How to Potty Train a Mini Schnauzer

Miniature schnauzers have a reputation for being stubborn. When they get into a habit, it can take a long time before you can successfully get them to change their ways. But miniature schnauzers are also intelligent and willing to please, no matter what their age. It's never too late to teach proper potty manners to a mini schnauzer.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Collar and lead or fenced-in yard
• Enzyme-based cleaner for accidents

1. Pick a spot outside that you want the mini schnauzer to use as a toilet. Ideally, this spot should be chosen before the dog or puppy comes home. When you bring the mini schnauzer home for the first time, place him at that spot and keep him there until he squats. At the moment he starts to squat, praise him verbally. In this way, a good habit can be started.

2. Take the mini schnauzer outside regularly. On average, an adult miniature schnauzer needs to go outside 4 hours when awake, although he often can sleep through the night without needing to go out. Puppies, however, need to go out every 2 hours until they are 6 months old and immediately upon waking from a nap. Take the mini schnauzer out whenever you see him walking around in small circles, sniffing the ground.

3. Clean any accident thoroughly with an enzyme-based cleaner. This completely eliminates any traces of ammonia that the mini schnauzer's excellent nose will keep finding when he is looking for a place to go to the toilet. He will try to find the scent of where he went before. If the smell is left in the home, then he will get into the habit of using that spot in the home as a toilet.

4. Take the mini schnauzer to the vet if the dog constantly has accidents, has accidents in his sleep or suddenly begins accidents after months or years of no accidents. "The ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs" notes that mini schnauzers are prone to kidney diseases and bladder stones. One symptom these diseases share is sudden accidents in the house.

Tips & Warnings

• Each dog learns at a different rate, but miniature schnauzers usually get the basic idea by the time they are six months old. Mini schnauzer puppies often leak a few drops of urine when excited. This is normal and often stops when the dog is about 2 years old. There are training-aid products shaped like sticks or hydrants sold that give off a mild ammonia scent. These can be placed in your yard to help encourage the mini schnauzer to find the right place to go.
• Never rub your dog's nose in feces or urine. This will only serve to make the mini schnauzer more prone to bite you to prevent you rubbing his nose in something foul. Just clean up the mess without any fuss. Never use an ammonia-based cleaner. The ammonia in the cleaner will leave a similar scent like urine to the mini schnauzer.

References

• Dog Housetraining Aids: Hydrant Scent Attractant
• ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs; Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld; 1999
• How to Clean Dog Urine

Resources

• Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds; D. Caroline Coile; 2005

[alltrails]

on 11/20/2009 Excellent article on potty training a mini-schnauzer. This information will come in very handy. Thanks for the tips!