| HOUSETRAINIG YOUR HAVANESE PUPPY | | | | |
| Now that you have brought your new baby home, | | | | CRATE TRAINING HAVANESE |
| teaching him where to do his business is of utmost | | | | Crate training has been known to be a very |
| importance. You have several options available. The | | | | effective housetraining method for Havanese |
| most common housetraining methods are going | | | | puppies. The principle behind crate training is that |
| outside, crate training, wee-wee pads, newspapers, | | | | dogs usually do not like to do their business in their |
| and doggie litter boxes. My personal favorite is to | | | | own "space." There are exceptions to this rule but |
| take the puppy outside in addition to placing | | | | they are rare. |
| wee-wee pads all over the house. When you | | | | When choosing a crate, I would recommend getting |
| combine these two methods you don't have to | | | | a crate that will be big enough for your Havanese |
| worry as much about inside accidents. The pads are | | | | when it is full grown. However, to crate train your |
| there just in case. | | | | puppy all you need is a crate with enough room for |
| BASIC HOUSETRAINING FOR OUTSIDE | | | | your puppy to stand, to turn around, and to lie down |
| If you are going to train your Havanese puppy to | | | | comfortably. You do not want enough room for your |
| go outside it is very important to get off to a good | | | | puppy to be able to go to the back of the crate to |
| start. Your goal is to prevent accidents right from | | | | do his business. Some crates come with dividers, |
| the start. It is important to watch your puppy | | | | others do not. If your crate does not have a divider |
| carefully at first and to be consistent. Just tell | | | | just find something like a paint can, a small box, or |
| yourself that housetraining your new baby is your | | | | something else to put in the back of your crate to |
| job and that you are going to focus on it for the | | | | make it the correct size for your puppy. Once your |
| first couple of weeks. | | | | puppy has become accustomed to not doing his |
| It is helpful if you can get your puppy on a regular | | | | business in his crate you can take the divider out. |
| schedule and feed him around the same time every | | | | When you put your puppy in the crate it is a good |
| day. This helps the puppy's digestive system to get | | | | idea to put his "blankie" and some toys in there with |
| regulated and makes training easier. The two most | | | | him. Havanese are bred to be companions and do not |
| crucial times to take your puppy out are immediately | | | | like to be left alone. Be sure to put the crate in the |
| after he wakes up and immediately after he has | | | | same room with you so that he feels like he is still a |
| finished eating. It is good to take him to the same | | | | part of the family. You can move the crate around |
| spot every time. Also, be careful to watch for signs | | | | with you when you change rooms. It is also a good |
| that your puppy may need to "go" such as squatting, | | | | idea to put the crate by your bed at night so that he |
| circling, or sniffing. If you see these signs, pick your | | | | will feel more secure. |
| puppy up and take him out to his "potty" spot | | | | At first, when you get your puppy out of the |
| immediately. When he has done his business make | | | | crate, pick him up and take him outside immediately. |
| sure to praise him or give him a treat. Havanese love | | | | Do not let him walk on his own as he might squat |
| to please and the positive reinforcement will make | | | | and go to the bathroom as soon as he is out of the |
| housetraining easier. | | | | crate. With time he will learn that the routine is to |
| A Havanese puppy can "hold it" for about one hour | | | | get out of the crate and then go potty outside. |
| for every month that it is old. This means that if you | | | | |
| have a two-month old puppy, he should be able to | | | | WHAT DO I DO WHEN I HAVE TO LEAVE THE |
| "hold it" for about two hours. This works well when | | | | HOUSE? |
| your puppy is in his crate but when he is running | | | | When leaving the house you can place your puppy in |
| around the house it is best to try to take him out | | | | his crate. This usually works well unless you have to |
| about every hour or so at first. It is better to err on | | | | be gone for a longer period of time than your puppy |
| the side of taking him out too often than not often | | | | can "hold it." When this is the case, I have found that |
| enough. | | | | the easiest thing to do is to find a small area such as |
| It is important to know that Havanese puppies are | | | | a laundry room, a small bathroom, or a section of the |
| very playful and enjoy going outside. They tend to | | | | house that you can block off with a baby gate. |
| run around, explore, and play before they do their | | | | First, place the crate in that area and completely |
| business. It is almost as if they have to work | | | | cover the floor with wee-wee pads or newspapers. |
| themselves into the mood. Also, some Havanese will | | | | Second, place the puppy's bed, blankie, toys, and |
| go more than one time. Be sure that you stay | | | | fresh water in the room with him. The puppy will |
| outside long enough to give your puppy plenty of | | | | usually choose an area of the room to use as his |
| time to do his business and make sure he is finished | | | | place of business. When you see the space he has |
| before bringing him back into the house. It is a | | | | chosen you can pick up the unused wee-wee pads |
| common mistake of new Havanese owners to | | | | and use them later. This way your puppy has a |
| assume that since their puppy is playing that he | | | | comfortable place to sleep, plenty of toys to keep |
| doesn't have to go. They then take the puppy inside | | | | him busy, and he doesn't have to experience the |
| only to have him go shortly after. | | | | discomfort of having to "hold it" until you get home. |
| To make sleeping through the night easier, you can | | | | You can then enjoy your time away from home |
| pick up your puppy's water bowl a couple of hours or | | | | without having to worry about being gone too long |
| so before bedtime and take him out right before you | | | | and coming home to find an accident in the crate |
| go to bed. | | | | with your puppy. |