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Just like a brand new human baby needs diapers
for the first few years of it's life, Rottweiler puppies need a
place to pee and poop until their little puppy bladders can
hold it like an adult dog. Puppies have poor bladder and bowel
control - having to pee every few hours, and poop several
times a day. Keeping your puppy in an area with quick access
to newspapers, a puppy litter box,
puppy
pee pads or the back yard
is essential in the first few months of your housetraining
regimen. Accidents are inevitable, so don't let puppy romp
unsupervised in areas where cleanup is difficult. Play with
puppy where there is no carpeting or furniture that can be
soiled - areas where flooring is linoleum, tile or well-sealed
hardwood are best. NEVER give puppy free reign of the house -
even when supervised. Watch carefully for signs of impending
peeing or pooping such as sniffing the floor, moving in
circles, or sudden disappearing acts. If you catch puppy in
the act - DO NOT SCOLD! - simply move puppy outdoors or to his
designated "bathroom area" - then clean up the soiled area,
using an
enzymatic cleaner specially created for pet odor
cleanup. You must completely eliminate the odor - or puppy may
smell it later and think it's a good place to go again. If
puppy finished doing his business where he is supposed to,
praise him lavishly! You can also offer him a tiny tidbit of
his regular kibble food as a reward.
Always feed your Rottweiler puppy a
high-quality
puppy food, and stick to the same food at all times. Feed your
puppy on a regular schedule, and avoid giving puppy table
scraps or other such tidbits and treats intended for humans.
Don't switch between brands of food - puppy's tummy is
sensitive and delicate. Human food or sudden changes in diet
will likely give puppy diarrhea, which will make your
housetraining attempts very difficult.
After puppy eats, take him outdoors to the
area where you want him to eliminate. Come up with a command
that you will use when you want him to do his business.
Whether it's "hurry up", "Let's do it", "Do your business", or
whatever you choose, be consistent and use the same command
every time. If possible, remain there until puppy completely
eliminates, then follow with lots of praise and a small treat
of his regular puppy kibble.
If you haven't already done so, your new
Rottweiler puppy should be taken to your veterinarian for a
well-puppy check up. This will ensure that your puppy is in
good health and is free from conditions that might hinder your
housebreaking efforts, such as a bladder infection, parasites,
fleas, etc. Your veterinarian will likely want to vaccinate
and de-worm your puppy (unless your breeder has already done
so) and put him on a regular schedule of vaccinations,
de-worming, flea protection and heartworm preventive
medications.
 You should spend as much time with your
Rottweiler
puppy as you possibly can, but when you can't directly
supervise your puppy, you should confine your puppy to a
comfortable crate or small pen. You should also place puppy
there at night when the family is asleep. Your puppy's crate
or pen should be his oasis - NEVER use a crate or pen as
punishment. DO NOT confine puppy for excessive lengths of
time. Puppies thrive on human companionship and can suffer
greatly from separation anxiety, which can occur when you
leave him alone too long or too often. In addition to being
cruel, long periods of isolation can cause your puppy to
misbehave by chewing, digging, barking excessively,
hyperactivity and even harming himself. The puppy's crate
should be used for dog naps, overnight and for short periods
of time when you must leave the house. If you have to be away
all day, you can hire a
caring pet sitter to drop in on your
puppy to provide a break for play, companionship, elimination
and exercise. Better yet, consider putting puppy in a Dog
Daycare during the day where puppy can play with other dogs
and people. Many
Dog Daycares and Pet Sitters will assist in
the early training process for your Rottweiler puppy - be sure to
ask!
Give puppy plenty of outdoor exercise! It's
good for both you - and puppy - and gives your puppy
lots of opportunity to pee and poop outdoors, where you want
the activity to eventually be limited to. Weather permitting,
your puppy should be taken for a short walk or to play in your
securely fenced back yard at least twice a day for 20 minutes
or more. Family members can take turns exercising your puppy,
or you can all participate at once.
Your Rottweiler puppy loves you and wants to make
you happy. You are his world! Lavish him with praise when he
does good, and you'll soon have a do-gooder puppy! When it
comes to housetraining your Rottweiler puppy, a little praise can
go a long way. Whenever puppy eliminates in the right place,
make sure he knows that you are very proud of him. Say "Good
Dog", "Way to Go", "Woo Hoo", "Yippee" or whatever you feel
comfortable with - and do it with feeling! Give puppy a tiny
treat of his regular dog kibble at the same time, and be sure
to reward him IMMEDIATELY after he does his business. Don't
worry what the neighbors will think of you jumping up and down
and whooping like a goofball - THEY don't have to shampoo your
carpets! This goes for any behavior you want your puppy to
repeat. Praise and a small treat are a great way to positively
reinforce your Rottweiler puppy's behavior.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and your
Rottweiler
puppy won't be housebroken in a week. Give it time and be
consistent. Make sure all members of the family have been
trained in the art of puppy housebreaking, and make sure
everyone follows the plan to avoid confusing your puppy.
In the event that you are unable to
successfully housetrain your Rottweiler puppy, despite your best
efforts, please consider consulting a professional dog trainer
or dog behavior specialist. They can help you determine where
your efforts are going wrong, or suggest and help you
implement other more intensive methods for housebreaking your
Rottweiler puppy.
Remember the commitment you made to your puppy
when you invited him to become a part of your family. You
wouldn't give away a baby or child for peeing on the carpet,
so why should your "Rottweiler baby" be any different? Puppies and
even older dogs CAN be housetrained! It just takes time,
effort and consistency from every member of the family.
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