Greetings From Eastern Long Island, NY

Welcome to Dobermantalk. Its easy to reprimand, just roll up a newspaper and hit yourself with it because as a pup, they do not know where or when they should go yet. I'm not sure where you are at in the house breaking, but a pup should not be left un-supervised to roam, they should have a scheduled to be going out on a regular basis. We started with every 20 minutes and started to extend it when she got older. You have to remember, puppies pee after everything. Once they get up for the day, they pee, after they eat, they pee, after they play they pee.

At that age, they wait until its too late to warn us they need to go, that is why you need to take this task on for them. You will notice alot of signs from them if they need to go. It might include sniffing the ground or pacing around. Each puppy is different. Almost all of our accidents we had were my fault because I did not pay attention to the signs, I tried to blame Mrs Kratty, but that didn't work.

I never wanted them to pee on newspaper or puppy pads in the house. I wanted to get them to pee outside right away. Even if I had to get up multiple times during the night, to get them out. Its takes persistence and consistence work from you to get them house trained. It was only yesterday that my new girl, at 19 weeks, got up from her nap and went straight to the door. I let her out, by herself and she went out and peed. Thats a proud moment for me.

Welcome! Our pup was taken outside to pee from day one - first at the breeder's when she was old enough and then once we brought her home. Java figured newspaper was for shredding and not peeing anyway, so I never bothered putting any on the floor.

Above advice is on the mark. I know it requires you to 'shadow' puppy for the first little while, but that's part of your job now. As soon as pup wakes up, let him out of the crate and take him directly outside. Praise him as if he just won the lottery - and yes you will feel a bit silly doing it, but you want him to know that he's done something right!

In the early days I kept Java confined (via baby gate) to our slate-floored mud room if I needed to answer the phone, take something out of the oven, etc. At least this way, if she had an accident, it wasn't the end of the world, and let's face it, puppies will have accidents. Most of the accidents, as Kratty pointed out, were a result of my not paying close enough attention to her. As soon as I'd see her sniff the ground or squat, I'd quickly get her outside (sometimes in mid-stream), and praise her. Dobes really want to please and an accident indoors is not a sign that they are trying to 'get back at you' or any other nonsense. Rubbing their nose in it solves nothing - English is not a dog's first language.

Having a puppy in the house is as much work - maybe even more work - than having a new baby. I don't ever remember my son ever trying to chew on an electrical cord....

BTW - the 'Dummies' series is a pretty good resource ('Dogs for' and 'Puppies for') - also has a good section on basic care, first aid, early training etc.

Best of luck and pics please!

Hello and welcome to the forum. Congrats on the new puppy. As you are already finding out, they are a handful. I also start my puppies outside as soon as possible. I leash train them at the same time. I leash the puppy to my belt, and if they start to wonder off to sniff I know to go straight outside. Lots of telling them "go potty go potty" Potty Potty Potty" (sometimes it is a bad thing for me as I think I am starting to train myselft. HeeHee I can barely wait for them to finish before I rush in to go Potty myself) so it must work. LOL I tend to offer a cookie as soon a they are done also. Right at the spot where they went. I have trained several dogs this ways and it works for me.
If you have any children that have been potty trained, well, it is no different. children are like young animalsl. English is not their first laungage and must be taught. So teach them like a puppy and talk to them like a parrot. Works both ways. Good luck. also Crate training at night or when you must be gone works great.

Glad to hear the potty training is going well. We use the take them to one spot in the yard and tell them to go potty method. It also has the advantage of training them to go in one area. Makes for easier poop patrol later on. "Go to your potty spot!"

Welcome from North Carolina! Looking forward to seeing those pictures. My sister lived on the Island for many years. I think the traffic finally got to her.

Your signature contains one of my favorite sayings. I usually put it like this;

Live each day as if it will be your last, 'cause one day, you'll be right.

:rotate1:

Phil