Information on Housebreaking Peekapoos

Poodles make up half of the peekapoo breed.

Peekapoos, a combination of poodles and pekingese, are highly intelligent and generally obedient; however, potty training can be challenging. Fortunately, most peekapoos are willing to learn; they must be taught in a way that is persistent and methodical. Confusing your peekapoo by not being consistent in your teachings will only hinder housebreaking.

Crate Training

The MyPeekapoos website suggests using a crate to potty train peekapoos. Doing so consists of placing the peekapoo in a crate when it is left alone in your home. The crate will prevent the dog from eliminating, as the pup will have to lie in its waste if it does. Most peekapoos like to remain clean and tidy, therefore, the prospect of having to lie in urine and feces is often enough to keep the pup from eliminating in the crate. In addition, most peekapoos see the crate as a den, and most avoid eliminating in their home. Use a crate that is only big enough for the peekapoo to stand up, turn around and lie down in. Since peekapoos are rather tiny, the crate will be quite small. If possible, take the dog with you to the store so that you are sure of the size. Give the peekapoo treats when it enters the crate, to encourage it to continue to do so.

Schedule

Keeping your peekapoo on a tight schedule will help it to know when it is appropriate to go potty. If you take the pup outside during the same times every day, it will start to get familiar with how long it has to hold its bladder and bowels until it is able to eliminate. A good schedule to stick to involves taking the puppy outside before and after it eats, sleeps and plays; after removing it from the crate and whenever it starts to act like it has to go. Signs that your peekapoo may need to eliminate include sniffing the floor and walking in circles. Peekapoos are intelligent dogs that will likely pick up on this routine rather fast.

Praise

Peekapoos can be quite sensitive; therefore, it is important to only praise your pup, not punish it. Always give your peekapoo a treat or affection when it goes potty in the correct place; never scold, punish or yell when it has an accident. Doing so can alter the peekapoo's personality by making it fearful of you. Peekapoos respond well to encouragement and will likely strive to receive this type of affection.

Accident Clean Up

When your peekapoo has an accident in your home, clean it with a product that is designed to remove the smell of dog waste. Cleaning the mess with a typical household cleaner may remove the visible signs, but rarely makes the smell disappear. If your peekapoo smells the waste, it will likely eliminate in the same spot. Purchase an enzymatic cleaner from your pet store to use on the accident area. Removing any evidence of accidents will help your peekapoo learn to go potty in the appropriate area.

References

• Dog Time: Peekapoo
• My Peekapoos: Housebreaking and Crate Training