ones with a little bit more distraction as pup improves. You can either continue with indoor potty training for the next month while you work on reactivity toward other dogs and getting more comfortable with being outside, or start all of the above at the same time. If you start everything at the same time it will just require a bigger time commitment upfront and more patience with pup, but the end result should come quicker in the long run. For the potty training itself, I recommend crate training, and utilizing the crate the confine pup when their bladder hasn't been emptied outside during the past 2 hours. This means that when you take pup outside if they don't go potty within 15 minutes of being out there, you bring pup inside and crate for another 30-60 minutes, then take pup directly back outside (carrying pup if needed to prevent an accident on the way). You will repeat this cycle every hour until pup finally goes potty outside - at which point you reward and praise pup (if they won't take the treat then just praise genuinely). Once pup does go potty outside, they earn 1-2 hours of freedom out of the crate. Generally 2 hours unless pup has accidents before that point. Since pup is not a young puppy, you can add 30-60 minutes to the times listed in that article to make up for pup's increased bladder capacity. You may find pup goes 8 hours without pottying the first week. That's okay. Pup needs to learn that its okay to go potty outside. You may even want to put a pee pad outside for pup to use at first if that's what pup used to use inside. You can then gradually cut away the pee pads size until they are gone and pup going potty on just the ground that was underneath. Crating is usually the key with this transition though. The pee pads can help but for many dogs crating is needed too. Crate Training method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside If pup's never been introduced to a crate, I would go back to pee pads for the next month while you work on dog reactivity, getting pup comfortable being outside, and introducing a crate. Pup doesn't have to be 100% on these things to start potty training with a crate outside though, just having a bit of familiarity will make the process less stressful for everyone probably. Introducing a crate -Surprise method: https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

April 7, 2022