Can you effectively house break a small breed dog without a crate?

Yes it’s possible to house train without using a crate, you just have to be really diligent with a schedule.

Keep your puppy with you at all times, easiest way to do this is to leash her to you so she can’t wander off. Leashing her to you will also help you to bond with her since she will have to look to you for everything. Take her out straight after she eats and drinks. Praise like crazy when she goes potty outside, like she just won the noble peace prize or something!

Take her out at least every 2 hours until she’s going outside regularly then gradually start increasing the time between potty breaks.

Learn her signs that she needs to go out. Circling, scratching the floor, whining or looking from you to the door are all good indicators that she needs to go out.

Invest in some high quality cleaners like Nature Miracle because she WILL have accidents.

Get her on a feeding schedule and limit her food and water after a certain time at night to prevent over-night accidents.

Good Luck!

yes I housebroke my boston terrier without the use of a cage

probably not. Just kidding, but I always have used a crate

It is completely possible. With lots of time, energy, attention and diligence. Crate training is so popular because it does help the process and makes it easier for many people who can’t or don’t have the ability to be as diligent as needed.

I have never used a crate and every dog I’ve had (growing up and now) have all been successfully house broken. All it takes is persistance.

I did it w/out a crate with my Pom-Chi I used to have. I was told it wasn’t possible, but I proved them wrong! I took him out once every hour. Also, when he woke up from naps and about 20 minutes after eating or drinking in excess. I took him out the same door every time and he eventually started going and sitting by the door when he had to go. If you have the time to do this, I found it very effective. I’m now trying it with my new puppy.

Well i have a wiener dog and still a pup and at first he was very bad at using the bath room in the house but i started a schedule with him and at those time he goes and it took about to 2 weeks to get him in the routine but know im happy and hes happy so yeah.

Very possible! I have a little Maltipoo (a little witch) but we trained her without a crate!

Sure, buy a collapsible gate to enclose him in an area or buy a circular inside fence. Inside the enclosed put down puppy pads. They have a built in scent that will make your puppy eager to use the pad. Put your pup in the area when you leave the house and when you are home, put him in the area every hour so that he will get the idea that that is where he should go. It won’t take long before your pup will be trained. When his bladder is larger, he will be able to hold his water and poop for a longer period of time; then you can take him outside to do his business.

Be sure to praise your pup every time he gets it right.

Hope this helped.

You should read up on crate training… it’s hated only because of the people that have MISUSED it. It makes your dog feel secure and helps it grasp potty training quicker. If you won’t use one, it will take longer and MAY never happen but consistency no matter the method, will prevail.

Sure you can! But a crate makes things safer when you have to go out for an hour or so… Just insures they arent going to potty on anything or chew up furniture, shoes… We crate ours only when they are puppies and training them and we’re not home, or if they’re naughty and need a time out.

I believe that you can effectivly train a small breed without a crate. However I certainly prefer to use them not only for training, but also for safety. A small pup such as a Chihuahua can be injured so easily, even a low jump can fracture a bone. I feel alot safer knowing that my pup is safe in her cozy crate at night.

I do however believe that all small breeds need a safety area such as a pen where you can place them when you cannot devote 100% of your attention to them. Also pups that have 100% access to your home right away tend gain dominance and become very spoiled. When a pup knows that you have control over him and where he is he will be submissev to you and behave much better.

Yes of course you can. I am onto dog number 6.
Time and effort. Very simple scold when bad and reward when good. Good includes when a dog does something you want it to without telling it. eg if it goes to the toilet in the yard where you want it to, praise it. Imagine if you were stuck in a box , you would want to touch the untouchable would’t you.
By the way I have never had to smack a dog ever !!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you can. I have had my Maltese puppy for about 3.5 weeks and he is housebroken. We never used a crate, unless we were leaving for a few hours. He is allowed to roam around our house without being supervised and never has accidents anymore (not since the first week). He goes to the door when he needs to be let out. So yes, it is very possible.

sure you can. it takes lots of work and training. the same as with a crate.

don’t use pee pads they’ll only make the training take longer.

i suggest using a crate for not only housetraining, but mainly for your dog’s own safety.

would you allow a 2 year old human loose in your house unattended? no it’s dangerous. the same with a puppy.

crates keep them safe. they won’t be able to chew up anything that can kill them while in a crate. that’s why i say to use one.

then you get the added bonus of housetraining made easier.